Michael's Book Babble
I'm an indie author and a scribbler of inane babble. I talk about books I've read/liked. Or at least, that's the plan.
Most of the reviews will be considered "mini-reviews." Usually, it's mostly my reaction to what I've been reading. There are people who are far better at doing full and helpful reviews. But I still have fun doing them, and hope you enjoy them!
Frightening and unnerving
Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale paints a bleak, bleak future where women are no longer in control of anything, and are seen only as "birth vessels." Their only purpose is to give birth, and if they can't give birth then they're of no use to anybody. And bad things happen to those who aren't seen as useful--although it can also be argued that bad things happen to those who are.
This is the narrator's story. Even though she provides background as to how things got as bad as they did, you see her daily life. And it isn't pretty. Every now and then they'll walk to "the wall" and see no people hung on it, and she wonders if one of them could be her former husband. It's a chilling account you won't forget.
I loved Atwood's prose. It's very clean and straight-to-the-point. She captures the voice of her narrator perfectly. I'm still unsure with how I feel about the ending. The "Historical Notes" at the end, while in some ways necessary, sort of took me out of the moment. But aside from that, it's a damn near perfect novel. I think The Handmaid's Tale will stay with me for quite some time.
4 stars
2