Megan Gattone's Reviews > The Handmaid's Tale

Although I have rated the book higher, I don't necessarily LIKE it either... and the long-winded part was my main reason for that too.

As far as my rating goes, I still feel horrified at the prospect of a Gilead, that may take away all the commodities that I like to indulge in, these days. Hence the rating. :)

I've been reading this book since March and haven't touched it in weeks because honestly, I don't really like it either

Alexis wrote: "I've been reading this book since March and haven't touched it in weeks because honestly, I don't really like it either"

It honestly a hard book to want to read! I shouldn't fall asleep every time I read a book out of boredom!

You're not in the minority. This is one of the most overrated books ever. Not very well-written and just way too simplistic. The people who loved this book love it because they think it's some sort of profound social statement - only I could pick out twenty books that make a similar statement and are ten times better than this drivel.

Yeah I won't be reading it because I am enjoyed the show too much!

I felt somehow the same way but I enjoyed her writing style enough to give her other books a chance and I actually loved The Blind Assassin more 😅😅😅 but I totally felt disjointed with The Handmaids Tale

Same!!

Not a fav of mine either. Another overrated novel imho.

The show is awesome though!

I wasn't a fan either. I mostly skimmed through the book after getting halfway.

I do agree about the long windedness of it however, the core message of the book is something we can really take away from. Plus the TV show is 100 times better! :)

Bummer...sorry it didn't work out. I'm probably going to pass on it too. I'm very curious about the show though.

I really want to watch the show, we will see how it all goes.

In total agreement, Megan.
The show is awesome though!

I agree! I think people are watching the show and reading the book, but from just reading the book the characters are lacking.

Sonya wrote: "I agree! I think people are watching the show and reading the book, but from just reading the book the characters are lacking."
I love the TV series, Sonya. In my humble opinion, it's one of those rare occasions where the adaptation is better than the book.

I can't say that I liked to series either, I didn't understand the beginning at all and was so lost I just gave up :(

Is this the basis for the series? I saw the trailer and it looked to horrific for me...

Thanks for such a honest review, Megan. I hope your next read produces better results.

I like both the book and the show.

Margaret Atwood's earlier novels were much more to my liking. I think she has become radicalized over the years by the response to female writers and become disillusioned with the direction the world is taking (as aren't we all) and this has colored her writing making her less approachable and readable.

I am struggling to get through it.

It’s most definitely a hard book to get through... I really even tried the series to help me get through the book and that didn’t work for me either... I so badly wanted to enjoy this book. Others reviews were very good on this book and I figured it was a good book across the board... I was mistaken:(

It sounds like one of those books that people either love or hate, no middle ground.

I read this book years ago, and gave it 3 stars (recently) only because I still so vividly remember it. In fact, it made such an impression on me that I couldn't watch the series. The book made me uneasy on so many levels.

I gave it a 5 stars because in seeming to tell a simple and drab story Atwood touches on many truths of daily life that we take for granted, produces a very relevant dystopia, has a feminist (or feminine) discourse, speaks of the power of the body, as well as the lack of power one can over his or her body, history, etc.

I agree that if you are plot oriented the book must seem drab. The plot is actually quite drab. But the underlying themes and discourses are numerous, profound and insightful. Anyways, there are so many books out there that everyone should read stuff that brings them pleasure!!

Completely agree. I was excited to start this book but it’s left me with absolutely nothing.

I totally agree with you. I was so bored by this book.

I was really enjoying it up until about 60% finished. I absolutely cannot stand Offred. I think she is a gas person (in her past life anyways) so I am unable to feel empathy towards her. It’s making it hard for me to finish the book because I don’t care about any of the characters.

You are not alone. Hated it.

I agree and disagree with this reviewt. At times I too thought Atwood was long winded and would go on and on for paragraphs. I personally didn't find it hard to connect with Offred and the other characters. I felt empathy for them often because I knew that no one in the society was truly happy. The worst part of the book is when she rambles on and on about things like an egg because it would lose my attention.

I'm a third of the way through. I was captivated by the beginning, but the long winded details of unnecessary things are driving me crazy. All I have are questions and I fall asleep before I can even get to the answers, if any. I'm definitely with you. It sucks. I can't get away with not finishing it though. Then I'll watch the show

I agree with your thoughts Megan

I literally gave up reading this book. I could not continue. Where was this going? What was going to happen? I hate dropping books in the middle but this one, omg this one I just had to. I like books that take wing and get you sucked in. Thia one was shallow.

Phew! I’m relieved to know that I’m not the only one. There is no flow at all; sometimes it is in the present, sometimes it is in the past. You just don’t know it unless you re-read again. And the more I read, the more my patience was wearing thin. There was just too much of unnecessary details in almost every page too. It’s like, “Yeah, I get what you are trying to say. Stop describing and get to the point already.” I had to drop a book in the middle too because it left me so irritated and confused.

I completely agree with this rating! I really wanted to like this book but it was such a chore to read.

totally, just read it and was completely disappointed, it was a huge task to even get through it.

I couldn't agree with you more!

I agree. I was expecting this book to be so much better than it was.

Oh phew! I am glad I am not alone.
I am 123 pages in and I can't decide if I'm being impatient with the book or I really just don't like it.

It's certainly hyped and over-rated

I agree with you and I am relieved to see that I am not alone here. I was excited to pick it up but soon was bored and disappointed. I DNF'ed it 100 pages before the end as I was struggling too much!

"It was a task to completely finish the book..." Exactly my sentiment; Absolutely insanely boring

Agreed

Very much agree, I had to read it for school but could do without having ever read it

Agreed! If I had not watched the series first, I would have been clueless while reading the book. No character connection.

Agree, difficult to read and stay interested, and definitely more difficult to finish. Before indoor plumbing...this would have replaced the Sears Catalog.

Totally agree. I only finished it because I hate to DNF a book. But this was rough. If I hadn’t seen the series I would have no clue what was going on.

This exactly summed it up! I finished it but was a challenge

Totally agree that it was a chore to finish!! Not for me!!