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)

a bit of a wierd read...

if you are interested in women's issues give it a try, as it looks at it through a fictional historical lens. it was a little dry, and the narration was OK, but a little monotone. I feel like I learned quite a bit about the character, and her struggle, and how that type of civilization could form, but I just found it hard to really get into. somewhat slow and the style was just on the dry side. but the overall story was interesting.

So sad

It's a very good story, but just the most depressing and its infinity of hopelessness is like nothing I've ever read before. Yet, a very amazing tribute to the struggles that are known as woman

superb

could not put it down. I a little unhappy with ending. I Would like to see a further book

A Dark and scary tale.

This is a sad and scarey story of power taken away, and power in the hands of the elite few. But also the story of strength and endurance, hope.

Everyone needs to read this book

Being a woman is tough enough, but when our rights are taken from us completely it is cause for concern and alarm. A must read for all.

Great reading, best author

Margaret Atwood is my favorite author, and Claire Daines does a great job evoking the character in her story. Very well done all around. I especially love the epilogue where she takes a historical view of the fictional world, but draws out the real world context that Atwood draws on. Genius!

great book from a nutty author

A great book of religion gone wrong. Shades of a mormon society on overdrive. Atwood has written several of these types of books. Although this isn't as good as Ox and crake and its sequel it still very good. Atwood is truely one of the top writers alive today but she is also insane. Just look up her website and read her nutty left wing agenda crap. So Im torn between the writing and the writer. If this woman owns more then four cats I think she may be the most dangerous person on the planet.

Where is the end

The first time I know about this book when I saw the TV series, and I liked it so much, it's really a good story, so that why I bought the back, but I'm supposed about the ending!!! is this the ending?? Where is the ending??

I look forward to listening to this again

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

Absolutely. It's a shame that I didn't hear about it before now. The Handmaid's Tale is one of those eerie stories that sticks with you and haunts you. I'll be telling my friends about this one for sure.

Who was your favorite character and why?

The main character, Offred, was my favorite. Maybe she looks weak held up against a character like Moira, but I don't think so. I think that Offred's strength lies in her ability to adapt and in her determination to survive. Fighting back with guns blazing like Moira is one way to react, and there's a kind of strength in that, but there's also strength in quiet subversion, in keeping one's council and weighing one's thoughts. I liked that the author didn't patronize her main character, didn't make her look limp and dull and thoughtless. Offred was just so -human-.

What about Claire Danes’s performance did you like?

Everything. This was a spot-on performance. I had high hopes for Claire Dane's narrating ability, and I wasn't disappointed at all.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Without wanting to give away any real spoilers, there were many. One in particular that hit me was in Offred's backstory shortly after Gilead froze women's assets, when Offred had lost everything because of her gender and her husband tells her "I'll take care of you." It was a sweet gesture, but Offred's reaction: "Is he patronizing me already?" struck a chord. She wasn't weak or feeble, she didn't want to be taken care of. I think she wanted to be understood, and her husband couldn't understand that nuance.

Any additional comments?

I don't often reread books, but this one is a must for me. Maybe it'll even be an annual story that I revisit, we'll see. But I look forward to enjoying the story-- and Claire Dane's performance-- again.

The years change our view point

Would you consider the audio edition of The Handmaid's Tale to be better than the print version?

I first read The Handmaid's Tale the year it was release. I saw it as a dark, tragic romance. Now as a fully fledged woman I am struck by the absolute absurdity, comedy, and truly dark nature of the story. Atwood's writing is lyrical and uncanny.

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

Goodness the Madadam trilogy - but that is a bit trite.

I know that Atwood does not like to be lumped in as a SciFi writer, but in my mind she keeps the good company of Vonnegut, Bradbury, Le Guinn... and that is my very short list.

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

I have no comparison.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

I play books while I paint, so yes I can listen in one sitting - but it is may radio.