So, I promised you a review. Here's one. This one has a book and a TV series but I'll be focusing on the book. Have a good read.
I’ve been wanting to do a mini review of this book for a long time now but haven’t been able to, or should I say, couldn’t. I honestly have no reason why. I first heard of it about two years ago. It was suggested during a two years intense writing class I was a part of. One of the facilitators mentioned it after a session, I don’t remember which. I must say, I’m not disappointed.
About the book
The protagonist, Offred takes us through life as a handmaid. She had lost her family and was forced to live a life she wouldn’t ordinarily choose, together with other girls. Women of certain ages are randomly picked – though I would much rather prefer the word kidnapped – and made to live in different houses. Their purpose? Procreate for the Commander whose wife is usually old and therefore can’t do the honours. They stay and do as told. They go nowhere unescorted and there’s no escape. Those who try always get caught. I’ll spear you the details.
I have to admit that I didn’t quite understand the story at the beginning, and it took me awhile to learn her name. This book is one of the hardest I’ve had to read. It shows how difficult a woman’s life can be at a point in time, not just as a handmaid, but as a wife as well. Though the book focuses mostly on hardship on women’s part, men are not left out as the story progresses.
The plot
The author did justice to the plot. The step by step narration is just beautiful. You feel what each of the characters is feeling. From the morning bells, to the market shopping, and the part where the Commander’s wife has to be in the room and watch her husband have sex with the handmaid. Watching isn’t enough though, she has to hold her hands while he thrusts, to feel connected because the baby will be hers in the end. It's crazy, I know.
The author’s description of the birth process is vivid. From the first contraction, to the final push when the baby is picked up and handed to the wife instead of the mother. It’s painful but the beauty of the telling style is still awesome.
The prose
This is perhaps what made me read till the end. The words, the phrases. They kept me glued. I’m very picky when it comes to choosing my favourite books but the prose did it for me this time. From the first word to the last.
Good style is a very essential part of any story writing. It’s a bonus when it’s not just beautiful but also unique. Offred’s narration is heartfelt. Her arrival, the room she wouldn’t call hers, the household and the role of each person. Their emotions which is masked every time. Margaret Atwood captured everything.
I have a favourite. Take a peak.
The night is mine, my own time, to do with as I will, as long as I am quiet. As long as I don't move. As long as I lie still. The difference between lie and lay. Lay is always passive. Even men used to say, I'd like to get laid. Though sometimes they said, I'd like to lay her. All this is pure speculation. I don't really know what men used to say. I had only their words for it.
I lie, then, inside the room, under the plaster eye in the ceiling, behind the white curtains, between the sheets, neatly as they, and step sideways out of my own time. Out of time. Though this is time, nor am I out of it.
The characters
If you write, then you understand that character development is one of the hardest part of story writing. Capturing moods and putting them on paper. Making sure the body language isn’t solely a vision of yours so you give the reader the opportunity to visualise it and create their own images while reading. When you are able to this, your work as a writer is done.
This book is one of those. Each character has a role to play. The author assigned them perfectly. Offred’s character doesn’t really show much emotion, being the narrator, I find that a bit weird. The pain comes more from the other handmaids. Maybe because she’s telling the story.
The Commander’s wife feels a lot more. She never talked much but she lives with the pain of watching a strange person do what she cannot.
The Commander himself goes through the day unseen by almost no one in the household, except the driver and at an appointed time. There isn’t a detailed elaboration of how he feels about the whole arrangement, but he caries out the duties whenever it’s time.
Then, there are the spies and the guards. Everywhere the handmaids are, there’s always someone watching.
This book is one of my favourites. The art of writing is complete in it, every bit of it. The ending leaves you with questions only you can answer, if you have the answer anyway. It has a TV series which I haven’t convinced myself to watch just yet. The book is always better anyway but the reviews are promising so far. I just might see it.
Read the book or watched the series? Tell me your thoughts. Haven’t done any? Still tell me what you think.
I am subscrbe your channel. plz subscrbe my channel