In the near speculative future, in Cambridge, Massachusetts, a totalitarian right-wing God-worshipper regime (Gilead) forces fertile women to produce babies for the upper class. These women are called handmaids with no rights, not even a right to their name. They are state property. The handmade Offred -the name belongs to the household she serves- tells of her memories of her life before the revolution and under the new regime. Offred isn't allowed to write, but as understood from the last chapter, which also informs the reader that Republic of Gilead fell, Offred has escaped by some strange twist of luck and has taped her memoirs over some music cassettes.

reflecting on the darker connections of politics, sex, women, and worship.

read anything I can get my hands on by Margaret Atwood.

shocked and also glad that someone dared to show what could happen if we aren't careful.

Margaret Atwood, a Canadian writer, was born in 1939 in Ottawa. After doing her master's in Radcliffe College, she became a treasure not only to Canada but to the entire world as a writer and teacher.
Among her many works are: Cat's Eye, Alias Grace, Good Bones and Simple Murders, Morning in the Burned House(poetry).

It is excellent reading. It makes one think.

This book is written probably as a warning to show us what could happen if we're not careful. It makes numerous commentaries on life, human rights, women, children, social structure, religious persecution, racial prejudice and even writing. Despite all that, it is a pleasurable book to read and not boring in any way. I think it is a must-read book by all.

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Created Aug 15, 2003 at 4:17pm • Submit your own review...