The Handmaid's Tale

by Margaret Atwood
List(s):"Beyond Carp 100"
Category: "Fiction - General"
Pages:307
Year of Publication:1985
Date Added:08/23/2026
Date Read:09/02/2026
Notes:Story set in a future world where women are basically slaves and those who can bear children are sent to the homes of wealthy, influential men whose wives cannot. Offred, the handmaid who told the story was married with a daughter when the U.S. was taken over by religious zealots. Since she had a child, she was made a handmaid and sent to live in the commander's home where she was forced to have sex with him once a month. In time, he begins summoning her on other nights. Meanwhile, his wife, thinking he's probably infertile and wanting a child, sends her to Nick, the chauffer. Nick, it turns out, is a member of the underground and, as the story ends, has her taken away, to what fate we aren't told.
My Rating: 3

Reviews for The Handmaid's Tale

Review - Handmaid's Tale, The

A screed against the Bible and those who believe it, implying that, if they were in control, women would be mere objects. The world she describes is very close to one that actually exists under other religions. As for the story itself, not much happens and there are no characters to root for. The handmaid is a coward and dull. The world of the book is unexplained. Another book that is liked by people who think they're being heroic by jumping on the bandwagon.

Reviewed by Roger on 2026-09-02 15:18:57

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