I fell in love with this book when I read it in grade 11. Rereading it now, it hasn’t lost a bit of its eloquence or horror. If you don’t read anything else by this author, read this!
Offred lives in Gilead, a military dictatorship that used to be known as the United States of America. Her role in society is to be a handmaid, a breeder for Commanders whose Wives are too old to bear children. The Handmaids have no freedom and no will; why should they fight when there is nowhere to go and when you don’t know who could be a spy for the government? But Offred can remember a different time, a time when she had a job and a husband and a child. Between her narration of her current life and memories of her past, it is clear that Offred wants to escape. The question is: will she?
This book stretches the concept of a dystopian novel like never before. It is feminist but I don’t think it is overly so (at least, I hope not!). The world described in the novel is terrifying to envision and Offred’s voice is very practical, not at all overly dramatic. It makes the book more believable, the character more relatable. All in all, an amazing dark read. SO READ IT!!!!!
Happy reading ~