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The Handmaid's Tale
Fans of Margaret Atwood’s fiction can now experience The Handmaid’s Tale as a gripping audio dramatization. Starring Emma Campbell as Offred, William B. Davis as the Commander, and Donna Goodhand as the Commander’s barren wife Serena Joy, this stunning production of Atwood’s Booker Prize-nominated work of speculative fiction was an instant hit when it first aired in 2002. A feminist Nineteen Eighty-Four, The Handmaid’s Tale portrays the future as a chilling dystopia in which religious extremists rule the United States and birth rates are plunging. Assigned to a member of the Gilead elite as an official breeder, the handmaid Offred mingles memories of her old life in the 1980s with dangerous thoughts of rebellion and escape. Audaciously imaginative, The Handmaid’s Tale combines the suspence of a psychological thriller with a bittersweet love story.
2 pages, Audio CD
Published October 5, 2004
2 people are currently reading
28 people want to read
About the author
Michael O'Brien
15 books2 followersLibrarian's note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
February 20, 2017
Shorter than I expected, brief in both plot and characterization, I can see why The Handmaid's Tale is both a classic and incredibly applicable to today's world. What was written in response to the culture in the 1980's could have been written in 2017, and it is still just as chilling. Despite the clear warnings of religious fanaticism, Atwood doesn't seem to be critiquing religion altogether. After all, there are still I can understand why this is analyzed as literature, since its brevity ensures that there are more questions raised than answered. While I'll probably forget it, setting it on the shelf of my mind, I'm sure there are many more people who are haunted by it.
As for the audio edition I read: it doesn't have the epilogue that I discovered mentioned online, but it is dramatized with different voices and some sound effects. Normally I don't enjoy that, but in this case it worked well. A quick listen (only 2 hours), which means the book itself really is more of a short story. If you haven't read it, you should.
As for the audio edition I read: it doesn't have the epilogue that I discovered mentioned online, but it is dramatized with different voices and some sound effects. Normally I don't enjoy that, but in this case it worked well. A quick listen (only 2 hours), which means the book itself really is more of a short story. If you haven't read it, you should.
November 19, 2015
This dramatized adaptation of Margaret Atwood's novel is well-served by its cast and some good sound engineering. It was originally broadcast on CBC Radio.
The storyline is probably more relevant today even than when the novel was originally written. It follows the progress of a resistance movement in a future America which has fallen under the control of an oppressive and fundamentalist regime. This society is particularly repressive toward women and with a decline in human fertility, fertile women are used as breeding slaves for the rich and affluent leaders of the regime. Given the growing health concerns rising from increasing pollution and radiation in our world and given the rise of religious fundamentalism around the world, the story is timely, troubling and thought-provoking.
The storyline is probably more relevant today even than when the novel was originally written. It follows the progress of a resistance movement in a future America which has fallen under the control of an oppressive and fundamentalist regime. This society is particularly repressive toward women and with a decline in human fertility, fertile women are used as breeding slaves for the rich and affluent leaders of the regime. Given the growing health concerns rising from increasing pollution and radiation in our world and given the rise of religious fundamentalism around the world, the story is timely, troubling and thought-provoking.
December 12, 2009
As dystopian novels go, this was highly imaginative and moved along quickly with some unexpected plot twists.
It did hold my interest, but I had a hard time holding onto a 'suspension of belief' to be fully immersed in the plot... thus 3 rather than 4 stars.
It did hold my interest, but I had a hard time holding onto a 'suspension of belief' to be fully immersed in the plot... thus 3 rather than 4 stars.
June 17, 2019
Harrowing, especially now.
November 23, 2019
Good but hard to read in some parts.
May 3, 2014
Nice little number.
I listened to the audio book. I'm not sure but I suspect this was abridged. Perhaps not fair to judge a book solely on this basis.
Nevertheless, a convincing portrayal, almost a parable, of what it might be like (at least for the women) in a Taliban-style society ruled by religious fundamentalism and Sharia-style law. In this case the contrast with western liberalism is enhanced by the fact that the protagonist lives like western women presently do, until there is a crisis, in which the Constitution is suspended and the order of society radically altered, and women are stripped of their rights. They are strictly categorised; the Handmaid of the title becomes a piece of property who only function is to reproduce.
