The Handmaid's TaleNow a Hulu Original Series The Handmaid’s Tale is a novel of such power that the reader will be unable to forget its images and its forecast. Set in the near future, it describes life in what was once the United States and is now called the Republic of Gilead, a monotheocracy that has reacted to social unrest and a sharply declining birthrate by reverting to, and going beyond, the repressive intolerance of the original Puritans. The regime takes the Book of Genesis absolutely at its word, with bizarre consequences for the women and men in its population. The story is told through the eyes of Offred, one of the unfortunate Handmaids under the new social order. In condensed but eloquent prose, by turns cool-eyed, tender, despairing, passionate, and wry, she reveals to us the dark corners behind the establishment’s calm facade, as certain tendencies now in existence are carried to their logical conclusions. The Handmaid’s Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing. It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force. It is Margaret Atwood at her best. |
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LibraryThing Review
User Review - waldhaus1 - www.librarything.comI enjoyed the book a lot. It is a statement about the trap of excessive fundamentalism. By imagining a fantasy circumstance the author allows the reader to consider the impact of authoritariam ... Read full review
LibraryThing Review
User Review - nicolewbrown - www.librarything.comIt's not entirely clear what happened other than a terrorist attack took out the President and Congress leaving the United States under military rule. They kept promising elections but never delivered ... Read full review
Contents
ii | |
35 | |
41 | |
67 | |
77 | |
101 | |
107 | |
IX Night | 141 |
XII Jezebels | 197 |
XIII Night | 257 |
XIV Salvaging | 265 |
XV Night | 289 |
Back Matter
| 297 |
Back Flap | 313 |
Back Cover
| 314 |
Spine
| 315 |
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Common terms and phrases
Alias Grace anymore anyway arms Aunt Elizabeth baby believe beside better blue body breathe chair cigarette clothes comes Commander Commander's Wife Cora dark door dress Edible Woman eyes face feel feet fingers flesh floor flowers front Gilead girls give glass Graeme Gibson Guardian hair Handmaid’s Tale Handmaids hands hanging happened hard head hear hold I’ve ice cube inside Janine keep kitchen kneeling knew light Limpkin look Luke Margaret Atwood Mayday Moira mother mouth move never Nick night Ofglen once Penelopiad pink pulled red shoes remember Republic of Gilead Rita Robber Bride Scrabble Serena Joy shoes side sitting room smell smile someone Sometimes sound stairs stand supposed talk tell there's things thought toilet turn voice wait walk wall watch Waterford wearing whispers window Wives woman women