The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
1986
Fiction, dystopian, digital
311 pages
Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Sequel: The Testaments (2019)
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this book. My curiosity to see what the talk is about. I haven’t seen any streaming versions as I hold strong to the belief that books are more influential than video versions. Although, in this case I have heard that some people enjoy the series more so than the book itself. With that said, here is my version of the events.
Stripped of their names and identities, Offred as she is known narrates the story in a stream of consciousness kind of way where some comments are memories and some appear to be dreams. She lives subconsciously to survive the new normal in which she finds herself. Sometimes, it seems that she no longer trusts her own judgment and those around her.
It’s no wonder there is so much suspicion and paranoia since it seems like the society was turned upside down overnight. An unspeakable war emerges where families are separated and classified according to their fertility and morality as deemed by the powers that be. Commanders who wield some power also seem to be under the influence of their Wife.
The routines and lifestyle are so dysfunctional and scary yet almost reminiscent of other times in history. Although, in history women weren’t forced to wear red and have sex for the sole purpose of reproduction, the distribution of power has always been controversial. Freedom has always been a focus on contention between the “haves” and the “have nots”.
The historical notes of the story present as a psychological case study from the past, as artifacts, studied and hypothesized. Like many traumatic events in the history of mankind, evidence to support the existence prevail. Just as the end of this story doesn’t really have an “ending” that one might expect.
I don’t usually really dystopian novels but when I do there is usually much controversy and discussion regarding the themes and intentions of the author. This book is no exception. Alas, there is a sequel written which perhaps may enlighten me further or not.
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