The Handmaid’s Tale By Margaret Atwood

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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 valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years 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…

Reading this book was a long time coming for me. I never read it in school and never got around to reading it on my own time. Finally last year, I was able to read it. I thought about watching the show first but I really hate doing that and I’m happy I didn’t. I still didn’t watch the show, nor will I until I read The Testaments which is the sequel to Handmaid’s Tale.

All and all I did enjoy reading this book and I’m glad because I do not enjoy reading a hyped up book only to be disappointed in it. The novel flashes back and forth from Offred’s old life to her current life in Gilead. I enjoyed the way the book was written as the structure makes sense with the story. Sometimes there’s a lot of back and forth in novels that doesn’t make sense. I found the book to be very well written even though it did end abruptly. If there wasn’t a sequel to it, I would not be happy. The writing did make me feel like I was in Gilead living life like Offred and the others, which in some ways was disturbing. Imagine if everything you knew in life changed over night. That is freaking scary if you ask me. If everything you had ever known as normal completely changed, would you be okay? I would not.

I definitely recommend this book and cannot wait to read “The Testaments” and eventually watch the show! Also, Margaret Atwood is a Canadian author so if you are Canadian you are supporting a fellow Canadian!