Handmaid's Tale

[Drizzela]

Just re-read this as I was in my early teens on first read.

It has really stuck with me this time around, it means a lot more as an adult woman... anyone want to discuss?

I haven't read it since I was about 14. It has stuck with me quite a lot though. Made me determined never to change my name for one thing! Names are so important.

I remember reading it and thinking "god how awful that these women don't have their own names, they're just labelled as the property of some bloke" and then a big bell ringing in my head! Mrs Ernest Smith /OfErnest - what's the difference really?

I don't remember the names bit oddly. I also read it early teens, may even have been younger.
The bit that has stuck with me is having to give up your baby. I suspect I would feel that even more now I have my own. I must get hold of another copy and reread it

hopeforthebest beat me to it... that is the bit that most resonates with me 20 or so years after i first read it, how chillingly easy it would be to do

Yes as the story unfolded it was the way that women's lives changed unrecognisably but thinking it could happen IRL insidiously that affected me too. As I recall it was also about whether or not someone "lived in sin", which became outlawed overnight but was retrospectively a crime, etc. I thought "oh that could be me!" I must read this again (but avoid the movie, it was pants.)

Interestingly, and I hadn't made the connection before, I wonder if reading this book strengthened my resolve to never be called Mrs (Husband's name). I remember being v young,

Loved this book, did it for A'level.

I couldn't understand how something that was legal (children with unmarried parents) could retrospectively be said to be wrong? That scared me.

I also remember the econowives judging the handmaid's - women judging women even in those repressed circumstances!

And especially the Japanese tourists that were taking pictures and smiling, not understanding what was really going on. I wondered how many other countries were actually like that, lots I know now

surely the hangings wouldn't be so easy to get away with

I must give it a re-read at some point.
Mind you, has anyone read either Native Tongue or Judas Rose by Suzette Hadon Elgin? They cover similar territory and are interesting (if a bit flawed in some ways).

I am gutted that I can't get it on my kindle, something seriously wrong with them for not having it on!

Anyway, I did it for A'level too and yes the women judging the women, the male hypocrisy, the property/posession. It is one of the best books written, a more modern 1984 and so very applicable to this current climate. I often wondered how the stopping the bank accounts could ever happen, I am glad that I read it young and have the opportunity to read it as an adult, wife and mother to compare. Not many books really stick with you for 20 years!

Spring - big fan of both books. Very interesting reading.

there was an opera made of it too, it was wonderful (though rather harrowing)

Ive seen the film but not read the book. It was chilling and wouldnt take very much for it to become reality. For me it briught up issues of surrogacy etc where rich women 'use' poor women to have babies.

I think its v sad that more women these days are changing their name upon marriage.

Not a massive fan of Atwood tbh but the football stadium but where the women get their rage out is interesting in the light of some of what people have been saying on another thread re righteous anger at the world on Netmums?...

Wow thanks everyone, I started the thread and then got embroilled in allsorts. Just to echo what every one said.

The thing that really struck me was the policing of the handmaids by other women and how tre to life that actually is; the number of women I'v eheard labelling other women sluts or say 'they deserved to be raped' becaus eof what they were wearing etc.

Also the name thing. Also the fact that although 'Luke' didn't want to lose his wife, he actually seemed to like the idea of her being subservient and without financial independance.

It made me more sure than ever that no matter what happens, I will never, ever, ever give up my financial independance!