The Handmaid's Tale (Cliffs Notes) by Mary Ellen Snodgrass
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Book Reviews of The Handmaid's Tale (Cliffs Notes)
Book Review: An explanation of the obvious to the oblivious.
Summary: 5 Stars
Although some may be put off by the sheer intensity of this novel, it is never the less superb. Atwood's characters are rounded and believeable, as are their surroundings, and the novel has the effect of making us feel uncomfortable in our seats as we read. It is practically inevitable that we will find ourselves questioning the society we live in as a result. Imagery is heavily used,(especially that of colours)and while as first it may seem that Atwood is trying to be poetical, it becomes apparent on closer scrutiny that each has a deep meaning, from the most basic such as flowers reminding her of her ever decreasing chance to have a child and thus save herself, to shades that remind her of her relationships. To the untrained eye, there are seemingly many questions left unanswered at the end, one of those being why the novel ends as it does. My answer to these would be to encourage perspective readers to look more closely at what actually happens between the people involved, and the symbolic connections within this. The answers are there, and when thought of in the character context, are satisfying. These connections are very important as the novel itself is based in a bleak regime, thus giving licence for the exploration of the lead characters mind state. Although you will either love or loathe this novel, it is practically impossible to say that it is not an effective and clever piece of literature.Book Review: I love this truly frightening book
Summary: 5 Stars
Just finished it for the second time. Read it around the time it first published also. Appreciated it more this time especially since the Republican Party has been taken over by right wing zealots. As for readers who are bothered by the fact that there is no closure to the story, that we don't know the heroine's ultimate fate remember the title of the book is THE HANDMAID'S TALE. Once Offred ceases to be a handmaiden there is no more to her tale. She creates a new life for herself. She's no longer a handmaiden but she also can't go back to the life she had before that. She is now a new person. The reader is no longer privy to her life. Since the book is written in first person, we know that Offred has changed the names of most of the characters in her story. This is to protect herself. She wants to leave an account of what happened but she does not want to become a martyr.
Book Review: Fantastic
Summary: 5 Stars
The whole novel revolves around Offred, a supressed woman in an uncaring world, throughout the novel, Atwood masterfully merges biblical usage with dire imagery to create a totally unsettling novel which causes the reader to question their own beliefs. It highlights the ease and danger in which words and sentances can be mis interprete. The main thrust of the novel is it's realism, if things in our history had gone differently we would be living the life which Offred leads, love it or hate it, the novel displays many of the dangers which we face and should be read by everyone. Just one more point, don't watch the film before you read the book, as the ending is completaly different, and considerably worse, Atwood shies away from the atypical happy ending, that is what the book is about, there is no happy ending in that society.Book Review: A concept of our society, framed in the future
Summary: 5 Stars
A fantastic piece of poetic prose which captures not only the horrors of a future society but also those of our own. Atwoods ability to cinematically describe events in such detail, allow vivid pictures of both characters and settings to form in our minds as we imaginatively read the text, and although often obscure Offred's perspective is made truely believable as a result of her lack of stimulants, and censored life. Although on first inspection this book appears to portray a depressing glimpse into a bleak future, on closer inspection we also see how it is a celebration of the resilience of the human spirit in adversity.This satirical account provides a moral messsage that we could all learn from, appreciate the freedom which we have at the present and never abbuse it.Book Review: This book was chilling, changing, incredible.
Summary: 5 Stars
I have never read a more accurate book of fiction before. I haven't thought about the personal rights that I enjoy, until I read the Handmaid's Tale. It is a story of rebellion and it is about the will to live. It is about finding the means to survive emotionally. It is about sex, but not kinky sex. It is about the neccesity for love. I loved this book, and I hope that someday, every high school senior has a chance to read this book before they graduate.