Friday, July 10, 2020

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood


I first read The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood in the mid to late 1990s. I decided to reread this novel because I've forgotten many of the novel's finer details and because I would like to read the sequel to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood titled, The Testaments, which was released last September. 

I listened to the unabridged audio version of The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. Listening time for The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is 12 hours, 6 minutes. I thought Claire Danes did an excellent job narrating The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

I am so thrilled that I reread The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood. I liked it more this time around than the last time I read it. Perhaps more life experience and current maturity level played a factor for liking the novel more this time than the previous one.

Margaret Atwood is a master storyteller and writer. The Handmaid's Tale is definitely a masterpiece and very chilling in terms of how backwards and controlling a society can become in the hands of the wrong people. My only complaint is the ambiguous ending to The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Below is the plot summary for The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood from Audible:
"Are there any questions?" The final line in Margaret Atwood's modern classic, The Handmaid's Tale, has teased and perplexed fans since the book's original release more than 30 years ago. Now, in this Audible Original production, listeners get some of the answers they've waited so long to hear.
Featuring an all-new interview with Professor Piexoto, written by Atwood and performed by a full cast, The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition is a must-listen for both fans and newcomers alike. Emmy Award winner Claire Danes (Homeland, Temple Grandin) gives a stirring performance of this classic in speculative fiction, where the message (and the warning) is now more timely than ever. In addition to rich sound design that honors the audio origins of Atwood's classic, the special edition also includes a brand-new afterword from the author and an essay written by author Valerie Martin (Mary Reilly, Property).
After a violent coup in the United States overthrows the Constitution and ushers in a new government regime, the Republic of Gilead imposes subservient roles on all women. Offred, now a Handmaid tasked with the singular role of procreation in the childless household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost everything, even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life for mere glimpses of her former freedom, and records her story for future listeners.

Whether you're a fan of the original novel or someone who has recently discovered it, The Handmaid's Tale: Special Edition will shock, impress, and satisfy all those who listen.
Below is video from YouTube titled, Why should you read "The Handmaid's Tale"? - Naomi R. Mercer. The video is a good overview.


I am giving The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

Until my next post, happy reading!!

11 comments:

  1. I had the same experience rereading The Handmaid's Tale. I got so much more out of it. And one of the reasons I loved The Testaments was that I got closure on that ambiguous ending. Ha!

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    1. Thank goodness there will be closure after reading The Testaments!!

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  2. I've been intending to read The Testaments ever since it came out last year, but somehow I haven't been able to work myself up to it. Soon, maybe. I, too, reread The Handmaid's Tale a couple of years ago mainly because i found the tv series wanting and I wanted to remind myself of the source material. It definitely meant more to me the second time around. The story itself was sadly illuminated by current events.

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    1. I hope we both read The Testaments soon... right now, I have a lot to read, so am not sure when I'll get to it.

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  3. I also first read this back in the 1990s. I also want to reread it before reading The Testaments. With that, I now find these realistic bad future books a bit disturbing.

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    1. If it's any consolation, I also 'find these realistic bad future books a bit disturbing' too. Maybe it's due to the pandemic and other world events past and present.

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  4. This is one of my favorite books ever! I just got the graphic novel version, so I’m looking forward to rereading it that way.

    Aj @ Read All The Things!

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    1. Have fun reading the graphic novel version of The Handmaid's Tale.

      Thank you for stopping by and leaving me a comment.

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  5. Same as you, I have read The Handmaid's Tale twice. The second time was with a book club. I absolutely loved it both times. That's why I never watched the series on television.

    I saw your post at Carole's Chatter where I linked Where the Crawdads Sing, a book I am sure you would enjoy.

    Happy Reading.

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    1. I haven't read Where the Crawdads Sing yet, but have heard great things about this novel. Happy reading!

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    2. I'm sure you will love it. I had heard it recommended by so many people, in the end I just had to read it. ;)

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