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The Handmaid's Tale

48 replies

IBelieveTheEarthIsFlat · 27/08/2016 14:43

Have seen it mentioned quite a bit on the Feminist threads. Anyone read and would you recommend? I don't tend to read much fiction so only really want to tackle it if it's unputdownable. Ta

OP posts:
RustyPaperclip · 29/08/2016 01:03

One of my favourite books. I've been trying to encourage friends to read it recently. I'm quite an Atwood fan. Has anyone else read Oryx and Crake? It's been a few years since I've read it but found it hard to put down

RalphSteadmansEye · 29/08/2016 13:42

Yeah, there was a great programme on R4 a while back discussing this with her.

MyGastIsFlabbered · 29/08/2016 13:44

Love it, it's quite unlike her other books (Blind Assassin or Robber Bride are my favourites).

Acornantics · 29/08/2016 13:45

It's the book that's stayed with me for two decades since I read it in my early 20s. An extraordinary book and I highly recommend it.

BlackIsTheNewBlack · 03/09/2016 18:22

I recently read The year of the Flood and then Oryx and Crake (out of order!) and I was mesmerised! I do love Handmaid though and have reread it many times.

AnyFucker · 03/09/2016 18:24

One of my top 10. Enjoy.

oldlaundbooth · 03/09/2016 18:29

It's awesome.

Read Alias Grace too.

Thurlow · 03/09/2016 18:33

Love it. Love all of Atwood's futuristic/sci-fi style books (though I know she herself has said she dislikes it being called sci-fi). Oryx and Crake was an amazing book.

I love the detective work that has figured out the narrators name too.

Dozer · 03/09/2016 18:35

Very dark, very good.

elQuintoConyo · 03/09/2016 18:38

i read it around 10 years ago and it still haunts me. I should read it again with 'fresh eyes'.

I love all of Atwood's work and own most. The Oryx and Crake trilogy nearly killed me! I was beside myself for days.

Perhaps I should stick to Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, and other such shite Grin

VanderlyleGeek · 04/09/2016 03:31

A bit off topic, but The Handmaid's Tale is being adapted as a miniseries by Hulu; Elizabeth Moss has been cast as Offred.

Also, Alias Grace is being adapted as a miniseries by Sarah Polley for the CBC and Netflix. I'm really interested to see what she does with her script; her adaptation of Alice Munro's work for Away From Her was wonderful.

VanderlyleGeek · 04/09/2016 03:32

And Gast, The Blind Assassin and The Robber Bride are my favourites, too. Smile

mizu · 10/09/2016 12:11

My favourite book too. Read it while at uni 20 or so years ago and have recently re-read.

fortifiedwithtea · 10/09/2016 20:43

Genuinely surprised that so far this book has received praise and recommendation Shock

I have just finished reading it with gritted teeth determination to finish it. Hated it. Endless description. Plot holes. Constant dotting about from present to past events.

Blackpoollassy · 10/09/2016 20:44

It's amazing

WhereThereIsGinThereIsHope · 10/09/2016 20:51

I've just finished The Heart Goes Last, and loved it too.

LivininaBox · 10/09/2016 21:02

Read it ages ago, love it and still remember it vividly. When I read Oryx and Crake I noticed quite a few references to Handmaid's Tale.

sooperdooper · 11/09/2016 22:46

Love virtually everything by Margaret Atwood - Lady Oracle us another great one that's not been mentioned but is again very different in style. I loved Orxy & Crake and I've been meaning to reread the Blind Assasin, will pick it up next as a treat

PikachuBoo · 11/09/2016 23:03

I'm old so I read it when it came out. At that point it was amazingly powerful.

Lookdownthesofa · 12/09/2016 18:00

I love this book.

What plot holes did you find, fortified?

NeverEverAnythingEver · 16/09/2016 09:27

The most haunting book I've read.

Every time I use my cash card I wonder if one day they are going to stop it because I'm a woman... (I am in no way traumatised by the book. Grin)

TequilaBlockingBird · 17/09/2016 14:54

I loved the Handmaid's Tale and nearly everything else Atwood has written. The Heart Goes Last, not so much.

ChardonnayKnickertonSmythe · 17/09/2016 17:43

I'm about to start it.

Love Alias Grace.

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