Thursday, July 12, 2007

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Rating: 9/10

Published: 1996
Number of pages: 324
ISBN: 0099740915

Started: 24 March 2007
Finished: 1 April 2007

Summary (taken from inside front cover):
The Republic of Gilead allows Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like all dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs...

Brilliantly conceived and executed, this powerful evocation of 21st century America gives full rein to Margaret Atwood's devastating irony, wit and astute perception.

Comments:
I'm a big fan of dystopian novels and was really looking forward to reading this one after the reviews I read on The Book Club Forum. I wasn't disappointed! The style of writing was a little different from what I was used to and I found it a bit hard to get a feeling for the personality of Offred (I guess that was intended, but still...). However, I found it to be a thoroughly enjoyable read, and one that made me think (and appreciate my life). I look forward to reading more Margaret Atwood in the future.

1 comment:

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