The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is a book that I have chosen after much soul searching. Several friends encouraged me to watch the mini-series and I resisted for a long time. I have now watched that series. I understand that the book is different (as a book can rarely be captured in a cinematic format) and I have finally gotten up the gumption to read it.
Started: 7/27/2019
Completed: 7/30/2019
Recommendation: Not Recommended
Recommended By: Lots of my friends
Words for which I sought help:
prurience -- an encouraging or excessive interest in sexual matters
susurration -- a rustling sound
waif -- a homeless and helpless person, esp. a neglected or abandoned child
Review:
I like learning new things. This book has many new things to say, but sometimes it is the simple things that catch my eye quickly. In the book there is a discussion on the source of the phrase "mayday." As the discussion began, I slipped inside my own head and imagined a Jerry Seinfeld style rant:
Why do they call it "mayday" when you need help? Is May such a hopeless month, what with the flowers and everything? Did someone start with "marchday" and decide that March was too ambiguous--in like a lamb, out like a lion? No, we couldn't use March, March doesn't give a sense of urgency. Not like May. May demands attention! There are flowers popping up everywhere after the April showers. And flowers just scream help. "I need to make seeds," "No pick me over here!" Now, "mayday," that is a cry for help.
The book taught me, however, that "mayday" is derived from the French, m'aidez. I love it when stuff like that happens when I am just sitting and reading a book. It's like my brain just got a nice piece of candy.
Having said all of these good things about the book, it is worth knowing that this book is very different from the Hulu television show. I found the book confusing and only through references common between the book and the show was I able to piece together the broader nature of the society. The epilogue helped also. I think that if I had read this book without the show, I would have stopped part way through. One can only tolerate so much horror.
Started: 7/27/2019
Completed: 7/30/2019
Recommendation: Not Recommended
Recommended By: Lots of my friends
Words for which I sought help:
prurience -- an encouraging or excessive interest in sexual matters
susurration -- a rustling sound
waif -- a homeless and helpless person, esp. a neglected or abandoned child
Review:
I like learning new things. This book has many new things to say, but sometimes it is the simple things that catch my eye quickly. In the book there is a discussion on the source of the phrase "mayday." As the discussion began, I slipped inside my own head and imagined a Jerry Seinfeld style rant:
Why do they call it "mayday" when you need help? Is May such a hopeless month, what with the flowers and everything? Did someone start with "marchday" and decide that March was too ambiguous--in like a lamb, out like a lion? No, we couldn't use March, March doesn't give a sense of urgency. Not like May. May demands attention! There are flowers popping up everywhere after the April showers. And flowers just scream help. "I need to make seeds," "No pick me over here!" Now, "mayday," that is a cry for help.
The book taught me, however, that "mayday" is derived from the French, m'aidez. I love it when stuff like that happens when I am just sitting and reading a book. It's like my brain just got a nice piece of candy.
Having said all of these good things about the book, it is worth knowing that this book is very different from the Hulu television show. I found the book confusing and only through references common between the book and the show was I able to piece together the broader nature of the society. The epilogue helped also. I think that if I had read this book without the show, I would have stopped part way through. One can only tolerate so much horror.
