After loaning a friend a few books on feminism, she suggested I read The Handmaid's Tale. I was curious - all the dystopian-esque books I had read were all about the suppression of all people, of whole classes if people, not suppression along the lines of gender. So, the idea of this book was refreshing.
However, I found the book to be very hard to follow. There were very few reference points that provided context. For example, in A Clockwork Orange, the setting is clearly in Britain sometime in the future. However, in Atwood's novel, there is no illucidating context. Although I enjoyed the intersection of two genres I frequently read, nonfiction feminism and dystopian, I found the book hard to follow. However, certain things unique to this novel, such as the reduction of lower-class women to surrogate breeders, was both disturbing and refreshing. The fact that certain tones regarding women in our present society match those in the novel is profound. Atwood is clearly trying to point this out. I would recommend this book, but with the assistance of Sparknotes to give context. A second read is in order.

This is a brilliantly written modern classic, and pairs beautifully with Orwell's 1984. There are many parallels between the way the dystopia is formed, the main character's rebellious thoughts and actions, and the narrative structure. However, it is also a fully independent and creative work, an English teacher's dream in its richness. I especially enjoyed:

1) Offred saying over and over again, "I don't want to tell this story" or "I wish this was a different kind of story." It subtly (and sometimes directly) addresses the reader as her only outlet, her only hope.

2) Sometimes she would say, "I added that part; it didn't happen that way," to show that she was trying to paint a prettier picture or present hope for a different kind of story.

3) Spoiler Alert - The Ending:  The ambiguous ending and the afterward - both very much like 1984, but with significantly more hope.

It was a decent enough book I guess. Not sure if I like the way it was written with just a bunch of random thoughts running through her head. It was a good read it got me running towards the end, just not one of my favorites

somehow it felt much scarier and real/ possible now then when I firts read it as a teen ten years ago. Nothing else changed though. The sensuality of Atwood's language and the thrill of it remains the same.

I really wanted to like this book. Maybe if I had finished it, I would have. But half way through I decided if I wasn't committed at this point, I likely wasn't ever going to be. I kept waiting for the story to begin...

I couldn't get into it at all. I generally force myself to read a book to the end, I can count the books I haven't finished on one hand. I think I gave up on chapter 3. Maybe it was just me being distracted. I'll try again in a year or 2.

I hadn't read Margaret Atwood books so it may just be the writing style isn't for me.

A captivating narrative that keeps you hooked from the first page to the last.

Definitely a fast read with a thought provoking premise. Unsure of how much I really enjoyed the story...it wasn't as developed as I'd have liked. It left me wanting much more.

better than the series

Haunting I will never forget it.

I really pushed to get through this book. I guess I am a linear thinker. It's not that I couldn't follow the jump from present day to past, but the excerpts of the past jumped all over the place as well.

I felt this book was an infuriating read. It would leave me hanging to jump to the past right at the time that I got invested in the story line. Honestly, this didn't feel like a story, but more like entries in a journal. I'm proud that I finished it, even though i skipped whole sections that just didn't hold my attention.

one of my favorite books