I absolutely LOVE when one of my favourite books and favourite authors show up on the TV. Bravo is doing a mini series right now based on this classic story by Atwood. Currently this new series is set to record on my PVR so binge watching will be happening very soon!
Truthfully I can't remember if I read this book as part of school or just because. Regardless, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. The Handmaid's Tale had me hooked immediately. Classics such as this one can be hit or miss, but Atwood nailed it. The Heart Goes Last was another of her books that she nailed and we talked about in the blog here.
Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now...
For some reason I always think of George Orwell's 1984 whenever The Handmaid's Tale comes up, another classic which is captivating. If you loved that book, you'll probably love this one too. And if you love this book, give 1984 a try!
