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i was honestly disappointed by it. hope you'll end up liking it more than i did!

vanessa ♋️ wrote: "i was honestly disappointed by it. hope you'll end up liking it more than i did!"

Thanks, vanessa! I've only just started it, but I'm very interested in seeing if it lives up the hype :)

JM the nice bookworm. I need a clan plz wrote: "Cool book cover , when do you think you'll finish it."

Well, right now I'm going at a fifty page a day pace. I'm halfway done, so possibly three more days 🤷‍♂��

This is one of my favorites. I look forward to seeing your review 😊

Kemora wrote: "This is one of my favorites. I look forward to seeing your review 😊"

Thanks, Kemora! Happy to hear you enjoyed it so much 😁👍

glad you enjoyed it more than i did :)

vanessa ♋️ wrote: "glad you enjoyed it more than i did :)"

Thank you very much, vanessa!

Glad you enjoyed it! I loved the book but it’s a bit depressing. It’s not a read to make you happy, that’s for sure.

Nicole wrote: "Glad you enjoyed it! I loved the book but it’s a bit depressing. It’s not a read to make you happy, that’s for sure."

Thanks, Nicole! I didn't enjoy it so much for the story as for the way it constructs and paints the world it inhabits, as well the ideas it brings up. I'd say it's much more interesting than it is entertaining :)

I think it's very interesting that you say you don't read literary fiction because plot plays second fiddle to symbolism. Very well said, that just happens to be what I love about it though. This is a really interesting dual perspective. Without trying to sound too "you just don't understand because you're not a woman" the symbolism is very powerful and therefore, I think, for a lot of people, is more the point than the plot. That said!! You're also very right about most everyone else doing most of the action and her just passively taking it. That's part of the symbolism as well, but the point is valid. It's probably very very intentional that the Hulu adaptation has June being much more active in later seasons. Very cool review, I appreciated your thoughts!

Ashley wrote: "I think it's very interesting that you say you don't read literary fiction because plot plays second fiddle to symbolism. Very well said, that just happens to be what I love about it though. This i..."

Well, it's not as if I don't read literary fiction at all, I just don't read much of it. I read this book, for example, so that's at least evidence that I'm open to it from time to time. I don't listen to much country music either, for that matter. I've got nothing against either genre, they're just not really my thing. As you say, aspects I might not particularly care for are precisely what others value above all else. It's all just a matter of how you want to spend your free time. That said, it's perfectly fine to say there are things I just don't understand because I'm not a woman. I say that to myself all the time :)

I had no idea Offred's real name is June. Wonder if that's canon in the book or just the television show. Perhaps it's in the sequel? which I do intend to read at some point in the future. In any case, glad you like the review 😁👍

Jayson wrote: "Well, it's not as if I don't read literary fiction at all"

I didn't mean to come off as combative, I'm rereading now and of course, in our day in age "It's interesting that..." always sounds shit-eating 🤣 I literally meant it was indeed interesting; I had not thought of that perspective. I get mad when books don't have plot ONLY IF they also don't have symbolism (or something else compelling); that's where I was coming from.

Now that you mention it, I have literally zero idea if her real name is in the book but it is canon, yes.

Ashley wrote: "I didn't mean to come off as combative, I'm rereading now and of course, in our day in age "It's interesting that..." always sounds shit-eating 🤣 I literally meant it was indeed interesting..."

No worries, I just felt the need to clarify the point since you wrote "I think it's very interesting that you say you don't read literary fiction because..." Which, by that line alone, might suggest that I don't at all or possibly that I read this against my will or something Lol. Just me being nitpicky. It's awful hard to convey intonation or mood with just text. Just assume I'm saying everything with a smile 😅

Ashley wrote: "Now that you mention it, I have literally zero idea if her real name is in the book but it is canon, yes."

Well, having just read it, I can tell you it's not in this book :)

Great review as always, Jayson - it's a pleasure to read your book commentary!

When I finished reading this a few years ago, I loved it. Now I've read more of Margaret Atwood, and I feel it is nowhere near her best, so I feel like a re-read is due, and it'll result in a lower rating for me personally. If you are interested in reading more of her books, I'd highly recommend The Blind Assassin or Alias Grace - my two personal favorites.

Emma wrote: "Great review as always, Jayson - it's a pleasure to read your book commentary!

When I finished reading this a few years ago, I loved it. Now I've read more of Margaret Atwood, and I feel it is no..."

