The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood (October 25 - November 4, 2004)
The Handmaid’s Tale is a dystopia, written in 1986, magnifying and exaggerating social trends to a dangerous end. This book was very difficult for me to read, but I am so glad that I read it. It’s a story every woman should read. It will chill you; it will scare you; it will make sure you do not take anything for granted.
Offred is a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. Her sole duty is to bear the
offspring of the Commander. Women are not allowed to have money or hold jobs
and have designated duties based on their fertility. Once she had a job and
a family, but after a political coup, she was separated from them, and her
life was changed forever. The reader follows Offred’s experiences, shares
her memories, and tries from her limited perspective to find some hope to hang
on to.
