The Handmaid’s Tale (The Handmaid's Tale, #1) in Read Across Canada: A 2013 Challenge

Apr 27, 2017 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: read2017, ebooks, audiobook, post-apocalypse-and-dystopia, reread

I reread this partly because another lesser book made me want to read it again, and of course like everyone else, because I wanted to see the show.

I didn't remember any humor in this, and while it isn't Atwood in full-humor with Elvis impersonators, there are some moments of gallows humor here, just little remarks here and there. I hadn't remembered the small but painful moments of self-reflection on the part of Offred. And the greatest horror - remembering what used to be true, the world with a ...more

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Jan 18, 2009 Jenny (Reading Envy) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: post-apocalypse-and-dystopia, sci-fi-fantasy, read2005

The Handmaid's Tale chronicles the former U.S. after it becomes the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy going back to the cultural guidelines of the Old Testament. A cautionary tale, even more so in this age. (ETA: And I said that in 2005, so much more disconcerting now.) ...more

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Dec 08, 2010 Chinook rated it it was amazing

Shelves: 1001, america, feminism, read-at-school, america-understanding

I read this back in high school and it was my favourite required read by far. I recall doing a project on the language used: the scrabble choices, the titles, phrases the protagonist talks about.

This reread just confirmed how damn good the book is. I love that ending as well - university of Nunavut! That wouldn't have hit me on my high school reading. I wish there was so much more of this, like the Maddadam trilogy with its different perspectives, because it was hard to leave that fascinating a ...more

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Jan 31, 2020 Kirsten rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: classical, series, romance, usa, 13-02-haul, mature-content, slavery, alpha2020

What was that ending?! I started this book 2.5 years ago and read it in drips and drabs until this past week I decided I just needed to finish it. Now it just makes me a bit angry that I even bothered. Maybe if I read it straight through I might have somehow saw something more promising in this book but also if it wasn’t for the fact I don’t like leaving books unfinished and I wanted to read the book before I watch the tv show (which has been saved on my tv recorder that who 2.5 years taunting m ...more

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Feb 16, 2018 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Although I often have mixed feelings about Margaret Atwood's writing, this book is an amazing read. I finished it just before the TV series began, and it greatly enhanced my viewing experience. It's mind-boggling to think Atwood conceived of this story way back in 1984. The plot becomes more plausible with the passage of time. ...more

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