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I first read this book the year it was published, 1986, so after 33 years I was surprised at how much I remembered. I'm sure I was shocked at the content and considered it quite chilling at the time. What is amazing about this re-read is that I am not shocked at all, just terrified at how close to this scenario we could be if certain political and religious factions had their way.
Margaret Atwood was truly prophetic when she wrote this, for instance: "I'm ravenous for news, any kind of news; even if it's false news, it must mean something". Where have we heard that term before?

Think about this one: "We are a society dying," said Aunt Lydia, " of too much choice"

Or this: "There is more than one kind of freedom, said Aunt Lydia. Freedom to and freedom from. In the days of anarchy, it was freedom to. Now you are being given freedom from. Don't underrate it".

" From each according to HER ability, to each according to HIS needs". We recited that, three times, after dessert".

These were the things taught in the re-education center for women training to be handmaids in a society where a viable pregnancy was rare, and a healthy baby even rarer. In other words, a uterus with arms and legs. No reading, no talking, no relationships, no rights. Just sex, in a monthly ceremony with the Commander and his wife, which has to be read about to be believed.

Atwood is writing a sequel to this at long last, and I wanted to re-read this before it's release in September. This is a quietly told account of Offred's experience, rich in detail, but also suspenseful, because human nature is not so easily controlled. I have not seen the TV series, but probably will watch the first season now, for the costumes if nothing else.

One more powerful quote: "But remember that forgiveness too is a power. To beg for it is a power, and to withhold or bestow it is a power, perhaps the greatest".