★★★★☆ (4 / 5)

I was in the mood for some quality literature, and I figured I couldn’t go wrong with Margaret Atwood. And I didn’t! This book really reminded me of Orwell’s 1984, which I enjoyed.
My favourite thing about the book is the way the story is told. All chapters, all paragraphs have Offred’s voice. You never feel like there is an author describing, exposing. Atwood takes her time to peel away this complex, seemingly alien society. This creates a good mystery, and keeps you going from beginning to end. You just want to keep reading, not to know what is going to happen next (nothing much happens in this book!) but to discover more details about the way this society ticks.
Good timing too; if I had read this ten years ago I’m not sure I would have enjoyed it as much. But today, given the direction American society is heading towards, this book is undoubtedly more relevant than ever.
My only gripe is the very last chapter (the in-world “historical notes”). It feels tacked on and unnecessary. But it’s only a few pages long, and is placed at the very end, so it’s a minor problem. Overall, this book is highly recommended.
Fact Sheet
- Author(s): Margaret Atwood
- Publisher: McClelland & Stewart
- ISBN: 978-0771008795