I watched the series on Hulu and found it intriguing so I bought the book. Also bought another book by the same author – can’t remember the title – it was TERRIBLE!
I loved Handmaid’s Tale when I first read it and tired a couple of her other books. They were awful! I don’t remember the titles now, but know I decided to just stick with The Handmaid’s Tale, lol.
I absolutely love love love this book. I have read it dozens of times. It’s one of those books that has so much in it you find something new each time. I ended up teaching it in my Women’s Lit class. I paired it with Comfort Woman. The students thought The Handmaid’s Tale was fantasy until they realized those atrocities are taken from real life. It was an eye opener!
This was a mandatory read for me before I went into college. I went to an all women’s college, women studies was a highlight of my education. I find it pretty entertaining that it’s now so popular 20+ years later from my mandatory read.. Great book very interesting how I can relate to our current situation
It’s a great book – but quite bleak, and @Jessica is right, it kind of peters out at the end. The 2nd TV series will be about what happens after the end of the book and that’s quite exciting to contemplate. If you enjoy The Handmaid’s Tale you may also like to read last year’s Bailey’s Women’s Prize winner The Power by Naomi Alderman.
The Tv series is 100x better. The book was boring and written poorly. There were several parts that were written: “she said, then I said, then she said…” I was barely able to finish it, it was that bad. Also the changes they did for the TV show definitely made the story better.
It is a great book. Though written in 1980 or so, you will feel like it is covering current events. If you are a Trump fan, you might not agree with the author’s viewpomt.
The book is excellent. The disjointed feel is because it is her memories and she does follow some tangents. She remembers a day in her life as a handmaiden and a time in that day that reminded her of the life before and that reminds her of her daughter. It is one of the most disturbing books I have read but so very worth it. Get the version with the author notes at the end if you can, they are interesting.
Excellent book but scary. Also loved series 1 TV series. But struggling with series 2 which I’m finding so slow and full of inexplicable nuances, comments and facial expressions that it’s making it boring
@Dorine Real life has humor, regardless of tragedy Orr upset. Removing any humor takes away realism and leaves me unable to get involved with the story. That’s why Shakespeare always had a comic character.
wasn’t crazy about it…
Excellent!
I tried reading it about a year ago around the time the tv series came out. No matter how I tried I couldn’t get into the story.
Same.
Me too but loved the series on tv xxx
I read the whole thing but yeah not my favorite book
Oh I loved it! But I read it after watching the series. I may not have liked it so much on its own.
The series is wonderful but I just could not get into the novel
I couldn’t put it down! Alias Grace is another great Atwood read.
Great book …
First read it in college years ago. Great read, but somewhat of an aquired taste. I hope you give it a try 🙂
I watched the series on Hulu and found it intriguing so I bought the book. Also bought another book by the same author – can’t remember the title – it was TERRIBLE!
I loved Handmaid’s Tale when I first read it and tired a couple of her other books. They were awful! I don’t remember the titles now, but know I decided to just stick with The Handmaid’s Tale, lol.
Haven’t read it yet. Sometimes one is better than the other.
I loved it.
Absolutely in love with the TV series at the moment, but haven’t read the book 🙂
I absolutely love love love this book. I have read it dozens of times. It’s one of those books that has so much in it you find something new each time. I ended up teaching it in my Women’s Lit class. I paired it with Comfort Woman. The students thought The Handmaid’s Tale was fantasy until they realized those atrocities are taken from real life. It was an eye opener!
Brilliant
I’m currently reading it. It’s thought provoking …and a little terrifying.
I liked it!
Started it but found it uninteresting and quit reading it
Me too!
I loved it.. it’s slow, pensive and you have to fill in some blanks, connect some dots and feel like it’s you in that dress…
I do not like the tv series but I really liked the book.
I couldn’t finish it. I tried but it didn’t captivate me
Loved it and made me love margaret Atwood
I loved it! It was very good.
Absolutely amazing. Parts made me cry because I have children, namely a daughter. It was like a modern 1984 written by a woman. One of my favorites.
