The Handmaid's Tale (1985) (edit title/settings)

• Rated 4 stars

“probably the only feminist that i could stand, Margaret Atwood has a great gift for spinning a yarn. the idea of a dystopia where women have been more subjugated--or in fact, more fragmented--presents a bleak picture of what might happen in the future.. a thoroughly eye-opening read.”

• Rated 0 stars

“I really didn't like this book.”

• Rated 3 stars

“I wasn't completely fascinated by it, but I thought it was interesting. The most creative part was the notes at the end. It left me wanting to know more about the main character.”

• Rated 5 stars

“Set in futuristic time, after we have depleted our resources and poisoned our earth, this book is about the struggle of repressed women remembering a different time, about men who are under constant pressure to perform, about social hiearchy, about our nature and how we all react in our unique way to pressure in its various forms, as well as the unique ways in which we survive.

Although Atwood never really sets the words down, for some reason I found the story of Offred and the future human race, to be constantly filled with hope. Talking about the book everyone told me sounded extremely sad, but I did not find it sad, just hopefull and reminiscant. I was told by women that it sounded frustrating and form time to time it was that, but there was always a light that seemed to be waiting at the end...

Do they ever find the light? I do not know and I do not think that is important, like Shakespear, I think that Atwood studies human behaviour in all its variations.

I am fast becoming an Atwood fan and I would recommend this book to anyone who likes to read good fiction that works your mind.”

• Rated 5 stars

“interesting really good read....strongly recommend”

• Rated 5 stars

“I first read this book in college. The English lit class I signed up for had mysteriously been changed to a Utopia/Dystopia lit class. Instead of a semester curled up dreaming of Mr. Darcy, I spent a semester praying that Offred wouldn't be sent to the decaying lands of New Jersey. Needless to say, this is a powerful and thought provoking book. As mentioned by another poster, I think what touched me so deeply was this underlying sense of hope, no matter how tiny it was. Orwell's world was dark. Atwood's world was dark, but with a pinpoint of light. ”

• Rated 4 stars

“It is scary how close to home this book hits.”

• Rated 4 stars

“scary”