The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood

That is what we are now. The circumstances have been reduced; for those of us who still have circumstances.

I avoid looking down at my body, not so much because it’s shameful or immodest but because I don’t want to see it. I don’t want to look at something that determines me so completely.

Aunt Helena is fat, she once headed a Weight Watchers’ franchise operation in Iowa. She’s good at Testifying.

Death is a beautiful woman, with wings and one breast almost bare; or is that Victory? I can’t remember.

Caught in the act, sinfully Scrabbling. Quick, eat those words.

Night falls. Or has fallen. Why is it that night falls, instead of rising, like the dawn?

have enough daily bread, so I won’t waste time on that. It isn’t the main problem. The problem is getting it down without choking on it.

You might even provide a Heaven for them. We need You for that. Hell we can make for ourselves.