Review: The Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A classic and eerie work of dystopian fiction. In a future society, the Republic of Gilead, Offred is a handmaid whose purpose in life is to procreate. The tale follows her life as a handmaid while she recalls her former life before the coup that led to the establishment of the new society. In the Republic of Gilead men and women have assigned roles. Many are left barren due to chemical warfare during the governmental overthrow. Women who can procreate are deemed handmaids and are assigned to men and their wives for the purpose of building a family. Rebels and those who do not follow their assigned tasks are executed and left for all to view. Offred tries to be the dutiful handmaid, but is constantly concerned about the friends and family she has been separated from since the establishment of the new government. It is a haunting look at what could happen when an overzealous religious and political power take control of federal government. Not so far fetched these days.

I'm not usually a fan of dystopian fiction, but this book certainly is worth reading during the crazy political climate that the US faces today. It is as relevant today, maybe more so, than at the time of the original writing in 1985.

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