the Handmaid's Tale

[Lori, Super Mod]

Please mark your spoilers using the new spoiler html code that's listed in the upper right corner of the text box.

[Think]

This will be the first time I have ever joined the Group Read discussion and I am excited. I am really enjoying the Handmaid's Tale so far, only on about page 50 though. :)

[JC]

I finished this book a couple of weeks ago - 5 stars!! I would love to hear what everyone thinks, I think this is an excellent discussion book.

[Flora]

I read this one a while ago and I really enjoyed it too. I would love to know how things progressed after the book ended.

[JC]

Flora wrote: "I read this one a while ago and I really enjoyed it too. I would love to know how things progressed after the book ended."

I felt that way about the ending as well. I thought it was very abrupt. But the more I thought about it, the more I began to see it as a window into this short and important period in Offred's life.

[Flora]

I agree. It was like we were looking at a piece of history. As if that religious fanaticism society had collapsed or changed to something else. But to what? And what led to those changes? I wanted more of the story.

[Karendenice]

I finally got my copy today!

[Dani]

Sounds like this books is going to be a good one! I'm excited for it. I just picked up a copy and the second hand store yesterday and I'll be starting it as soon as I finish Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins which won't take me too long :)

[JC]

Dani wrote: "Sounds like this books is going to be a good one! I'm excited for it. I just picked up a copy and the second hand store yesterday and I'll be starting it as soon as I finish [book:Catching Fire|614..."

So you're already on the dystopian train!!

[Dani]

JenC wrote: "So you're already on the dystopian train!!"

LOL! Yup I sure am Jen.

[Angela]

I read this quite a while ago, but it is one of the books I always recommend to people. There are few on that list!

[Efe]

I just started reading it (I'm only on page 33), but am really impressed so far. I avoided it for a while because I wasn't sure I wanted to read yet another dystopian book but I kind of wish I didn't wait so long. I'm getting that senssation of wanting to run home to read it which is always a good thing.

[Natalie]

I'm 70% through and I really like it!! I'm so glad it was June's pick :)

[Serenity]

Wow I must be really in the minority here, but I read it when I was 18 and didn't like it that much...I didn't hate it or anything, and I hate to be all negative, but it just wasn't as interesting as all the enthusiastic recommendations led me to expect. It took me forever to get through. I read a LOT of dystopian fiction, both YA and adult. This book didn't strike me as particularly more profound/plausible/gripping than most of the other dystopian books I've read. Actually, compared to Dystopias like the Hunger Games or Atlas Shrugged, I thought the characterization, backstory, and plot of The Handmaid's Tale were much less compelling.

[JC]

Serenity wrote: "Wow I must be really in the minority here, but I read it when I was 18 and didn't like it that much...I didn't hate it or anything, and I hate to be all negative, but it just wasn't as interesting ..."

That brings up an interesting point, Serenity. If you don't mind me asking, are you a mother? It's possible it resonated with me so much because I am a mother, and I have very young children. I had a reaction of being tugged two ways by the story.


****Possible Spoilers****

I was horrified by what society had become, but at the same time I really wanted Offred to get pregnant because there was so much pressure on her to do so, and I thought maybe things might get better for her if she did. I cried when she remembered her family, especially her daughter and wondered what she was doing, if she was alive. When she was shown the picture I had to stop reading, it was so hard to imagine. Any other people that loved it: Are you a mother?

[Serenity]

JenC - I am not a mother, nor have I ever been married (or even close). I recognize that might be part of the reason I didn't find it as compelling as other people. It's hard to be emotionally invested in something I can't really relate to...

[Think]

I just finished this book about 30 minutes ago. I felt it ended too abruptly, with too many unanswered questions. Then, I thought about it and honestly felt it couldn't have ended any other way. The world Offred is living in IS abrupt and has lots of unanswered questions. So, although it is highly frustrating, I understand why it had to end the way it did.

I was shocked that I really liked this book. It was the first book that I have picked specifically for a book club. It is not something I would have ever came across on my own. For some reason, I thought the writing would be dated, but that is so not the case. Atwood's style had no problem keeping me interested. And although the story was incredibly heartbreaking, it left me with hope.

So, even though this wasn't exactly a "fun" read, I thought the story-telling was phenomenal and had an honest perspective. So, any suggestions on what Atwood book I should pick up next? Because I think I'm hooked...

[Jane]

Think --- I just finished Alias Grace. It's not a dystopian but great story!

[Think]

Jane wrote: "Think --- I just finished Alias Grace. It's not a dystopian but great story!"

Thanks!

[JC]

I've got Oryx and Crake on hold at the library.

