The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood
The Handmaid's Tale cover
Good Books rating 3.62
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
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Paperback • £9.99 Hardback • £16.99
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  • ID: 1268
  • Added: 2025-10-02
  • Updated: 2025-11-29
  • ISBN: 9780099511663
  • Publisher: Random House
  • Published: 2010-01-01
  • Formats: 75
  • Reviews: 4

The Handmaid's Tale plunges readers into the Republic of Gilead, a theocratic dictatorship that has replaced the United States. Offred, a Handmaid, is assigned to bear children for the ruling class in a world where women are valued only for their reproductive capabilities. The novel is a powerful exploration of the extremes of gender inequality and the resilience of the human spirit in the face of oppression. Through vivid prose and unsettling imagery, Margaret Atwood crafts a narrative that is both a cautionary tale and a testament to the enduring power of hope. The Handmaid's Tale is a masterful blend of speculative fiction and social commentary, making it a timeless and relevant work.

Reviews
Fantasy Literature · 2025-10-21
masterful 4.50

The book is a masterful blend of humor, horror, and satire, making it both entertaining and unsettling. It serves as a scathing critique of societal norms and a cautionary tale.

This reviewer was struck by the book's ability to be simultaneously funny and horrifying, creating a reading experience that is both engaging and deeply unsettling. They praised Atwood's skill in crafting a narrative that is not only a scathing satire but also a dire warning about the potential dangers of societal norms. The reviewer found the book to be a tour de force, with its convincing portrayal of a dystopian world that feels eerily plausible. They appreciated how the book's humor and wit serve to heighten its impact, making the critique of societal issues all the more powerful. Overall, it's a book that leaves a lasting impression, challenging readers to reflect on the world around them.

Quick quotes

    The Handmaid's Tale is funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing.

    It is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and a tour de force.

    It is a masterful blend of humor, horror, and satire.

The New York Times · 2025-10-20
mediocre 2.50

The writing is undistinguished and ordinary, blending in with what one might expect from similar works. It lacks a unique voice or style.

The reviewer found the writing of The Handmaid's Tale to be undistinguished and ordinary, blending in with what one might expect from similar works. They felt that the prose lacked a unique voice or style, making it somewhat forgettable. Despite this, the themes and ideas presented in the novel were noted as thought-provoking. The reviewer appreciated the underlying message but felt the execution could have been stronger.

Quick quotes

    The writing of ''The Handmaid's Tale'' is undistinguished in a double sense, ordinary if not glaringly so, but also indistinguishable from what one supposes ...

    The prose is serviceable but unremarkable.

    The novel's strength lies in its themes rather than its style.

Lairof Reviews · 2024-07-11
engaging 3.50

The novel is a quick read due to its breaks in the story, but the constant time jumps were not favored. Overall, it was liked but not loved.

The reviewer enjoyed the pacing of the book, finding it to be a quick read thanks to the breaks in the story. However, the frequent time jumps were a bit jarring and took away from the overall experience. Despite this, the novel was appreciated for its engaging narrative and thought-provoking themes. They found the characters and setting immersive, making it a compelling read overall.

Quick quotes

    There are plenty of breaks in the story which made it a fairly quick read.

    Overall I liked the novel but didn't love the constant jumps in time.

    It was appreciated for its engaging narrative and thought-provoking themes.

George L Thomas · 2023-04-21
thought-provoking 4.00

The characters are realistic and relatable, the setting is immersive, and the message is thought-provoking, making it a page-turner.

The reviewer praised the book for its realistic and relatable characters, which made the story deeply engaging. The setting is immersive, pulling the reader into the dystopian world. The thought-provoking message about oppression and resistance resonated strongly. The pacing of the book keeps readers turning the pages, making it a compelling and unforgettable read. The reviewer appreciated the balance between character development and thematic depth.

Quick quotes

    Its characters are realistic and relatable; its setting is immersive; its message is thought-provoking.

    Its pace keeps you turning pages.

    The reviewer appreciated the balance between character development and thematic depth.

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