The Handmaid's Tale

By: Margaret Atwood

Narrated by: Claire Danes

Length: 11 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's summary

Audie Award, Fiction, 2013

Margaret Atwood's popular dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale explores a broad range of issues relating to power, gender, and religious politics. Multiple Golden Globe award-winner Claire Danes (Romeo and Juliet, The Hours) gives a stirring performance of this classic in speculative fiction, one of the most powerful and widely read novels of our time.

After a staged terrorist attack kills the President and most of Congress, the government is deposed and taken over by the oppressive and all-controlling Republic of Gilead. Offred, now a Handmaid serving in the household of the enigmatic Commander and his bitter wife, can remember a time when she lived with her husband and daughter and had a job, before she lost even her own name. Despite the danger, Offred learns to navigate the intimate secrets of those who control her every move, risking her life in breaking the rules in hopes of ending this oppression.

Cover Art by Fred Marcellino. Used with permission of Pippin Properties, Inc.

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©1985 Margaret Atwood (P)2012 Audible, Inc.

Critic reviews

“Claire Danes sparkles in this performance…Danes’s Offred is complex, and her flashes of intense strength highlight her vulnerability. This is a consuming listen, thanks to Danes’s emotional subtleties.” (AudioFile)

Book is Great / Narrator is not

I read this book years and years ago when it first came out. It's an easy read and a page turner. Not very long but has an excellent plot, especially if you are a political person. I purchased the audible version so I could listen to the story again. I'm following the series on Hulu but I also like to read the books. The narrator is very dry and monotone. I'm not certain if she is trying to set the milieu but frankly I don't see this as the case as there are no inflections in her voice when there should be, I think.

Anyhow, I could only get thru a couple chapters before I just can't listen any more. I'm returning this audio book and will purchase the Kindle version and read (in one day probably) during camping.

As in the headline - Great book story line but narrator needs a lot more practice or something.

Bone Chilling!

What made the experience of listening to The Handmaid's Tale the most enjoyable?

There was a lot more substance to the book than there was to the movie. I am a big fan of the movie, which I've seen at least three times (all on video). Atwood employed subtle literary devices reminiscent of Flannery O'Connor. It is a cautionary tale that stands the test of time. While the movie did not spell it out, the book portrays an America that has fallen into the hands of the Religious Right during a time of climate change and falling birth rates. The dystopia created by these forces is not beyond the possibility of realization. The narrator was the celebrated Clare Danes. Who could ask for more. I highly recommend this book, even if you've already read it, and even if you've seen the movie. In fact, if you've seen the movie, but not read the book, then you simply MUST download this audiobook.

What other book might you compare The Handmaid's Tale to and why?

Any dystopian novel of a bleak future. Take your pick.

Have you listened to any of Claire Danes’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No, I've not had the pleasure. She did a wonderful job of capturing the main characters personality: intelligent, resilient and determined to survive.

If you could rename The Handmaid's Tale, what would you call it?

Every Woman is a Vessel

Any additional comments?

No.

all too real.

Love it. very emotional and real. found myself very attached to Offred. great book. read!

Unexpectedly Good

I picked this one at random and glad I did. Well read and great storyline.

Chilling

This is a chilling tale beautifully written. Hard to believe it was written 30 years ago because it seems so timely. Danes is pitch perfect.

Disturbing but captivating

Timely the way stories like 1984 are timely today. Sometimes the narrator would change voices for a character and then go back to her own voice in the middle of what the character was saying but otherwise excellent.

A fantastic piece of literature. Please read it.

One of the best works I've been fortunate to enjoy of late. I may have to read it now.

haunting

in this climate of social Un rest in the US this story is so needed!!!

Too soon after the election

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes, but if you voted against Trump, wait a while. I've read this book a few times but this time was a very difficult during the election.

Fantastic!

Excellent reading by Claire Danes, I did not want the story to end! Hoping for another book soon.