I did not like it. It took me 3 times to read it completely
I read it years ago and it was disturbing. It’s on my desired reread list these days but I haven’t gotten there yet
Great book, really unnerving.
Liked, bit of a weird concept though
This was a mandatory read for me before I went into college. I went to an all women’s college, women studies was a highlight of my education. I find it pretty entertaining that it’s now so popular 20+ years later from my mandatory read.. Great book very interesting how I can relate to our current situation
I really didn’t enjoy it
Loved this book, the tv series is really good too
I found it to be meh. I like dystopian society books but this was just okay.
Loved it. I also found it a slow burner, but when I was hooked, I couldn’t put it down.
Enjoying the tv at the moment
Very much enjoyed the tv adaptation. The new series is due on. Haven’t read the book.
You can watch The Thug Notes on YouTube https://youtu.be/01VOISj8Fq0
Hated the ending
It’s a great book – but quite bleak, and @Jessica is right, it kind of peters out at the end. The 2nd TV series will be about what happens after the end of the book and that’s quite exciting to contemplate. If you enjoy The Handmaid’s Tale you may also like to read last year’s Bailey’s Women’s Prize winner The Power by Naomi Alderman.
I liked it, makes you think
I loved the series and soon to be series 2!
Series 2 already started
I read it years ago and absolutely loved it.
The Tv series is 100x better. The book was boring and written poorly. There were several parts that were written: “she said, then I said, then she said…” I was barely able to finish it, it was that bad. Also the changes they did for the TV show definitely made the story better.
I read the book at the same time as the tv series came out. I didn’t enjoy the book at all and I was disappointed by the ending.
I agree with all the other reviews the tv show was far better.
I liked it but not an easy you either like it or hate it no in between
i didnt love it like alot of people did. i think it needed a screen adaptation
One of my favorite books ever. Margaret Atwood is fantastic.
It is a great book. Though written in 1980 or so, you will feel like it is covering current events. If you are a Trump fan, you might not agree with the author’s viewpomt.
I preferred the series to the book. The book was very disjointed and hard to follow. The series is wonderful.
TV show was much better than the book.
it was powerful and haunting. I found the show a little too depressing so only watched one episode.
The book is excellent. The disjointed feel is because it is her memories and she does follow some tangents. She remembers a day in her life as a handmaiden and a time in that day that reminded her of the life before and that reminds her of her daughter. It is one of the most disturbing books I have read but so very worth it. Get the version with the author notes at the end if you can, they are interesting.
When did you take that picture of my husband and I ?
A powerful read I recommend it
Not a must. Just OK
Quite good not amazing but still enjoyed.
I loved it
meh
It is one of the few times when I liked the series better than the book
loved it
I literally just finished it yesterday! I absolutely loved it! The “historical notes” at the end bring everything together!! Recommend!
I read it decades ago & loved it.
Me too.
Not keen
Didn’t love it. It was difficult to get into and I hated the ending.
Agreed, the ending is pretty brutal for what we had to plough through
@Krishna exactly! It was so depressing too
Love it. Not an easy read.
An incredible book – everyone should read it. Not comfortable, not enjoyable, but haunting, prophetic. Important.
I prefer the show. It keeps my stomach in knots the entire episode. Last one had me crying.
Deeply disturbing (even years later)…in a good way.
Excellent book but scary. Also loved series 1 TV series. But struggling with series 2 which I’m finding so slow and full of inexplicable nuances, comments and facial expressions that it’s making it boring
Do you have to watch series 1 to be able to follow series 2? Can I just pick it up?
Series 1 was good and yes you would need to see it to vaguely understand what it is all about unless you’ve read the book. The book was good
@Linda ty for that information . No I haven’t read the book. This is one where I thought I’d understand the TV series better??
Tried watching an episode but l don’t get it ?
Loved it. Actually it is in my top 5. I just got the DVD of season 1.
AMAZING
Must must read ..
Then watch the series on Hulu
Slow and humorless
Yep.. but isn’t that just what the story required?
@Dorine Real life has humor, regardless of tragedy Orr upset. Removing any humor takes away realism and leaves me unable to get involved with the story. That’s why Shakespeare always had a comic character.
it worked for me..