A Handsmaid's Tale.....I just read this.and was blown away.

[Portofino]

But there are so many messages there and I need to discuass/know what to think aboout it all.....

Read it for A-Level & loved it. Don't bother with the film, it's rubbish.

Hey maybe we should have it as a book club book?

It is a fab book. I just reread it for the third or fourth time and still loved it. There is such a lot to discuss in it.

someone said on a thread about it on here once (and I can't remember their source) that Atwood has said that all the practices she described in the book have an equivalent somewhere in the world at some point in history.

Oh I'd love bookclub about this - an excuse to read it again

Can anyone join the bookclub? I would love that too. Noone I know has read it.

Love that book! Agree the film was crap though. Wasted opportunity.

Wow! I had no idea it was such an organised and intellectual affair! I will put it on the calendar and lurk

if anyone's based near Swindon, the Swindon Feminist Network are discussing A Handmaid's Tale this month in their book club on Wed 27th April. 8pm at Lower Shaw Farm, all welcome. Just thought I'd butt in....

Actually I haven't read the book but went to see the opera (at the English National Opera so in English) a couple of years ago. It was very modern but thought provoking!

Love the idea of it being a book club book.

Thanks for the pm SGM. Shameless promotion of all things Canadian :)

Shall we do it after Northanger Abbey? I know the Valley of the Dolls had been suggested but I'd be happy to change?

Obviously I love it too (hence the name). My high school English teacher recommended I read it and it made such an impression on me. Have stalked been a fan of Margaret Atwood ever since. Cat's Eye is also excellent, as is the Blind Assassin of course.

I also love The Bloody Chamber AND Northanger Abbey. The book club sounds like my cup of tea but as I'm expecting DC1 in June I think it's probably the wrong time of my life to join. Maybe once the baby's a few weeks old and sleeping from 7pm -7am. (They do that, right?)

I have read all of Margaret Atwood's books and short stories (the ones published in GB anyway) at least once and have loved them all for different reasons but The Handmaid's Tale remains my favourite (Cat's Eye comes a close second - I am rereading it just now.)

SerenaJoy - I did loads of reading when my dcs were small because of the hours and hours of breastfeeding.
If you can type one-handed without dropping the baby you will be fine at bookclub.

What about the blind assasin carrots ?

It was completely different and I remember it did throw me a bit but I also remember I did enjoy it once I got going.

I don't remember much about it now though as it was pre dcs. [soup for brains emoticon]

Did you not like it?

I think I read it one summer holiday from school (when I was a teacher not a pupil). Iirc it was a gift and I worked with the person who gave it to me so I felt I had to read it and was glad when I did.

I loved it! I was putting it up for best margaret attwood book suggestions

Not my most enjoyed Margaret Atwood by a long shot but that is the thing with books. It depends where we were ourselves at the time doesn't it. I have loved a book on first reading and loathed it on rereading and vice versa. I have been unable to read a book and loved it six months later.