The Handmaid's Tale

Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the Commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.

This book is disturbing is many ways. On one hand it was written to be an attack against conservative Christianity. The author clearly did not read the New Testament where women are made equal with men, and where many of the American ideas allowing women equality are founded. However, if we look at this book with Islamic religion as the feared religion I can share the fear of the author. Women reduced to property of the men and only valued for the fertility of their bodies is not unusual to this rapidly growing religion. I think Atwood was being anti-religious period. She obviously had a problem with religion and she feed her disdain for all religious beliefs into this novel. The novel is difficult. It is hard to read not because the writing is difficult, although an editor would be nice, but because of the unethical treatment of women in this book. It is painful to know that unethical conditions do exist for women around the world and there is little to nothing we can do about it. As I read this novel I thought of those women who live in similar societies and have no one to turn to. They may not be handmaids but they are the property of males in their culture just the same. 
Read this book to expose yourself to a classic. Read this book for the ethical awakening, but do not read this book if you are looking for an easy read. This book will tear out your heart and stomp on it. It will leave you with more questions than answers. 

I give the Handmaid's Tale 3 out of 5 stars