The Handmaid's Tale

I had to read this book for school the first 100 pages were long and brutal to read. Nothing happens and it is just plain boring. After that the story gets moving we get to learn more about the characters and something actually happens, some action. It was an okay read I love all the symbols and all the themes that are present in this story but I do not like her style of writting I am more into teen books, so this was completely off what I usually read.

The Handmaid's Tale is the third of Atwood's novels that I've picked up within the past year and a half, and I can see why this novel probably picks up the most recognition amongst her other works. While I can't comment on the Blind Assassin -- a novel still sitting on my shelf, waiting to be read -- both Alias Grace and The Edible Woman were novels that I thoroughly enjoyed. While The Edible Woman gives us a quirky black comedy, Alias Grace gives us a thought-provoking historical narrative. Conversely, The Handmaid's Tale deals with the fragmented memories of Offred -- a "farmed" woman (a Handmaid) only valued for her viable ovaries in a haunting patriarchal totalitarian state.

While I won't give away too much of what the novel is about, it is told in a way that makes you want to read as voraciously as possible to find out what actually ends up happening. I've heard people say Atwood at times is predictable, but nothing in this novel is easy to guess. It may deal with the same well-trodden themes found in Atwood novels, but really I didn't expect anything completely new when reading the jacket.

The Handmaid's Tale may not be a totally "new" idea; in our present day the landscape of fiction is almost overwhelmed with the dystopian, Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale easily ranks in the upper echelon of what is available.

We had been given this book to read in Grade 11 and I blew it off as many classmates did, but never returned the book to the teacher. After I graduated High School, I looked on my shelf and still had it.

Man, I should have read it in Grade 11. It's such a beautiful book. I found it hard to get into in the beginning, but having nothing else to read that day, I forced myself to continue and found myself captivated in a truley amazing story.

A must read, not only because it's Atwood, but because it's a story of a few lives you'll always remember.

This was my first Atwood book, and now I can't wait to read another. Out of all the books that I've read in the past about the future, I would have to say this one gave me the most chills. great plot, and beautiful imagery.

For anyone who is unaware Natasha Richardson past away last week in Ottawa after hitting her head on the ski hill at Mont Tremblant. Natasha played the lead role in the film adaptation of "The Handmaid's Tale" so I dedicate this review to her.

I fell in love with The Handmaid's Tale one bored summer day when I found it among my mother's old school books. This novel is a futuristic look at the world when women are reduced to their baser society roles as breeders and house keepers. At the time of the novel fertile women are being harvested to breed for infertile leaders of the society. Anyone who is non-compliant is tortured and killed. The novel takes place in the United States in the newly formed "Republic of Gilead".

This novel is fraught with sexual tension and moral ethics. The neo-christians who are in charge of Gilead have removed all sexual material and rule that sex should be performed solely for the purpose of reproduction. However the leaders of Gilead are oxy-moronic when it comes to this proclamation as they have created their own palace for sexual play where none of the "playmates" can reproduce. Thereby undermining the very principal of which the Republic of Gilead is formed upon.

The novel is told in the first person by main character, Offred. Offred was once a married woman but now serves as a Handmaid for a wealthy society leader and his wife. As a Handmaid she is forced to have sex with the husband in the hopes of conceiving. When not in the bedroom she is given menial tasks to perform and generally hidden away. She is not allowed any form of entertainment or occupation that is not the bible or housework. She longs to indulge in the simple things of her old life such as moisturizer and magazines.

I highly recommend this book for lovers of feminist and dystopia literature. It is a powerful and moving novel and I treasure the time I spent between its pages.

With her own twist on the dystopia in tradition of 1984, Atwood tells a fascinating tale of a woman in a world where you're forced to be what they want you to be. While the safety is assuring, the way Offred is forced to keep her nose clean by never talking to anyone creates a lot of stress. This is a fate we women have been familiar with for all of time, and Offred is forced to return through that rabbit hole in order to tell us her story. And in spite of the pressure and secrecy of her environment, A Handmaid's Tale shows us that women will always be women. Offred hurts, she longs, she loves and she makes mistakes. She builds bridges and burns them, always with eyes peering over her shoulder.

A Handmaid's Tale is, in short, a stunning piece of speculative fiction that I reccomend to anybody, but I know the story isn't for everyone. For every few people who love it, I know a few who hate it as well, so don't be surprised if it isn't for you. However for me, the conclusion is clear: A Handmaid's Tale is a masterpiece, and we are lucky to have Atwood.

