[(The handmaid's tale)] [by (author) Atwood] published on 2017 [paperback]

by Raven Corinn Carluk

Being kidnapped was s merely a daydream of Tayla's. It seemed better than marrying a man older than her father, but it was never really going to happen.But when the man in the silver mask appeared, everything changed for the princess.Filled with violence, passion, and a heavy does of Stockholm syndrome, Handmaid is a tawdry bit of story that will while away the time.

341 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2012

About the author

Talking about myself is much harder than writing a book. You'd think a wordmistress wouldn't have such a problem, but I do. Let me rework a flat scene any day.

Simple background: I'm married, have lots of pets, still work full time, and grew up in Las Vegas.

But there's so much more to a person than that.

Writing is more than just words on paper to me. It's a passion, an incessant need, a deep-seated drive to be a storyteller. I knew I wanted to be an author as far back as high school. Writing may have taken a backseat a few times, but I finally made it.

My stories have bite because I'm a little different, and like slightly different things. No shock horror here, or cheap gimmicks meant to offend, or pandering to the latest trend. My vampires love human blood, my dragons hunt people, and my elves are magical and arrogant.

Romance and darkness will always go together for me. Love really can get you through anything, as I know from personal experience. My characters will always have that glimmer of new love, that bond with a soulmate, and will do anything to be with their one and only.

When I'm not busy having things killed. Being deeply romantic doesn't mean I'm not also a violent or twisted writer. Fight scenes, bloodshed, dark magic, and triumphant villains all have their places in my tales.

I'll never apologize for who I am. Sometimes abrasive and uncouth, full of contradictions and juxtaposition, I am merely who I am.

And what I am is a storyteller wanting to craft new entertainments for you.

Reviews

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

Habe dieses Buch jetzt endlich gelesen nachdem ich die Serie geschaut, wegen der Uni verschiedene Paper die sich u.a. mit der Serie beschäftigen gelesen habe und das Graphic Novel gelesen habe. Natürlich ist das Buch das beste, macht aber die anderen nicht weniger gut. Ich würde sagen, es ist eines von den Muss man gelesen haben-Büchern, weil es sich so grundlegend mit unserer Gesellschaft beschäftigt und so ein kluges Buch ist. Gerade bei der Ausgabe mit diesem Vorwort dachte ich mir auch: Was für eine kluge Autorin! Und war sofort gefesselt. Bin auch sehr überzeugt von der narrativen Entscheidung, dass die Protagonistin keine Heldin ist, sondern the most ordinary woman.
Was das Buch vor allem auch nochmal bietet, sind die "historical notes" am Ende - im Gegensatz zu Serie zeigt es hier nochmal, wie sehr es auch um white supremacy geht, dass Gilead nur funktionieren konnte, weil davor schon unterschwellig Teile der Ideologie verbreitet waren und auch, dass diese unterschwelligen Ideologien nicht verschwunden sind. Auch eine ganz spannende Methode, um sich ein bisschen als Buch selbst noch zu erklären: Die Autorin meinte Mal, dass nichts im Buch vorkommt, dass es nicht sowieso schon gibt.
All in all, eine spannende Analyse dessen, wie ein faschistisches Regime aufgebaut werden kann und welche technischen, politischen aber v.a. gesellschaftlichen Mechanismen es braucht, um Unterdrückung zu gewährleisten.

[Claire · Rating 5 out of 5]

An amazing book but way too close to reality for my comfort - it is easy to see how this 'system' could happen should the delicate current balance of religion, politics, environmental conditions and power change.

Offred recalls, in flashbacks and in fragments, her earlier life as an independent woman, doing all the things I take for granted every day amidst the regulated lifestyle she is currently living in which is truly horrific. It is compulsive reading and I found the book hard to put down. The ending doesn't answer all the questions you may have

[Lucie · Rating 5 out of 5]

It was a compelling book that started slow and confusing but gradually picked up the pace. It's about a dystopian society (could be our future society) where women have no rights. The main character is forced to have children for important and powerful leaders. It was quite an intense book but made me think about our freedom, control and everything we take for granted. It's very dark but super eye-opening.

[Mark Clarkson · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting yarn but I have a distinct dislike of first person stories. It took me several starts to get into the book for that reason, and I always finish any book I start, no matter how long it takes to complete. Not sure whether I will watch the series

[Carolina Estrada Castillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books I've read in a while, I couldn't put it down.

Everyone must read this book, now! I know the author didn't intend it as a prediction of our society, but there are too many coincidences.

[Stacy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty much the same as the program but more insight into June's thoughts and feelings

[Lamita Helou · Rating 3 out of 5]

not bad

[Bernadett Szabó-Bencsik · Rating 5 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook, still eerily similar to reality.
If you didn't read it yet, please do!

[Feeding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Re-read from previous year(s).

[Andy Park · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well- this book was... disturbing. Perhaps I shouldn't have read this on the day that ding dong was taking his oath of office (which he ignores). However- this story frightens me. As I'm sure it is meant to.

Not only does Atwood create a haunting vision of the future- it is not a stretch at this time for someone to believe that this could happen. This story has a 1984 feel to it, coming from a female's perspective in this hellish future. It has a very dystopian feel to it, and the insanity of the situation, just mirrors where we are today. While it was an interesting read- I guess it was similar to stuff I have read before. Again- 1984 esq.