2025 & 2026 Reading Challenge discussion

This is the discussion thread for The Handmaid's Tale Chapter 13-24

This is something new I want to do this month, and I'll only state it this one time to keep the conversation positive.
Please by no means let it scare you away. Everyone is welcome! :)

I just ask for everyone to be nice during the month of March. We're here to have a discussion, learn facts, share stories, and still represent our believes without personally attacking anyone.

Happy Reading!

Getting way too ahead of schedule, so I will be taking a reading break until next week.

I'm at chapter 18, but if anyone is interested in starting conversations I will be here next week. :)

I've read way ahead, I haven't been able to stop myself. I'm already in the middle of Chapter 28. It's soooo good! This book is going into my "read once a year" pile.

This is a great book. I can't stop reading it either. I read several chapters and then I put the book down and walk away. All I can think is "Wow - I am so thankful for the life I have." This book would be a totally different read if this was the only life she had known. Since she had a "normal" life and it and everything and everyone was taken from her - I just find it so heartbreaking. I admire how she continues to function in such circumstances. I really don't think I could survive what she is going through.

Gail wrote: "This is a great book. I can't stop reading it either. I read several chapters and then I put the book down and walk away. All I can think is "Wow - I am so thankful for the life I have." This book ..."

Walking away is a heavy theme among this book. Which I'm glad people are powering through it! I'm about to read another 100 pages this week. Hopefully I can within the time frame I have left of borrowing this book.

That's what I find so scary about this book is she did have a different life, and also this is a speculation so the fact that it was written to possibly happen, is SO freaky. I have to walk away from it myself.

I arrived at the end of this section just a moment ago.

Soooo, kinda weird. Kind of gross because natural body functions were happening yet it was super creepy in how they were observed. There's no privacy in this world.

And huge spoiler so only read this if you're at the end of chapter 24!!!

(view spoiler)[ I'm curious what happens to Moira. Maybe nothing? Maybe the Aunts lied and she died? she went to the colonies? I feel like this is the type of story that once a character is dropped though, that's it. But I could be definitely wrong. (hide spoiler)]

Taylor R wrote: There's no privacy in this world.
Lack of privacy is one of the main points in most dystopias, especially the classic ones. Probably becasue it's pretty universaly horrifing to imagine.

As for the spoiler part - it will be adressed again later in the book.

Imbunche wrote: "Taylor R wrote: There's no privacy in this world.
Lack of privacy is one of the main points in most dystopias, especially the classic ones. Probably becasue it's pretty universaly horrifing to ima..."

Which is very interesting - considering that through most of history, privacy wasn't considered an priority and certainly not a right. That is a very modern concept and very western in many ways. Only in the last 100 years or say have we moved away from living with extended family. Bathing was more communal (think Roman bath houses), privies were multi person more often than not (or chamber pots in rooms that housed multiple servants or siblings or husband and wife.) The 1800's really began the concept and it started at the top of society and eventually made it's way down the social ladder. Now, we struggle to conceive of the idea of a 'lack of privacy'.

Sheryl_at_Ubookquitous wrote: "Imbunche wrote: "Taylor R wrote: There's no privacy in this world.
Lack of privacy is one of the main points in most dystopias, especially the classic ones. Probably becasue it's pretty universaly..."

It just sounds like jail to me more than a dystopia or ancient times. Which makes me sound ignorant lol. I think with taking modern thinking into account, that is what it sounds like to me. No privacy, activities, they get tokens for food. The more I read though (almost to chapter 34) diversity is happening and it's happening quickly.

Taylor R wrote: "Sheryl_at_Ubookquitous wrote: "Imbunche wrote: "Taylor R wrote: There's no privacy in this world.
Lack of privacy is one of the main points in most dystopias, especially the classic ones. Probably..."

Oh, I agree that combined with the other 'controls' in place, the society for all but the privileged few is prison-like. Women throughout history have had to deal with limitations on their freedoms and Gilead brings plenty of those back, and creates some new ones.

I was referring more to lack of privacy that our modern sensibilities rail against because we are used to privacy. That we equate the lack of privacy and communal activity with prison is interesting.

I feel like if Moira died the Aunts would have said so to dissuade the other girls from trying anything. I see Imbunche said it will be revealed later, but I'm choosing to believe for now that Moira made it to Canada. And is living with other outlaws a la Fahrenheit 451.

Yeah, the ceremony and birthing party really creeped me out--you'd think the wives wouldn't want to witness those events as it would remind them of their failure. I certainly wouldn't want to!

It said Offred was 33 which surprised me. That seems young to be concerned about losing your fertility. But I guess if that's your sole purpose in life....I wonder if her being 33 is meant to be a reference to Jesus in some way?