[Think]

JenC. wrote: "I've got Oryx and Crake on hold at the library."

That one looks really good as well. Damn. lol.

[Laura]

I just got a copy of Alias Grace at the library - pure coincidence. I fully expect to love it.

[Claire]

I read The Handmaid's Tale a few years ago and loved it. I hadn't really read much in the dystopian genre before this. I really liked the book and couldn't put it down. I have Oryx & Crake and Alias Grace on my to read shelf.

[Flora]

Claire wrote: "I read The Handmaid's Tale a few years ago and loved it. I hadn't really read much in the dystopian genre before this. I really liked the book and couldn't put it down. I have Oryx & Crake and A..."

I loved both Oryx and Crake and The Year of the Flood. I haven't read Alias Grace yet but I have Cat's Eye waiting on my bookshelf, has anyone read that one?

[Carly]

Cat's Eye is a good story, but it's repetitive in parts.

Oryx and Crake - whoa! That's a story!

[Dani]

Just started this novel and so far it's good! Very different to the last piece of work I read by Atwood: Wilderness Tips.

[Dani]

This novel was hauntly interesting and a scary thought of what our future could potentially hold. I enjoyed the story but I wasn't overly enthralled. The story is similar to that of a female version of Orwell's 1984 so I guess Atwood's story felt like something I was already familar with. This isn't entirely Atwood's fault as this novel was written in the early 1980's so I can imagine the impact that this book would have had with these kinds of radical and dytopian types of ideas and would have certainly warranted a Governer's General Award. Overall, I enjoyed the novel but it is not at the top of my dystopian novel list.

[Regina]

I think something to remember about The Handmaid's Tale is the time period in which she was writing and the political atomosphere she was reacting to. I read this book in the early 1990s when I was 18/19 and not a mother yet either, but I strongly loved the book, but I also thought it was very timely in terms of the political climate. Oh Dani, I just saw your post after I wrote mine. I agree. By the way, have any of you seen the movie? I did no like it, but I also saw it years and years ago.

As to her other books mentioned above. I have read Oryx and Crake years ago and gave it 5 stars. I am listening to Year of the Flood right now (the audio is fantastic, it is a true performance) and it will be 5 stars from me. I recommend reading Oryx and Crake first and then Year of the Flood.

I LOVED Alias Grace. I read it awhile ago, I was living alone in a new country and it actually scared me. Atwood does really well in describing a historical time and developing the characters.

I have also read Robber's Bride and Cat's Eye. I remembered that I liked them, but I have no strong memory of them.

[Dani]

Regina wrote: "I think something to remember about The Handmaid's Tale is the time period in which she was writing and the political atomosphere she was reacting to. I read this book in the early 1990s when I wa..."

Regina, I have not seen the movie as I didn't know one existed! When was it filmed?

Oryx and Crake is coming up on my reading list and I am curious how it will compare fo this one.

[Jane]

Regina - I loved Alias Grace. Read and talked about it so much I got a lot of others to read it and they loved it too. Her complete detachment was very eerie.

[Efe]

I have to say, I really enojoyed The Handmaid's Tale. I am a little surprised that I didn't read it sooner. It got slightly draggy in parts but picked up beautifully and I thought the end was fantastic.

[Regina]

@ Dani it is old, it was made in 1990. I think I saw it in the mid '90s, but I don't remember, here is the IMDB link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099731/ IF you enjoyed the book it is worth seeing if netflix can stream it. ;) Even though the movie is just okay, nothing special.

I would love to hear your thoughts on Orxy and Crake. I also read that awhile ago, when it came out (I think I read it in 2005) and it blew me away, I also hadn't read alot of dystopia or post-apocalyptic books at the time. I read it with a male friend who read alot of fantasy and he is a super picky about books and he loved it. Now, six years later I listened to the audio of Year of the Flood and I think I liked that one more. Atwood is just so brilliant at capturing issues from today's news/society and then drawing brilliantly deep and fleshed out characters. The audio for Year of the Flood has a soundtrack and singing, it is great.

@ Jane, I really need to go back and re-read it. I loved that book. The description of the trip over from Europe was so depressing but likely realistic. I loved how she ended the book.

In Handmaid's Tale, I liked the little things that seemed to make it real, like her need of hand lotion (for some reason that remains with me). I have seen the theme of the baby factory recycled in other books and movies since Atwood's release of Handmaid's Tale.

[Marla]

I just finished this book. It took me like 2 days to read it-I loved it and I am anxious to see what others thought of it-ESP the ending

[Karendenice]

I'm half way through and can't seem to put it down.