I though the novel was well crafted, the reader is pulled into the interior world of the Handmaid, and it's all good.
I think I found it a little too short, kind of truncated.
I listened to the audio book. I'm not sure but I suspect this was abridged. Perhaps not fair to judge a book solely on this basis.
Nevertheless, a convincing portrayal, almost a parable, of what it might be like (at least for the women) in a Taliban-style society ruled by religious fundamentalism and Sharia-style law. In this case the contrast with western liberalism is enhanced by the fact that the protagonist lives like western women presently do, until there is a crisis, in which the Constitution is suspended and the order of society radically altered, and women are stripped of their rights. They are strictly categorised; the Handmaid of the title becomes a piece of property who only function is to reproduce.
I though the novel was well crafted, the reader is pulled into the interior world of the Handmaid, and it's all good.
I think I found it a little too short, kind of truncated.
March 3, 2008
*Review for the audio book*
I think a three star review for this book speaks for itself; it was alright but not fantastic. It was really short. The audio book was only two hours long. I am not sure if this was abridged or not; it did not say anywhere on the case.
As far as audio books go, this was pretty good. It was unique in that it wasn't read by a single narrator, but was actually dramatized with different voice actors for each character, background sounds, music and the works.
The story was interesting, but pretty standard as far as dystopian fiction goes. I think it was a little too short to be really engaging. If you think the premise sounds interesting, then definitely read this book. Margaret Atwood is a great writer and her books are always enjoyable. However, don't expect this book to change your life.
I think a three star review for this book speaks for itself; it was alright but not fantastic. It was really short. The audio book was only two hours long. I am not sure if this was abridged or not; it did not say anywhere on the case.
As far as audio books go, this was pretty good. It was unique in that it wasn't read by a single narrator, but was actually dramatized with different voice actors for each character, background sounds, music and the works.
The story was interesting, but pretty standard as far as dystopian fiction goes. I think it was a little too short to be really engaging. If you think the premise sounds interesting, then definitely read this book. Margaret Atwood is a great writer and her books are always enjoyable. However, don't expect this book to change your life.
August 27, 2014
Ohhh kay.
First of all, remind me never to listen to another "dramatization." Because they sure are dramatic, overly so. The only good thing about this one was that the Commander sounded like James Cromwell (he wasn't, though.) I mean, who wants to LISTEN to people kiss? Gross.
I didn't like the story of the Handmaid's Tale as much as I thought I would, given the premise. I mean, I like dystopias, and I'm a feminist, and I am terrified of evangelical Christians (sorry, cousin Janet)! But this was just . . . blah. However, if the book's as short as this dramatization, I'm going to read the real thing and give it a fair shake.
(ETA: I did read the real thing, and my review is here. It only gained one star.)
First of all, remind me never to listen to another "dramatization." Because they sure are dramatic, overly so. The only good thing about this one was that the Commander sounded like James Cromwell (he wasn't, though.) I mean, who wants to LISTEN to people kiss? Gross.
I didn't like the story of the Handmaid's Tale as much as I thought I would, given the premise. I mean, I like dystopias, and I'm a feminist, and I am terrified of evangelical Christians (sorry, cousin Janet)! But this was just . . . blah. However, if the book's as short as this dramatization, I'm going to read the real thing and give it a fair shake.
(ETA: I did read the real thing, and my review is here. It only gained one star.)
January 8, 2009
I typically listen to books while commuting and I was very disappointed by the narrator of this book. It was slow and difficult to follow. I got to chapter 34 and just couldn't take her horrendous narration any longer. As a result, my rating reflects my disappointment in what may be a decent story.
January 17, 2011
very creepy. not a happy-go-lucky kind of thing. lots of changes within the characters in the story. some of that was interesting.
March 8, 2013
Not really my kind of book. It was nice to have it abridged and dramatized down to two hours though!
November 11, 2008
Disturbing. Must read.
August 19, 2012
Didn't realize this was an abridged, dramatic reproduction. Meh.
February 3, 2013
Horrifically realistic.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews