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I'm sorry there's so much pain in this story. I'm sorry it's in fragments, like a body caught in crossfire or pulled apart by force. But there's nothing I can do to change it. I've tried to put some good things in as well.

This is one of the most thought provoking and honestly terrifying books I've ever read. Although the world of Gilead is a world and time which seems so far from our own, it's also one that hits uncomfortably close to home. Although I was reading about some dystopian world, the themes and events seemed so likely. I mean, speculatively (and this is called speculative fiction by Atwood herself) it is something you can see happening in some terrifying, undesirable future.

But only undesirable for me - the terrifying thing about this is that it has eventuated. There are many many countries in our world today where a great many elements of this story are a reality for women everyday and that's awful, that's the really scary thing about this. There are so many reviews of this with people saying "but this is so unrealistic!" and I wonder if they realise it's not unrealistic at all - it's happening. It's happening right now and not that many people are standing up against that.

So much of this was just sickening and awful and .. so uncomfortable to read? It's so disturbing in it's themes and events, in the way that everything that happens is justified with so many of the arguments and rhetoric we hear today. "Boys will be boys!", "girls only do that for men", "men can't control themselves around women". It was a truly well written piece of Dystopian in that, despite it 'exploring' the life of a 'Handmaid' in the Giledean society, it's clear by doing so it's also exploring and exposing attitudes and values toward women within our own society, highlighting where and how our current social systems and structures work to undermine and devalue the "whole" worth from women aside from 'reproduction'.

I was struck, personally, by many of the comments from men in the story saying things like "Don't you see! We've liberated the women. Now they don't have to dress up and wear makeup and do all those other silly, time consuming things they did to impress men" And I think uncomfortably of how many comments I see on girls pictures, of boys saying the same thing "I don't know why girls think they need to wear makeup", or, "I like a girl who doesn't wear makeup"

And no one realises maybe girls weren't doing it for boys in the first place.

This is a cautionary tale, a warning to people of what happens if you allow bureaucracy and government (which is still largely dominated by men in every country) to dictate women - to dictate what they do with their body, to dictate how they express their sexuality.

I find it confusing when people claim the story of Offred doesn't apply to them - this hits remarkably close to the mark very, very often.

Aside from the social commentary - Offred was such an easy character to connect to. Her narrative throughout is so emotional and poignant you're drawn into the story - it's impossible to not feel emotionally attached and to become embroiled in the tribulations of her daily life.

The ending of this book is so controversial, and I am just as frustrated as the next person. I can't help notice though what an interesting choice it was. The use of the Historical Notes presents a situation in which people from the 'future' are able to emotionally detach themselves from Offred (in a way a reader cannot) mimics current systems in which we, as a society, perceive our treatment of minorities/women as much 'superior' to those before us. And yet, the Giledean's (which the professors criticise) thought their tradition was much superior. It's interesting to note what comment this could have on our own society. I also found the fact they focus exclusively on the 'men' of the story, ultimately undermining and erasing the struggle of Offred (who suffers so much) within Handmiad's.

Although the writing is deliberately disjointed, I don't think it made the story overly confusing and I didn't really feel like I was "lost" at any point. I found the actual writing itself easy to write and quite 'poetic' and emotionally charged. The actual writing was really good and I enjoyed the lyrical or poetic feature of alot of the sentences. I very much liked the 'voice' of this.

I found this whole thing so emotionally charged and absorbing. I am unable to detach myself from Offred and from her story because I feel I've been so closely bound to her and the tale. This is easily one of my favourite classics, and dystopian's and although I feel it's needs to be properly analysed rather than read 'casually', I think it's something all people should consider picking up and thinking about

I may need to rewrite this review later. For now, I think I need to sit back and think about it some more. But I am really, really struck by this story and world and these characters.