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Not necessarily crime but I wanted opinions, The Handmaids Tales worth a read or watch?

Not necessarily crime but I wanted opinions, The Handmaids Tales worth a read or watch?

Donna #questionnaire

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96 Answers

Niki

Haven’t read it but it’s definitely worth a watch!

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DonnaQuestion author

I keep seeing it and it intrigues me but at the same time I feel a little repulsed, I think that’s probably how your meant to feel!

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Niki

Yes it can be quite difficult to watch at times ?

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Kara

Yes! It’s really well written. It’s easily one of my favourite books.

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Karen

Definitely watch and read. The TV has now departed somewhat from the book though

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Rehana

Both! The book is really well written and the tv adaptation is addictive

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DonnaQuestion author

Which is better TV or book? I’m away next week and it’s a real chill out week, so do I download the series or buy the book? Hmm decisions

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Claire

Both. Stunning book. Fabulous tv.

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May

The book is much better.

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DonnaQuestion author

Thanks for the replies, I just need to decide book or TV, I’m leaning towards book so I can take it to the beach and pool ?

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Vivi

Yes, both are really good. The book is really well written, I’d suggest reading it first.

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Lorraine

Read the book, it really draws the reader in.

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Peter

Netflix has got another one based on a book by Atwood: Alias Grace. Well worth watching too, even if Elisabeth Moss is not in it?

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Sonya

Definitely read and watch – brilliant!

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Julie

I’ve just downloaded the first series to gorge over the hols. Loved the book but I found it quite disturbing.

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Ann

I am going to read the book but watched all the series it is disturbing but a must watch

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Penny

I find Margaret Attwood almost impossible to read, so TV for me on this one.

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Carmen

Oh, THANK YOU! I cannot read her stuff either. Have tried several times & they just bore me. I consider her to be The Naked emperor everyone pretends to see clothed sso as not to feel ignorant. As for the HT, pandering to the worst mysogynistic patriarchal fantasies in order to make money does nothing for me except curl up my lip & make me snarl!

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Kate

I tried for almost a YEAR to read the book before giving up about 1/3 of the way through. It just never grabbed me. I loved season 1 of the show, but season 2 had really fell off for me.

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Steve

Seen S1 and its great. Have got the book but not yet read it. Widely regarded as a modern classic though and plenty of crime in it (against humanity that is).

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Mandi

Sorry to hijack your thread @Chinelo but I’ve seen the trailers and read the comments but what is it actually about?

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DonnaQuestion author

This is from Wiki ?, Based on the best-selling novel by Margaret Atwood, this series is set in Gilead, a totalitarian society in what used to be part of the United States. Gilead is ruled by a fundamentalist regime that treats women as property of the state, and is faced with environmental disasters and a plummeting birth rate. In a desperate attempt to repopulate a devastated world, the few remaining fertile women are forced into sexual servitude. One of these women, Offred, is determined to survive the terrifying world she lives in, and find the daughter that was taken from her.

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Mandi

Sounds good. I might have to get book from library and give it a go. Thank you very much for you answer. Xx

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DonnaQuestion author

@Mandi no problem ?

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Dawn

Both

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Dawn

Both

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Gillian

Yes definitely!!!! I loved the television version…. brilliant !!!!

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Ann

Not read the book but will be I love this series x

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Gillian

Me too Ann !!

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Jill

Read

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Gillian

Short and sweet but yes…..Read !!

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Jill

Lol, much like myself ?

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Gillian

@Jill nice picture !!

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Anne

I read the book 30 years ago and it has stayed with me ever since. Every single thing that Attwood writes about was based on things that really happened in this world.
It’s an intense, disturbing read and I’d not really recommend it as a beach read.

The TV series is excellent. Attwood is a consultant to the show and it has been adapted perfectly. Updated with modern tweaks, the visual imagery is stunning and the use of music is breathtaking.
Season One was adapted from the book, Season Two is the film maker’s own take on what happened next, with Attwood remaining as a consultant.

It’s not easy to watch, but it is compelling and disturbing and sadly, a reflection on our times

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Patricia

Haven’t watched the series, and read the book so long ago that I’ve marked it as to read again, but remember loving it when I first read it.

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Shannon

Read and watch

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Lorraine

Read!
I felt the series changed things too much for me.
Maybe because I watched it straight after and noticed the deviation from the time line etc.

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Anne

The series is ‘based on’, it’s an ‘adaptation’ – it’s modernised

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Lorraine

I would probably have enjoyed the series more if I hadn’t just read the book. The modernisation wasn’t a problem but the changes in the storyline began to irritate me.
I think if you are going to do both the book and the series it would be better to leave a gap between them.

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Anne

@Lorraine 30 year gap for me!

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Penelope

Absolutely fantastic book!

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Laney

Watch…it was good

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Niki

Is it worth reading the book after watching the TV version?

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Sarah

Yes

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Jenny

READ!!!!

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Alexandria

Haven’t read the book but watched 1st series and really liked it started 2nd series but gave up halfway through as it got to dark for me.

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Proinsios

Read always!

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Roe

Yes! Read and watch! Both seasons!

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Tammy

Can only say read. I loved the book so much, I haven’t watched anything as it the book had such an impact on me more than 25years ago!

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Jimmy

Read,small book but v good,series good too but modified for the present day.you could watch the 80 s film with robert duval or like me do all 3

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Sarah

Both. One of my favourite books ever, and a brilliant series.

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Libby

Read it first. Then watch it. I was surprised I hadn’t read it in school. Then realized I was out of school when it came out.

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Patricia

I have the book but not read. My stepdaughter has read and watching series she says good.

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Beth

The series is just like the book, and I love the 2nd series better than the 1st except it never fails to make me sob my heart out xx

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Vivian

I hated them both!

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Julie

Both, the series is brilliant

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Emma-Dawn

I didn’t like the book so haven’t bothered with the film.

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Beau

Both x

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Karl

Both. The book first!

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Marissa

Yesss

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Deborah

I loved the book – one of my top five favourites. However I couldn’t get on with the series and stopped watching after a couple of episodes.

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Katrina

Is it on Hulu or Netflix?

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Anne

Hulu. Channel 4 in the UK

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Veronica

Read it recently, very moving book, you really feel the pressure!

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Julie

I found it on Sky box sets

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Niria

I liked the book, the series I just didn’t. I tried but gave up after a couple of episodes.

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Angela

I only watched the series brilliant.

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Christine

It’s not my thing,watched a few episodes the first series but not for me

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Shirley

Couldn’t get into book due to author’s writing style.

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Emma

Oh my gosh I’m so involved in the story it’s unreal (also scary thinning)

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Anne

Me too. I have NEVER been so excited about a Sunday night before! It’s compelling and frightening viewing. Nominated for 20 Emmys and deserve every single one.
I think it should be mandatory viewing, for all.

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Emma

I meant thinking*!! Yes it’s terrifying but unbelievably addictive. I’m two episodes behind as I’m on holiday, it’ll be brilliant binge tv when I get home

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Anne

@Emma Prepare yourself …

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Olga

Yes and yes

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Claire

Yes

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Vivienne

This is second series on now & ive loved it but very moving

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Leigh

Worth reading

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Debbie

I loved the book 25 years ago but hated the recent series.

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Linda

I couldn’t get into it at all

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Corinne-anne

I have just binge watched both series’ and I loved them! Was totally hooked! It’s a hard watch at times as some things really are quite horrible, but it’s a really good series

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Sandra

No. The TV series puts me to sleep.

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Harry

If you like scarily bizarre extrapolations of typical (and currently virulent) male-fantasy dystopias presented as satires, there’s none better.

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Anne

Satire?

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Harry

I don’t believe Margaret Atwood meant it as a version Little House on the Prairie, Anne.

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Nicki

Book is excellent and the TV series surpasses that

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Lois

Haven’t read it but I loved the first series

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Belinda

Absolutely.

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Sue

Only read. Excellent!

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Cathy

Oh yes

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Tracey

Not read the books but I loved the TV show once I’d figured out what was going on!

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Julie

I’ve just binged on the first 4 episodes today…..can’t stop as they are brilliant.

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Jacquie

Definitely

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Lorraine

Read don’t watch 2nd series nothing to do with the book at all. Heard Margaret Attwood speak at Hay festival this year.

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Anne

Season two is fabulous. Attwood is Consultant to the show and has spoken about how important it is. It was made clear from the start that season two is not based on the Book. Season one ended where the book did

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Anne

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/04/the-handmaids-tale-season-2-margaret-atwood-interview

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Heather

Both great.

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