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If I liked the Handmaid's Tale

20 replies

dinello · 25/09/2019 16:48

And I've just finished The Testaments, what book would you recommend I read next?

I enjoy dystopian novels with strong female leads.

OP posts:
TattiePants · 25/09/2019 19:05

Books that I've really enjoyed this year that (sort of) fit your requirements are Kindred by Octavia Butler - strong female lead, not dystopian but it moves through time. Have you read MA's Maddaddam trilogy? The first book is male led, the second is female led and the third is a bit of both.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 25/09/2019 19:09

The Blind Assassin

Invisimamma · 25/09/2019 19:13

Power by Naomi Alderman

welshy2240 · 25/09/2019 21:55

Anything by Margaret Atwood or Sarah waters

nettie434 · 25/09/2019 22:08

I was going to suggest The Power too. I love The Blind Assasin but Oryx and Crake might be even more to your taste. Kazuo Ishiguro's Never Let Me Go is another suggestion. It's even more topical now than when it was written I think.

bookishtartlet · 25/09/2019 22:11

Margaret Atwood has a great bibliography, check it out. I didn't like the Power, but I desperately wanted to. ottessa moshfegh has a cracking few books out that I've loved!

CountFosco · 27/09/2019 13:14

How about some Ursula K Le Guin? The Left Hand of Darkness is science fiction addressing feminist issues.

OnTheBorderline · 30/09/2019 02:41

Only Ever Yours by Louise O'Neil

womenspeakout · 30/09/2019 19:52

Have you read The Girl with the Gifts?

I loved The Handmaid's Tale but didn't enjoy The Testaments all that much and felt there were some glaring missteps in it.

Sadik · 30/09/2019 20:37

There were loads of good feminist dystopian novels published around the same time as the Handmaid's Tale, esp by the sadly now deceased Womens Press Sci-fi list. I'd suggest in particular:

Walk to the End of the World / Motherlines by Suzy Mckee Charnas
Native Tongue / The Judas Rose by Suzette Haden Elgin
Ammonite by Nicola Griffiths (not really dystopian but I think would still appeal)
Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy

TeenPlusTwenties · 30/09/2019 20:41

These are more 'teen' dystopian books but still good with strong female leads:
Divergent series by Veronica Roth
Hunger Games by someone
Noughts and Crosses by Malorie Blackman

but not really Handmaids Tale like.

mizu · 30/09/2019 21:12

Not a female lead but 'The Wool Trilogy' is amazing.

Lyingonthesofainthedark · 30/09/2019 21:23

Doris Lessing, the Golden Notebook.

AndNoneForGretchenWieners · 30/09/2019 21:24

I was going to suggest the Hunger Games. It isn't as powerful as HT but is immersive and I think well written.

PopcornAndWine · 30/09/2019 22:24

Red Clocks by Leni Zumas. Not dystopian as such but similar themes to HT.

timtam23 · 21/10/2019 16:56

Already mentioned above, I was also going to suggest Woman on the Edge of Time by Marge Piercy.
Not dystopian but - The Bone People - Keri Hulme? And also not dystopian but definitely feminist - The Women's Room - Marilyn French

TalentedMsRipley · 22/10/2019 13:24

I didnt like the Power either, despite it seemong right up my street.
The Water Cure by Sophie Macintosh is amazing.

NeverTrustASmilingCat · 23/10/2019 10:30

This one?

If I liked the Handmaid's Tale
IamEarthymama · 24/10/2019 23:24

I was going o suggest Sheri Tepper too, she was a wonderful writer, she challenged all my preconceptions

I really don't like the Power.

Also as pups have said MaddAdam trilogy, Wool Trilogy,
Enjoy!

user1374384 · 05/11/2019 15:26

The Delirium series By Lauren Oliver is about a dystopian society where the government believe love is a disease and teenagers are given the cure when they turn 16. It's very good and has similar themes to the Divergent series.

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