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darah_kor 's review for:

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
4.75
dark reflective tense medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Complicated
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

This is one of those books where I just couldn't put it down; I just had to read it to the end because I wanted to know more and see it through. To say this book makes me feel a lot is an understatement. It just hurts how things in this book are becoming reality, already are, or have always been a reality. 

I know that there is a lot of debate surrounding this book (especially since it is also a banned book), but I do believe that this is something everyone should read. It just shows how authoritarianism directed against marginalized communities like women, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, disabled, and so on are just hell for everyone unless you are in the ruling elite. The division created between classes and groups is how they thrive. They want you to focus on differences and sneer at other people whom you view as the enemy or your rival. They want you to believe that people should be controlled and that you believe you should be controlled too. 

If I was some kind of literature professor, I'd make my students read this. Not only is it timeless but as long as capitalism, racism, misogyny, ableism, and homophibia rages on, it will forever be relevant. The themes and motifs in this book are not a thing of the past, they are current and could be the future if nothing is done. It's a book that makes you think and reflect. It's just good.