Genre: Novel, Science fiction, Speculative fiction, Dystopian Fiction, Tragedy, Fantasy Fiction, Feminist science fiction
Key Stage: Year 11+ (content warning: strong language, emotional and physical violence, and scenes of a mature, graphic nature).
Rating: ★★★★★
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood (1985)
Reviewer: Maisha, Year 12
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and theocratic state that has replaced the United States of America. Because of dangerously low reproduction rates, Handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving. Offred serves the Commander and his wife, Serena Joy, a former gospel singer and advocate for “traditional values.” Offred is not the narrator’s real name—Handmaid names consist of the word “of” followed by the name of the Handmaid’s Commander. Offred’s freedom, like the freedom of all women, is completely restricted. She can leave the house only on shopping trips, the door to her room cannot be completely shut, and the Eyes, Gilead’s secret police force, watch her every public move.
Positives: This dystopia novel is a well-told feminist nightmare. An horrific portrait of a future that seems far too reminiscent of aspects of our own society and its very real recent history. The best kind of dystopian fiction is, for me, that which convinces me this world might or could happen. Atwood’s world-building may be sparse and built up gradually as the story unfolds, but she slowly paints a portrait of stifling oppression and injustice that had me hanging on her every word.
Negatives: The writing was fascinating and yet sometimes I sometimes lost track, especially at the dialogue parts which weren’t really dialogue. The pace was a little slow in the first couple of chapters but it slowly built up. But this book was never boring or dull: it was everything it should be.
If you liked this I recommend Never Let Me Go By Kazuo Ishiguro and Atwood’s The Testaments (the sequel prequel!)