"The handmaid's Tale" is the first book by Margaret Atwood that I read. It's one of the best books ever. Shortly before reading this book, I read "1984". The similarities are interesting. I must say that I truly prefer "The handmaid's Tale". It might be because I'm female and I can relate better to a female and not a male narrator. Atwood raises many great points and ideas to think about. The book is timeless and the events could happen at any time and any place. The book is intellligent and thought provocing. It's hard to put it down for it's extremely suspenseful. I recommend it to any person. It's a must read!

Why is Margaret Atwood our most famous author!?!? The woman cannot WRITE! The handmaid's tale is a confusing, bizarre, poorly written novel that was so horrible and such a chore to get through that I considered leaving it in the bathroom to use as toilet paper. That's really the only thing you can do with it. I thought maybe she had written just ONE bad book. So I tried to read "Alias Grace" (another stinker!) and then I read "the blind assassin". Guess what? They ALL suck! All of them! Why do we keep adoring this woman and giving her awards?!?! She is awful!!! We have SO many talented writers in this nation and THIS pitiful old harpy is who we put on a pedestal? Anyway, you should neither read nor purchase this book. Seriously. (Why would I lie?)

This is a futuristic dystopia which uses past instances of oppression (within our world) as a guide. Perhaps the most disturbing aspect of the book was the reminder that history repeats itself.

That being said, the story did not meet my expectations. I didn't feel the lonliness of those trapped in that environment ... the pain they went through upon losing their families ... the horror they experienced during the public displays of the dead. I *knew* that it would be a horrible way to live, but I can't say that I ever felt a connection with any of the characters. Furthermore, I found the ending to be sloppy and frustrating (although I must admit that the general idea was creative).

This is certainly not the best book that I've read, but I wouldn't discourage anyone from picking it up. If nothing else, it will make you rethink the stability of our current society.

This book is amazing! I love the way that Atwood descirbes with such detail the display. She portrays her minds eye view so well on paper

Margaret Atwood has created a unique example of the future. I found myself fascinated the whole way through. Much, much better than the movie! A definate recommendation!

I find Margaret Atwood's righting to be intellectual yet highly tedious. If you are reading for a more academic purpose go right ahead but a little popular writing by Stephen King, Tom Clancy or John Grisham never heart anybody.

I found this book an excellent read. I found myself appreciating the society we live in now and the freedoms women have. It also made me wonder how closely related other societies are to the ideas in Atwood's novel, specifically middle eastern countries. This was the first I've read from Atwood's collection and it certainly won't be the last!

This is a book that will likely leave its mark on you for many years to come. It is an entertaining read with interesting ideas that really make you think. Especially meaningful is the fact that the book was published in the 80's, long before many of the concepts were as relevant as they are now.

I had to read this book in highschool many years ago, and I liked it, but was a really lazy reader back then. I have longed to re-read it, but for the longest time could not remember the title. I finally found it, and it was well worth the wait. It is a masterpiece. One for the ages.

I found it really easy to visualize everything that was happening in this book, Margaret did a fabulous job at describing everything with great detail! I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading and wants a good book to read.

This book was utterly amazing. I loved it! The unique words used to describe the situation that Offred is placed into were brilliant. I must say that Margaret Atwood is an astonishing author and that I will attempt to read each and every book she's written due to the uniqueness of this book. I loved it, and the possibility of a future that it expressed. I couldn't possibly imagine a future like that, let alone, describe it so well. Margaret is an incredibly gifted author and her books should be recognized as works of unequalled art.

I usually don't read these kinds of books but now that I read this one I'm gonna start. I found this book very appealing. It was very entertaining to see this perspective of the future for women.

I read this book in a short period of time because it was so interesting and unpredictable! Among other things, this book brings to surface issues of sexism, classism, ageism, and racism. It is a definite must-read for any woman, but also is a book that must not be overlooked by men. I highly recommend this eye-opening book for book clubs, as the above-mentioned topics are cause for great discussion. Another winner from Ms. Atwood, who makes reading such a joy.

I thought this was a beautifully sad story, about the way men and women view themselves, the world, and the bodies they live in. It says quite a lot about society and relationships and friendships and love. It says something too, about the quiet strength that life requires out of us. I enjoyed this book when I read it the first, and its one of the few I occasionally re-read.