Has anyone read the book "The Handmaids Tale? I got it on clearance. Planning on taking it on vaca

[demtenjeep]

Almost finished with McCain's book. I might slip in the HMT before Comey's book

I never watched the show so I don't know much about it.

[pnwest]

1. I read it - seriously depressing. Not a vacay book! LOL!

[demtenjeep]

2. I thought of that.

but DH thinks that taking political books wouldn't be vacay books either

Last year I took Giant of the Senate and really enjoyed it

[Madam Mossfern]

7. It's not that depressing

especially if one is used to reading dystopian novels.
It's a quick read. I was kind of disappointed in it.

[guillaumeb]

3. It is an incredible book.

Margaret Atwood is an incredible author.

[MicaelS]

11. Agree 100,000,000% with this.

Have read the book over 10 times.

[guillaumeb]

12. And it is a seriously depressing book as well.

My wife and daughters also read the book. The mindset described is only a slight exaggeration of the misogyny we see every day.

[MicaelS]

14. Yes, but I like apocalyptic and dystopias.

I am 60, and have read many of them, since I was 10. Starting with Alas Babylon, IIRC.

[NutmegYankee]

4. Yes.

Written during the rise of the religious right during Reagan years.

[Solly Mack]

5. When it came out and several times since.

It's a must read in my opinion.

[Hortensis]

6. Very dystopian, but compelling.

It's not "real," an entire nation where people who were once, you know, US, with cars and TVs and free choice, are now serfs tilling fields, slavishly obeying orders, and not allowed to read. Just go with it.

[Sanity Claws]

8. Definitely worth reading

Describes a possible dystopia very well.
Whether vacation is the best time to read it is another matter.

[Squinch]

9. Atwood is one of my favorites, and that is a classic. It'll blow your mind.

[lunatica]

10. It's actually a really good time to read it

Because the premise of the book is now easy to imagine happening in this country. It is quite unnerving.

You won’t regret it. The series is also outstanding and deserves every award it’s gotten.

Margaret Atwood was involved somewhat in the making of the series. She has repeatedly said that everything in the book has been done in real history.

The first season covers the entirety of the book. The second season is an exploration of what could happen after. Margaret Atwood is OK with that.

[itcfish]

13. Great Book

I think it should be read by everyone especially now.

[Maeve]

15. Thanks for the reminder

I've been thinking of digging out my old copy and re-reading it and I have it in hand now.

[Laffy Kat]

16. Waaaaay back when it was still in hardback.

I was a first-wave HT reader. It was a great read but I wouldn't want to read it again. I'm depressed enough as it is, LOL.

[SharonClark]

17. Is this a joke?

Asking if anyone has read The Handmaid's Tale and stating you know nothing about it?

"The Handmaid's Tale won the 1985 Governor General's Award and the first Arthur C. Clarke Award in 1987; it was also nominated for the 1986 Nebula Award, the 1986 Booker Prize, and the 1987 Prometheus Award. The book has been adapted into a 1990 film, a 2000 opera, a television series, and other media".

I think you can assume a lot of people over age 30 have read the book. It's a classic.

[meadowlander]

18. It's very good and so is the show based on it.

Atwood traveled to Saudi Arabia before writing it and tried to imagine what the US would be like if the far right imposed the Christian equivalent of Sharia law.

Not a breezy beach book exactly but something everyone should read at least once.

[leftynyc]

19. Oh yeah

I'd find something lighter for a vacation. It's chilling and would be even more so if I read it today.