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Margaret Attwood: The Handmaid's Tale - Book 1 The Handmaid's Tale

I've heard about this book, and it's been highly recommended and popular, so I thought I would give it a try. It's also been made into a T.V. series, and I was curious about what the hype was about.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Attwood analyzes what would happen if society was ruled by religious zealots. Offred is a handmaid in Gilead: meaning that she is a birth mother for children she will never be able to keep. She has strict rules that she must follow, in a life that is completely different from the one she used to lead. Birthrates are declining, so as a handmaid, she is supposed to bear children for the commander she is assigned to, the source of her only value to society. She can only leave the house once a day to go to the market to buy groceries for the household. Offred struggles to reconcile the life she used to have with her husband and daughter, with the extreme oppression and fear in her new life.

I have mixed feelings about this one. On one hand, the story was fairly captivating and interesting. On the other hand, I didn't like the way it was written.

Positives:
  • I enjoyed the dystopian aspects: the surveillance state was fascinating, as well as the religious zealotry that governs this country.
  • The story itself was interesting and horrifyingly engaging. I couldn't stop reading this book, even if I was totally repulsed by what was happening in the novel.
Things I didn't like about the book:
  • The setting was a little unclear. It's obvious WHERE the book takes place, but initially, it's not apparent when, and I was bothered. Initially, I didn't realize that this book was published in 1985, so the technology discussion was confusing. You must have that lens when you go into reading it, otherwise, it will confuse you a bit.
  • I didn't care for the stream-of-consciousness way this was written. It was so difficult to follow the story, and in some cases, to separate the past from the present. It's also said in the end (after the conclusion of Offred's story) that this is a transcript of a recording. That seems to only sort of fit with the way the story is told.
  • I didn't like the inconclusive ending. If it really is a transcript of a recording found in Canada (free and separate from Gilead) then why didn't she record her escape?
Overall, I rate this book:
  • 4/5 stars
  • PG-13--sexual content

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