The Handmaid’s Tale
Margaret Atwood
1985
320 pages
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I’ve been trying to think of what makes this book such a classic. You know, so I can convince all of you holdouts to GO READ IT RIGHT NOW. Not today, and not tomorrow. NOW.
Besides Atwood’s ability to suck me right into the story, I think it’s because it is so potentially real.
Although Atwood is Canadian, I think she really captured that religious fervor that Americans can do so well. To me, there is a certain group of American religious fanatics (and I’m not pointing at any particular branch or sect or person, just that general Christian righteousness that some people flaunt) that does in your face religion way too well. As someone who has never seen the appeal of religion, this can be scary, and I think Atwood taps into that. It’s that “what if” factor.
What if they got power? And what if they gained control of the banking systems? And what if they curtailed women’s rights? And what if the environment went to hell in a hand basket and the birth rate plummeted and healthy babies were a rarity? In this book, Atwood answers all of those what ifs, and it’s not pretty.
In addition to those what ifs, there’s the whole issue of who controls a woman’s reproductive rights, which is also something that is still hotly contested. Atwood’s future is all too plausible, and I think she brings up some timeless concerns (although it would be nice if they weren’t so timeless, yeah?).
One last thing. In Offred she’s created a flawed character that has done what she needed to do to survive, and made choices that I’m sure many of us would make if we were in her shoes. I mean, sure, it’s easy to say we’d take the high road, but it’s easy to say that when, to a large extent, we have control of our bodies and our money and our choices. When Big Brother is watching (and yes, this book totally imparts that feeling), life becomes an entirely different ball game.
So there you have it…most of the reasons why I think this book is awesome and a must read. If I were to encourage anyone (especially a young female anyone) to read one book, it would be a mighty tough choice between this and To Kill a Mockingbird. I have a hard time playing favorites, but these two books? Absolutely my favorites. Which are strong words coming from a softdrink.
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Many thanks to Florinda for hosting this readalong, which inspired me to re-read a book that I’m shocked I’d forgotten so much about.
I think you’re spot-on. What struck me reading it at 30 was that this wasn’t a future created by something that could be looked back upon as a single event – it was a systemic, gradual change, which is harder to stop or correct, and far scarier in its real potential.
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It sounds like I need to buy this the next time I’m at the bookstore.
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When I was younger (oh those were the days) I always believed myself to be “better” than characters in dystopian-esque novels in that I would, of course, never succumb to the pressure. I would rise above the conformity, raise hell, and free my people….errrr, yeah. As I got older I realized that is such total nonsense. It’s easy to talk a big game when you are raised in a relatively free society with supportive people all around you. Being the lone voice against an entire culture – which may kill you for your thoughts – is a whole different ballgame. Ah, the joys of putting on the years.
All of this is to say, hear, hear. Great book. Totally can relate to Offred. She rocks.
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This book gave me the creeps (in a sort of good way, I guess). It just felt too real, it felt so completely like it could really happen. Things not altogether unlike that kind of happened in Iran. I worry so much about Iran.
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Thanks, Jill. It has been quite a while since I read this one. I think I need to read it again.
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I’m really glad you joined in on the group read! I’d forgotten a fair amount of the story too, but whatever the opposite of aging is, this book has done it. It’s an absolute must-read.
Florinda´s last [type] ..The BBAW Interview with Julie of A Tale of Many Reviews
I’ve not read Atwood, but I do have Cat’s Eye here. I may start with that.
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Love, love, love this book. I stayed away from it for a long time because I thought it would never live up to its reputation, but when I finally caved and read it, I just loved every page of it. This one is on my list, but I am saving it for near the end…but now you made me want to read it!
Allie´s last [type] ..BBAW: Interview with Rebecca from Rebecca Reads.
Yes, I must read this again!
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Yes. It is a classic. I tend to shake my head anytime anyone anywhere says, ‘Oh, THAT could never happen.’
Care´s last [type] ..Happy BBAW!
Haven’t read The Handmaid’s Tale since the 80′s…. clearly it’s time to revisit!
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This book is a favorite of both my husband and myself, and I really need to reread it because it has been many years since I last got ensconced in it’s awesomeness. I am so glad to hear that your reread went so well, and that you still love it. I think it’s my favorite Atwood so far.
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I just gifted a friend this book because you all have been raving about it. Now I need to ge a copy for myself, or steal from my friend.
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Did I tell you this? I can’t remember. But I wanted to pitch this to one of my book clubs, the one I would consider to be most literary. The one that loves its classics. But the “leader” wouldn’t even let me pitch it because he thought it was too political. Which completely vexed me. I have never heard anyone get into a fight over this book, just have great thought-provoking discussion. I really didn’t get his problem. But I sat back and said, “What the hell, whatever. We’ll freaking read “Room” instead.”
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Wow! I’ve not seen seen you so gung ho about a book since Waiting for Columbus! I read this years ago and think I probably wasn’t old enough to fully appreciate it. Maybe a reread is in order.
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I read this novel the summer after I graduated from college, and I want to share it with my 17-year-old daughter, because there is so much to ponder and discuss.
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I must reread this one…I just must! Skimming through so many bloggers’ reviews of this one has made me realize how little I remember from reading it and how much I want to read it again. Soon…
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I read this in highschool after I had declared that I hated Margaret Atwood due to her book Lady Oracle. We had to do an independent project on a novel of our choosing and my teacher suggested I give Atwood another go with this one. I did, and liked it MUCH more. I found it way less obnoxious than Lady Oracle, and it was great for writing up a paper. I recently got myself a nice Everyman’s copy of it, so I think it’s time for a re-read! I’m sure it will be really interesting to view it through the lens of 28 years of life vs. 16.
I first read *The Handmaid’s Tale* when it was published in 1985 … The afterword was particularly haunting … What I recall most vividly was that Atwood wrote (to paraphrase), “These things are happening somewhere in the world, right now.” Yikes — that was 1985. I wonder what kind of afterword Atwood would write now …
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I haven’t read this since college, but I just read (ok, listened to) Year of the Flood, which was similar in its creepy, totally believable future state of our society kind of deal. I’m thinking I’m going to have to re-visit A Handmaid’s Tale now, after I read Oryx and Crake. Thanks again for expanding my TBR list!
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