The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) in Pick-a-Shelf

Apr 14, 2010 BJ Rose rated it really liked it

Shelves: spring-challenge, library-books, futuristic, 1001-books, dystopia

Written in 1986, The Handmaid's Tale is disturbing, frightening, and almost prophetic in its telling of the downward spiral that can be the consequence to society when extremist views of any ilk are translated to violent action. This was a compelling read - I didn't want to find out what had created the world in which Offfred resided, but I was drawn into the telling and the horror of what fanaticism produces: never the intended freedoms that are so anticipated, but the dehumanization of members Written in 1986, The Handmaid's Tale is disturbing, frightening, and almost prophetic in its telling of the downward spiral that can be the consequence to society when extremist views of any ilk are translated to violent action. This was a compelling read - I didn't want to find out what had created the world in which Offfred resided, but I was drawn into the telling and the horror of what fanaticism produces: never the intended freedoms that are so anticipated, but the dehumanization of members of society as the leaders attempt to create a new and better world. As the Commander said, when he was virtually acknowledging that they had created an unacceptable, unwanted world: "You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. We thought we could do better." The assassination of a president is too sadly believable, but the planned, violent takeover of government by the machine-gunning of the entire Congress?This is still unbelievable to me, but isn't that what people of other countries felt before it happened to them?

Another quote: "Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations." But what happens when there are NO compensations, as was the case for the Handmaids, who were totally dehumanized. Is this when unrest leads to uprisings and rebellion and outbreaks of resistance?

There were many lovely tidbits of thought sprinkled throughout this Tale - but then, when you have nothing but time, as was the case in Offred's existence (have you noticed that I refrain from calling it her life? since no real living appears to be available to her), it must help to think of things beyond the routine of living. Some of my favorites: 'one and one and one and one doesn't equal 4 because each one remains unique'
"Why is it that night falls, instead of rising like the dawn? You can see the darkness rising from the horizon... like a black cloud."

I was really touched by her prayer, as she's thinking her way through the Our Father...
"I don't believe for an instant that what's going on out there is what you want"
We need you to provide a heaven... Hell we can create for ourselves."
"You must feel pretty ripped off. I guess it's not the first time."

And how said when life is so bland and bleak, so scripted and restricted, that thinking about having a fight over unimportant things (like whose turn it was to clean the toilet) can look so appealing. I did like the open unknown of the ending that allowed for a possible positive outcome. And the epilogue that I expected to be boring was anything but - it filled in some answers while still leaving some things open to my own interpretation.

I don't expect to grab another Atwood book immediately - I'll need a lot of positive reading to bring back the sunshine - but I'm not sorry I read this. ...more

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Mar 28, 2011 Tien rated it really liked it

Shelves: canada, dystopia

It was just creepy... This is the third Atwood book I've read and so far, all three have given me the creeps. Each of them has been so dark and hopeless. So near and yet, so far away from the reality / truth. Atwood weaves such a story that both reality and un-reality intertwined and this is what gives me the creepy feeling.

This book is what today could have been except that society has regressed by centuries in making women, once again, obsolete. Women were housekeepers and child-bearers, basic ...more

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Mar 30, 2014 Jennie rated it really liked it

The thing that was most fascinating to me about this book was having the perspective of reading it almost 30 years after its publication. I couldn't help but think about what was happening in the lives of American women when Atwood wrote it in 1985. Roe v. Wade had made abortion legal only 12 years earlier. In 1982, for the first time, women earned more bachelor's degrees than men and were entering the workforce at an unprecedented rate -- it was the days of Working Girl and Baby Boom and sneake ...more

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Dec 19, 2010 Tamela Rich rated it it was amazing

This book continues to have a profound effect on my world view. Brilliant.

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Jan 15, 2012 Sherri rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites

This is my favorite dystopian novel. If you're a woman, the world Offred lives in is your worst nightmare. What if the rights women worked so hard to attain were taken away? What if their only value was in their fertility and that value was used to enslave them?

I have to applaud Margaret Atwood for the way she scattered the back story and history throughout the book. It prevents the reader from feeling bogged down in details before getting to the real story.

This was my second read. Still loved i ...more

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Jun 06, 2017 Ashley rated it it was amazing

Shelves: favorites, post-apocalyptic-dystopian

To say this book is beautifully written is an understatement. To be reading it during this time in history is especially harrowing. This should be required reading. The ending came up and gut punched me, but after reflection, it makes perfect sense. The Hulu show has done an excellent job with the source material and is exquisitely acted. Do both, share it with loved ones and stay alert in the #resistance.

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Apr 24, 2009 Lauren rated it liked it

Shelves: fiction, 2009, canadian

I am not a big science fiction fan so maybe that is part of my problem. I was seeking a little more explanation in the beginning to define the roles. I did figure it out as the book progressed though. Then once I started enjoying myself and really got hooked. The story was all of the sudden over and I really didn't like the ending. I didn't feel like I had closure at all. ...more

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Jun 09, 2009 Tara rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: busy-bee, favorites

I really loved this book, even though it was a bit unsettling at times. It offered me a release from all the other things going on right now. It was an engrossing book that I could get sucked into. A chilling world where women were treasured only for their ovaries and piousness. Very glad I got to read it.

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