reading a handmaids tale

[southeastastra]

blimey wtf is this about? it's crackers

It's a fab book but years since I've read it. May have to go get it out of library again.

How far in are you?

she has just 'slept' with commander - it's freaking me out!

Read that at least 10 years ago. I thought it was very good.

That book made me so bloody angry. I read it at 16 and it really opened my eyes to my position in the world as a woman. It was terrifying and infuriating in equal measure. A very scary book, I think.

I studied it at school but still enjoyed it. Not many books I still liked after doing them for school - is not an easy light read but fabulous story.

i read that, shortly after i'd read Aldous Huxley's brave new world. I think the handmaid's tale is even more though.

although....... women in india are renting out their wombs aren't they.

Great book. I first read it for A level Eng lit but have read it a couple of times since.

One if Atwood's more readable books.

Crackers but scarily plausible I thought when I read it in 1990.

Studied it at school - Must have thought it was good as it's still on my bookshelf, and not at the charity shop. Perhaps I'll re-read sometime soon.

What really got to me (and filled me with rage) was the way in which the women were broken down in to their components. They were less than human. The handmaids were only wombs, the wives were only wives, the econowives were only drudges. The utter hopelessness and total lack of power depressed the crap out of me, because it all seemed so feasible. When I learned of the Taliban and other oppressive regimes, it is this book I first thought of

scary book, saw the film too. wanted to keep reading on.

didn't realise that a film was made, will keep reading the book though - people wouldn't be able to keep that quiet is my thought so far

I read this book about 20 years ago and loved it. I was fairly young at the time and I think it helped to shape me a little bit. It made me think about my position in the world and what people wanted of me. I may have to reread just to remind myself.

Read handmaids tale years ago but am just re reading Cats Eye which is brilliant

I remember reading that years ago ... i remember how they had to have sex and the bit about childbirth. Oh and the dodgy doctor. Very scary stuff in so much as you can imagine it happening. I.E inferility is a woman's problem not a man's

Brilliant book, got so involved in it I found it hard when I tore myself into the real world. Would love to chat but Take That have just come back on the x-factor

Cat's Eye is excellent too - would make interesting reading now I have a dd too.

Brilliant book, have read it many times since studying for a level. Thought film was okay, but I couldn't put the book down.

The best bit is the epilogue, imo. Don't skip ahead you'll ruin it!

Amazing book.

I think I've only read this a couple of times but could tell you the whole story, it had that much impact on me.

I love Margaret Attwood for the things she leaves out so you reach an understanding slowly and much more powerfully for it. It really makes you think. Not always an easy read, both for dense words and subject matter but you get so much out of it.

Atwood was very recently interviewed on Women's hour-podcast might still be available. my understanding is that everything that happens in this book has actually happened somewhere in history. nb it was written before the Iranian revolution. Women's lives changed dramatically after this in some ways not dissimilar to those Attwood describes.

did she write a book called 'housekeeping' as well. remember reading that years' ago.

'The Edible Woman' is also thought provoking, althouygh written in a much more straightforward style.