The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Four Stars

My favorite part about The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is the exquisite poetic cadence of the prose. This nuance does make for a slower read. But, this book is one to fully understand, so reading carefully is crucial. In genre, it reminds me of Fahrenheit 451. There is a similar prophetic quality in some of the mores--current issues in our society that could only be predicted or assumed at the time of the book's original publication--that set up the dystopian model for Atwood's world. Perhaps that is why there has been a resurgence in readership along with increased publicity from the popularity of the current TV drama. Whatever the reason, I believe it to be a modern classic that will be used as a literary example for future readers and writers.