Book Review: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Posted by in Can Lit | Canadian Author | Challenges | Dystopian Fiction
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood
Read for: Banned Books Week, 1% Well Read Challenge, Canadian Books Challenge
The more I read of Atwood, the more I come to realize what a brilliant writer she is. I read a few of her books about ten years ago and I think I just wasn’t ready for them yet. Everything I’ve read of hers recently (even the ones I haven’t enjoyed) have really struck me in some way or another.
Most people have read this one, and those who haven’t usually know what the general plot is so I’m going to make my summary brief. This one is another dystopian society – Gilead. Offred is a handmaid which means that her sole purpose is to procreate. Handmaids are sent to Commanders and their Wives in the hopes that they will conceive a child. If she does, she bears the child and then moves on to another Commander. Handmaids (and in fact all women) are allowed almost no freedoms and are carefully watched to be sure that they do not step out of line. As the novel unfolds, Offred, whose real name is never revealed, reveals Gilead came to be.
I really liked this book, actually a lot more than I was expecting to. Once I started reading, I couldn’t put it down (which for me and Atwood is rare). As I mentioned earlier, Atwood is a brilliant writer, but besides that she has the ability to tell a really great story. Even though, Offred was in a truly depressing situation, Atwood kept giving little hints that all was not lost, there was hope yet. Offred clung to the hope of her daughter and husband from “before”. She was able to find friendship in unexpected places. I liked that in the darkest of times, Offred was able to see the simple beauty in the flowers (or perhaps she imagined them, which makes it that much more amazing).
On the other hand, parts of this book were terrifying because Gilead is so plausible. Almost every part of this society has some historical (and some not-so-historical) counterparts. There have been times in the past and in the present in parts of the world, where women have been treated as less than human, as just bodies to clean up, cook and have babies. Even the way Gilead was formed was scarily real and even reminiscent of certain incidents following 9/11.
I am really glad I finally took the time to read this book, but I’m also glad I waited until this point in my life because I don’t think I would have understood it as well without the lens of experience I’ve been able to view it through at this time.
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I’ve been avoiding this one. Ever since I read “The Robber Bride” I promised myself I would read no more Atwood. She is very good, but I find her deeply disturbing. Its not something I’m proud of – I should be able to handle it, but sometimes life just is tough enough, without my books freaking me out as well :p
But now that I’ve read your review, I’m intrigued.
Masha,
The Robber Bride was definitely not my favourite either. Atwood’s writing is generally more disturbing/depressing than your average author. Most Can Lit is…it’s a requirement for the genre.
Weird, Robber Bride is my 2nd fav…
I kinda forget what happens in this book – maybe I should read it again for some new insight…I’m glad you liked it. Or at least were inspired by it. Atwood is a freakin’ genius.
I just read this one recently too… I had started a long time ago and then had to return it to the library and like half a year later re-borrowed it. It’s really gripping…I was really rooting for the heroine to make a bold escape somehow…
And you’re right, it hits very close to home…9/11 and stuff. (wo, just realized it’s 9/11 today!)
I really loved this one. It resonated historically and emotionally with me. It’s still the only one of Atwood’s works I’ve read even though I have a couple more. I need to get reading them.
I enjoyed this thoroughly, in a masochistic creepy kind of way. I wouldn’t ever want to be a woman in Gilead, but as an outsider, it’s fascinating. I really hope such a world never evolves, because it would defy the word (evolution) as we know it, and like many other handmaids, I reckon I’d lose the will to live and just kill myself.
Scary stuff.
This was my first Atwood book and I’ve been slowly making my way through her others–slowly because I don’t want to run out of material! It’s been long enough now that I could certainly use a re-reading of this book, but I want to get to her others first. I’ll be reading Alias Grace next month. Do you have a favorite by her?
Trish,
I really liked Alias Grace and The Blind Assassin. I also enjoyed Oryx and Crake but it’s almost hard to believe that they were written by the same author. I think that’s part of her genius, is that she is so versatile. And there’s the new book The Year of the Flood, that I’m looking forward to reading.
I like Atwood best with dystopian fiction. A Handmaid’s Tale got me hooked on Atwood, for sure.
I liked that you read it for Banned Books Week and the Canadian Book Challenge. When someone on a banned books blog recommended the Canadian Book Challenge, I tried to help out by suggesting 13 Canadian books that have been banned and found surprisingly few. A Handmaid’s Tale was the most common one that kept popping up. I don’t think Canadian books necessarily play it safe, and in fact, Canada has a lot of books that make AHT look relatively tame, but it certainly has the most notoriety.
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Great review, Lahni! I want to read this one myself.
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I am a dyed in the wool Atwood fan, so I am always happy when I read good reviews of her books. Robber Bride is actually my favorite of her books. I figure there must be something wrong with me because I come across a lot of folks who really don’t like it.
I agree with some of the comments above, part of Atwood’s genius is to write books that are so different from each other. The only thing they seem to have in common is great writing.
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Thomas,
Of all Atwood’s novels The Robber Bride is my least favourite. But I can still agree that the writing and even the way she sets up the story and what she’s saying with the story are brilliant – I just didn’t enjoy the story!
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