Thanks for the recommendations, Emma! In addition to this book, I've also read The Penelopiad. I think I might also have one of her short story collections here somewhere. In general, I'm a fan of her prose, it's just that I've not found a story of hers that I've connected with or been engrossed in. All a matter of personal preference, of course. In any case, glad you enjoyed it so much! Looking forward to seeing what you think if/when you do your re-read 😁👍

"This may possibly be the most passive protagonist ever." That comment alone so amply sums up why I couldn't stand Offred!

Hannah wrote: ""This may possibly be the most passive protagonist ever." That comment alone so amply sums up why I couldn't stand Offred!"

I can see how that can be frustrating. She does sort of drift in the wind, expecting other people to intercede on her behalf instead of doing anything herself. Not exactly the rebel protagonist we expect from dystopian stories.

Jayson wrote: "Hannah wrote: ""This may possibly be the most passive protagonist ever." That comment alone so amply sums up why I couldn't stand Offred!"

I can see how that can be frustrating. She does sort of d..."

I don't think Atwood follows the convention of normal dystopia's because this is also classed as speculative fiction. And i think why Atwood portrays Offred as a passive protagonist is because that is the only way you can survive this regime. For instance charcters like Janine who belives in this regime is going mad whereas Moira ends up in Jezebels where there is no life for her. Offglen kills herself even though she was a part of Mayday, Offred the only one was passive survives. I think how she portrayed Offred was so powerful. Loved this book so much.

Jayson wrote: "Ashley wrote: "I didn't mean to come off as combative, I'm rereading now and of course, in our day in age "It's interesting that..." always sounds shit-eating 🤣 I literally meant it was indeed inte..."

It is in the book, i think it is in the start of the book where they are in the gym and they all whisper names and the only one that is not given to other charcters is June, so is implied that June is Offred's name if that makes sense.

Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "I don't think Atwood follows the convention of normal dystopia's because this is also classed as speculative fiction. And i think why Atwood portrays Offred as a passive protagonist is because that is the only way you can survive this regime."

I don't think it being speculative fiction has much to do with it. Most dystopias as speculative fiction, whether they stray into science fiction is another matter. I just think Atwood didn't follow normal convention as an artistic choice.

As well, I'm not saying that Offred being inordinately passive is a negative thing, though other people have said so. It's just an observation, which I don't think anyone disagrees with.

Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "It is in the book, i think it is in the start of the book where they are in the gym and they all whisper names and the only one that is not given to other charcters is June, so is implied that June is Offred's name if that makes sense."

Ah, yes, end of the first chapter. I suppose it's implied, presuming you'd write down all the names at the start and cross them off each time you meet a new character. Thanks for pointing it out.

Jayson wrote: "Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "It is in the book, i think it is in the start of the book where they are in the gym and they all whisper names and the only one that is not given to other ..."

No worries 😊

Jayson wrote: "Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "I don't think Atwood follows the convention of normal dystopia's because this is also classed as speculative fiction. And i think why Atwood portrays Offre..."

Ah i get what you mean!

Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "No worries 😊"

Fiz|فيز on semi-hiatus (Sep-July) wrote: "Ah i get what you mean!"

I chose not to read this book, mostly because of the subject - and I am just not into this author. I have read her in the past. But, I am amazed, after seeing all your comic/graphic book reviews to see this one here, Jayson. So, let me just say...impressive review! You gave great insights into this book. Well done! Thank you. : )

Karen wrote: "I chose not to read this book, mostly because of the subject - and I am just not into this author. I have read her in the past. But, I am amazed, after seeing all your comic/graphic book reviews to..."

Thanks, Karen! Happy you liked it. I didn't read this book for a long time myself, for more or less the same reasons as you. But there are certain books that sort of loom in the zeitgeist that I feel a responsibility to read just so I can have an opinion about it. I mean, people will watch the Super Bowl or the Olympics even if they're not fans of those particular sports, just because it's a cultural happening.

In any case, I'll read books like this from time to time, I used to exclusively, but I prefer finishing books in a timely manner, and comics do that for me. I have a hesitation with longer prose books, where if I don't have a good amount of time to devote to finishing it, there's always the threat that I'll put it down and not get back to it for a while. And in those situations, it's easy to forget things and difficult to get back into it again.

haha love this

Hannah:) wrote: "haha love this"

Thanks, Hannah! Cheers 😁👍