In the world of the near future, who will control women's bodies? Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are only valued if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the days before, when she lived and made love with her husband Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.... Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, "The Handmaid's Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.
About the Author
MARGARET ATWOOD is the author of more than twenty-five books, including fiction, poetry, and essays. Her most recent works include the bestselling novels Alias Grace and The Robber Bride and the collections Wilderness Tips and Good Bones and Simple Murders. She lives in Toronto.
Praise
Praise"A novel that brilliantly illuminates some of the darker interconnections between politics and sex . . . Just as the world of Orwell's 1984 gripped our imaginations, so will the world of Atwood's handmaid!"--Washington Post Book World"The Handmaid's Tale deserves the highest praise"--San Francisco Chronicle"Atwood takes many trends which exist today and stretches them to their logical and chilling conclusions . . . An excellent novel about the directions our lives are taking . . . Read it while it's still allowed."--Houston Chronicle"Splendid."--Newsweek
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Reviews
– Customer review on 14/10/2006
It was a good book, scary thoughts at what could happen to our society, but captivating at the same time. I wanted to know more, to find out more, what happened to the narrator, the family she talked about, her friends.
That's why I was kind of let down at the end. Because it's not revealed, you're left to draw your own conclusions from the way the author concludes the story. I'm a fan of the confirmed, definite happy ending, so when books don't necessarily have that I always feel a little cheated. I think this is probably something a bit quirky about me, though, and apart from that I don't have any complaints about the book.
I have to say that I didn't really enjoy this book much. The idea is very clever and well thought out, but it is just not my preferred genre, or writing style. This is a kind of sci-fi political novel about fundamentalists who take over the government and rule the lives of everyone in the country, forcing women to live solely to reproduce. The ending in this book is very vague, we are left having no idea what happens to Offred, something i found quite unsatisfying, but i suppose it sort of adds to the mystery as such. Anyway if you like sci-fi and out there stories then give this a try, otherwise i'd say its not for everyone.
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– Customer review on 27/02/2006