Emily wrote: "Yeah, the ceremony and birthing party really creeped me out--you'd think the wives wouldn't want to witness those events as it would remind them of their failure. I certainly wouldn't want to!

It ..."

Offred is afraid of not getting pregnant because Handmaid's only have so many postings before they are 're-evaluated'. Offred knows that she is considered able to have children, but that, as the doctor pointed out, the government claims men are never sterile, so the woman gets the blame. This is not Offred's first posting.

The ceremony is based on the Bible, Genesis 30:1-3 (The commander quotes it during the part of the ceremony in the living room when he reads from the bible.)

And when Rachel saw that she bare Jacob no children, Rachel envied her sister; and said unto Jacob, Give me children, or else I die.

And Jacob's anger was kindled against Rachel; and he said, Am I in God's stead, who hath withheld from thee the fruit of the womb?

And she said, Behold my maid Bilhah, go in unto her; and she shall bear upon my knees, that I may also have children by her.

The position is their somewhat literal interpretation (we see similar when one handmaid gives birth) of the quotation. It also is intended to ensure the hierarchy and from the perspective of those insisting that the ceremony be about procreation, it would limit any 'recreational sex' aspects as well as keep wives convinced there is no additional 'relationship' between the husband and the handmaid.

I love the layers in this book. It keeps me turning the pages. I have to put it down so I can get something done! It was a very busy week for me and the fact that I kept on pace reading through chapter 24 says a lot for this book! This week will be slower and I'm betting I finish it before the end of tomorrow!

Joan wrote: "I love the layers in this book. It keeps me turning the pages. I have to put it down so I can get something done! It was a very busy week for me and the fact that I kept on pace reading through cha..."

Yes, those layers slow me up a bit. Each time I read this I see more and different pieces I didn't see before.

I had the audiobook on while cleaning and cooking this week so I am 72% finished. Will definitely finish this week.

Emily wrote: It said Offred was 33 which surprised me. That seems young to be concerned about losing your fertility. But I guess if that's your sole purpose in life....I wonder if her being 33 is meant to be a reference to Jesus in some way?

There are so many references to Christianity in this book, so I would definitely not be surprised if that was the intent with her age! The symbolism and metaphors in this book are astounding.

I'm also amazed at how the themes and some of the stuff going on in the world within the book are still very relevant to what's going on now.

This is a real page turner. I have to remind myself to slow down and digest the story before I continue reading. Both the ceremony and birthing chapters were very disturbing to read, and I was suprised by the commander asking offred to play scrabble and kiss him like she means it. Is he looking for companionship? We talk mostly about the role of the women in this book, but what about the men?

I thought about the men as well. It seems like a lonely existence for all humankind.

Sarah wrote: "Emily wrote: It said Offred was 33 which surprised me. That seems young to be concerned about losing your fertility. But I guess if that's your sole purpose in life....I wonder if her being 33 is m..."

For me, our not immediately thinking about men is important. The book is essentially about the experience of women. In some ways the men are very stereotyped. The commander, Nick, the husband Luke, even 'the doctor'. I've always seen this as a subversion of much of historical canon literature where the focus is on the males, and the women are types -- there to service our understanding of the men.

Well, I've managed to wade through another twelve chapters. So far, I'm not a fan. It is proving to be a tedious read but I shall endeavor to press on.

Greg wrote: "Well, I've managed to wade through another twelve chapters. So far, I'm not a fan. It is proving to be a tedious read but I shall endeavor to press on."

I feel the same. This book is very similar to 1984. The story seems to be all over the place. No real plot or reason for anything. I'm not one for quitting, so I to shall press on!

Ilona wrote: "This is a real page turner. I have to remind myself to slow down and digest the story before I continue reading. Both the ceremony and birthing chapters were very disturbing to read, and I was supr..."

It does seem as if the commander is missing the companionship of a wife or female. I wander how the men really feel about the womens role.

Sorry for being absent on chapters 13-24 lately.

You all are doing a fantastic job interacting, discussing, keeping it mature, etc lol. :)

Greg Lindsey-- I found that would be "gasp" in certain areas because I thought the plot was getting somewhere! Someone described it for me earlier. It's more of an oversight than a plot. Which I learned early on that this was starting to be the case. I don't want to change your opinions, and I'm not putting you down by any means! So sorry if I sound rude, but I can agree. I wanted a plot and it was more of an observation tale since we are in Offred's head/thoughts the whole time.

Not exactly my favorite format, but I wanted to power through it too. Still a decent read. I still appreciate Atwood's accomplishments.