Handmaid's Tale

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood


My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This novel would certainly stir up completely different emotions depending when it is/was read. In 1985, when it was first published, women had fewer options with regards to reproduction than we have now. It seems odd now that a novel set in the "future" would require women suffering with infertility to use surrogates and deliver at home without the supervision of a health professional. In 1985 IVF was not a widely available option... but it would surely be taken advatage of in such a society. I suppose I just have a hard time imagining a world where there is NOT an overpopulation problem.
Had I read this book in late 2001 I would probably not be able to get through it considering that the society emerged after the government was taken over violently by an ultra right wing group.
This book is a disturbingly fascinating read at any time.

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