Member: karspeak

Hey Karspeak--Just finished "The Handmaid's Tale." What did you think of the ending? I really liked the last part ("Historical Notes on The Handmaid's Tale") which was from the perspective of academics in the future researching Gileadian society in their distant past.

I liked how Atwood slowly revealed pieces of information about Gilead and Offred. Like how we do not find out about the circumstances of Offred and her husband getting together until later in the book.

Probably one of the more subversive parts for me is when the Commander summons Offred up to his room to play Scrabble and read magazines. That this is what gets him off reveals much about the state of relations between men and women in his marriage and in the larger society.

I just joined the Atwoodian group and am going to check out their posts about HT which they read as a group a few months ago. I'll send you an invite.

posted by framboise at 9:39 am (EST) on Sep 7, 2008

Hi--I am at page 180-something. Should be done in a day or so. I'll check out that other book you mentioned, but right now my TBR pile is growing! I've heard excellent things about "The Blind Assassin," though think it's of a different genre. BTW, that's funny about the character's name; it means raspberry in French :)

posted by framboise at 9:27 pm (EST) on Sep 2, 2008

Hey Karspeak--Have you finished "The Handmaid's Tale" yet? I am about halfway through it now and love it too. I will check out your thread about it when I finish. We should share our thoughts w/each other. Are you planning on reading more of Atwood's works? This is the first book of hers I'm reading.

posted by framboise at 3:58 pm (EST) on Sep 2, 2008