"I want to keep on living, in any form.  I resign my body freely,
 to the uses of others.  They can do what they like with me.  I
 am abject.
       I feel, for the first time, their true power."
                                --The Handmaid's Tale, p.368

Margaret Atwood became one of my favorite authors back in high school when I
was assigned to read her novel The Handmaid's Tale.  Since then, I've
read several of her poems and novels.  The Handmaid's Tale is still my
favorite work of hers, but that's not to say that her other works are
second rate.  All of her work is brilliant.

I recommend that every woman read The Handmaid's Tale.  Men can enjoy it
too; it just will probably hold more meaning for women.  The novel was
inspired by several things, one of which was a passage from Genesis (Old
Testament).  The book paints a frightening portrait of a future that, in a
sense, has been once lived and could be lived again.  It may strike a
feminist chord, but it was written more for the sake of mental stimulation
of social issues--not necessarily to say: "This is the future."  It's such a
wonderful piece no synopsis can do it justice.  I recommend you experience
yourself.

              "Nolite te bastardes carborundorum."
            (Dont let the bastards grind you down.)
                                 --The Handmaid's Tale

Here are some links for Margaret Atwood information:

Margaret Atwood: WWW Resources

an excellent site for accessing a variety of Atwood information

Back to my homepage

Sign My Guestbook

View My Guestbook