Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
What we're reading

Find your new favourite book or recommend one on our Book forum.

Original poster

The Handmaid's Tale - Any good?

62 replies

Flamesparrow · 10/01/2006 10:52

Title says it all really.

Saw the film the other night, and was wondering if the book is any good (Borders vouchers burning a hole in my pocket )

OP posts:
Janh · 10/01/2006 12:27

DD1 did it for A level in 2000 and we bought her a second hand one in Oxfam then; I think it's still on the syllabus (DS1 is doing English now but I don't think his teacher chose it).

Agree that it is a fantastic story and that the book is better than the film.

Mercy · 10/01/2006 12:13

I first heard this a play on radio 4 which was brilliant. Not read the book tho.

kateandfelicity · 10/01/2006 12:12

excellent book, i find it really scary. as its not that implausible... look at afghanistan!

i have heard the film is not so good though,

enjoy!

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 10/01/2006 11:56

I'm annoyed that I saw the film first - started watching it when flicking channels, and got about half way through before realising that it seemed more book like than film like... so looked it up!

OP posts:
Gillian76 · 10/01/2006 11:08

It must be A Level reading cos there's loads of them and York notes on ebay.

Saw the film but never read the book. Might just!

Original poster
Flamesparrow · 10/01/2006 11:07

Yay! I get to spend

OP posts:
Wordsmith · 10/01/2006 11:05

Agree, it's a great book. Love all of Margaret Atwood's even though they take me ages to get into. Have Oryx and Crake on my bedside table where it's been sitting, unopened for a year.

Lucycat · 10/01/2006 10:59

Yes, but the book is MUCH better than the film - aren't they always?

Shame you saw the film first, but well worth a read.

harpsichordcarrier · 10/01/2006 10:56

amazing
one of the few books I have read more than once

alexsmum · 10/01/2006 10:56

i found it quite scary in a way because i could imagine it happening for real.

alexsmum · 10/01/2006 10:55

it is absolutely brilliant. it is about my all time favourite book ever and about a million times better than the film. i found the film really disappointing . it doesn't have the same atmosphere as the book at all. buy and read. honestly. it is such a good story

unicorn · 10/01/2006 10:54

yes.. infact I'm sure the book is much better than the film.

(i read it a long time ago tho)