The Handmaid's Tale, by Margaret Atwood, was a fascinating novel. I didn't expect to be as enthralled with it as I was. It is at once horrifying, funny, shocking and thought provoking. Full of symbolism and political commentary, it was a page turner until the very end.
The Handmaid's Tale is set in some future year that is not specified. There have been natural disasters, and a government coup of sorts, that change life as people know it. It is a gripping diary of one woman's journey through a new society where everything isn't as it should be. Families are torn apart, rights stripped away, new roles mandated and punishments given that are reminiscent of a less civilized time. As this woman makes her way through this new society in her new role, she must figure out the politics of the relationships between her and those she serves, with others in the household, as well as the relationships between the other household members themselves. She must also learn to deal with devastating loss and decide whether to continue on as instructed, fight, or give up and die.
It was a fascinating novel, filled with horrific things that don't seem so far fetched. This book makes you realize how fragile a society can be and how quickly things can change. It was especially appropriate to be reading it during our election process. I read this with my "book club girls" and we all thoroughly enjoyed it. We had more to discuss from this book than we have in a long time. I would highly recommend this book.
Happy Reading!
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