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The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale
Author: Margaret Atwood
"In Margaret Atwood's most powerful, fully realized and moving novel since 'Surfacing', she gives us a society in which all of the New Right's preaching about women is put into law and into practice, and a heroine who is brave, touching and wry. This is an arresting triumph of the imagination that should pique the curiosity of male readers and m...  more »
ISBN: 141687
Publication Date: 1986
Pages: 309
Rating:
  • Currently 1.8/5 Stars.
 2

1.8 stars, based on 2 ratings
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Co.
Book Type: Paperback
Other Versions: Hardcover, Audio Cassette, Audio CD
Members Wishing: 0
Reviews: Member | Write a Review

Top Member Book Reviews

jeffp avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 201 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 17
An excellent and disturbing near future story. In the Republic of Gilead - which is what appeared after the US was violently overthrown - women are property, with few rights, and no control over their own destinies or bodies. We meet Offred - a handmaid to her Commander - and learn some of her past, as well as some of the history that brought the Republic into power.

Full of disturbing imagery, this is a powerful story that will make you think. Highly recommended.
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 9 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
I truly fascinating book about what happens when separation of Church and State collapse and a small but powerful group with very strong beliefs forces one and all to submit. The writing is very strong, with artful, and compelling use of suspense and characters. Once you start, it's a pageturner from start to finish.
kww avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 12
This book is amazing, intelligent and thought-provoking. It's my first exposure to Margaret Atwood and, on the strength of this one, I'll be reading her other books.

A cautionary tale, told through simple fiction, it more than deserves all the attention it garnered. A must read!
CocoCee avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 404 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 8
A very disturbing vision of the future. Though written twenty years ago, the topics seem modern: mix of church and state - pro life/choice - women's rights - protection of the earth and environment - religious freedoms. Great book for a reading group. Wonderful character and environment development. Very quick read, but the story won't leave you as quickly.
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 7
This is a great book and one that should be read by more people, not only women. There are some scary parallels in the novel to things that have happened in the last few years. The dominionists in this country who'd like to see America become a theocracy are not that far away from the ruling party in this book. I can't recommend it highly enough.
Read All 83 Book Reviews of "The Handmaids Tale"

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changes4kelly avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 11 more book reviews
This is one of my favorite books ever. Great story, and the movie with Aidan Quinn is a great adaptation too. I would recommend this to anyone who is interested in Women's Lit.
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 7 more book reviews
Dystopia is not usually my cup of tea, but this one did the trick. Kept me reading and provoked some interesting thinking. Exactly what you want when youstray into a new genre seeking inspiration/change/new ideas.
susanrhill2000 avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on
I read another book by her and was very interested in reading this one - tried 3 times but just couldn't get past the first 100 pages...
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 39 more book reviews
This is a strange, demented, yet scary book. Lets hope our world never takes on any form of this.
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 2 more book reviews
I'm so very glad that Offred's story is imperfect and honest. This is what makes the book accessible to women across generations. It's also astounding that we still hear the same arguments about protecting women from their own free will (rights) and decisions.

It's really a timeless tale and worthwhile reading for any young woman or man.
reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 10 more book reviews
I loved this book
merina avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 31 more book reviews
This wasn't the type of book that I 'couldn't put down' but I still really loved it! I had dreams about a sequel to it all night after I finished it!
grammyteach avatar reviewed The Handmaid's Tale on + 192 more book reviews
couldn't finish this book :(

Book Wiki

People/Characters
Offred (Primary Character)
The Commander (Major Character)
Serena Joy (Major Character)
Moira (Major Character)
Nick (Average Character)
(Show all 6 People/Characters)
Fictional Places

Genres: