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teh_niarr's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Bullying, Suicide attempt, Religious bigotry, Emotional abuse, War, and Toxic friendship
Moderate: Toxic relationship
Minor: Death of parent and Alcohol
gvstyris's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
The world is being run by people my age, men my age, with falling-out hair and health worries, and it frightens me. When the leaders were older than me I could believe in their wisdom, I could believe they had transcended rage and malice and the need to be loved. Now I know better. I look at the faces in newspapers, in magazines, and wonder: what greeds, what furies drive them on?
After trudging through Cat’s Eye and DNFing Oryx and Crake, I think it’s time for me to accept that The Handmaid’s Tale is the exception, not the rule, when it comes to my taste in Atwood's novels. While I picked up on the social commentary hidden amongst Cat’s Eye's depressing tone and unlikeable characters, Elaine’s internalised misogyny (and straight-up cruelty!) rendered this novel pretty insufferable for me. Perhaps I’m just a couple decades too young to appreciate it properly -- I can see where the portrayal of female bullying would’ve been revolutionary in the 1980s.
My main highlights were Atwood's writing style, as always, and Elaine's relationship with her art. Atwood also portrays childhood both realistically and with sensitivity, which is difficult to pull off. I'm curious about the autobiographical elements of this novel, and will definitely be doing some digging.
Primarily, though, I've come away with an increased fear of one day being a middle-aged white woman myself...
Graphic: Toxic friendship, Self harm, and Bullying
Moderate: Forced institutionalization, Infidelity, Suicidal thoughts, and Abortion
Minor: War
lay_kone's review against another edition
5.0
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, War, Miscarriage, Bullying, Child death, Abortion, Death of parent, Murder, Religious bigotry, Antisemitism, Sexism, Suicide attempt, and Violence
dreamofbookspines's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
3.0
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts and Self harm
eg_demps's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Self harm, Violence, Bullying, Toxic friendship, and Suicidal thoughts
Moderate: Body shaming and Toxic relationship
strong emphasis on gender binary in this book, especially the sections reflecting on her adult lifedaria_reading's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
Graphic: Sexism and Self harm
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts
Minor: Sexual content
alison_massey's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Suicidal thoughts and Bullying
averyhawthorne's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
"'I'm not mad because I'm a woman' I say. 'I'm mad because you're an asshole.'"
While Atwood is a beautiful writer, the same story could've been told in about 300 pages. The entire book blends the past and present of one character, but the character isn't exactly lovable, unique, or all that interesting. A large portion also covers her adolescence with awful friends who are bully her and, it turns out, I hate reading about bad friends. It gave me The Bell Jar energy (reflective & dark), so if you loved that book then this one might be for you!
Graphic: Bullying
Moderate: Infidelity
Minor: Suicidal thoughts and Suicide
jennifer_'s review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Bullying, Infidelity, Self harm, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide