At times though, it honestly got a bit scary, because I started to imagine what that reality would be like. Not being allowed to read or write, not being allowed to speak freely, being totally subservient - as a female, that was incredibly unsettling (as I'm sure all the guys found it unsettling, too).+1
Also, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE TIMING OF THIS!!! Sperm count of Western Men has halved in the last 40 years! The TV series places a firmer stress on the environmental issues of pre Republic of Gillead than I remember being in the novel. But I just can't help but think this is incredibly timely. Even though Atwood wrote her novel last century, I think the prophetic nature of her book shouldn't be mocked. Perhaps naively, I watched the series thinking about fertility being affected by environmental factors and thought "mmm...well that will happen the more we poison the world. But it's a while off." Then I see this all over the news yesterday...apparently not!Interesting! Admittedly, the following paragraph(s) won't really be related to the Handmaid's Tale so it's in a spoiler :P
I absolutely loved reading the book! I am yet to watch the series, waiting for trials to be over first! I'm glad that it's getting good reviews, wouldn't want the show to ruin the novel. The actress who plays Ofglen is Alexis Bledel from Gilmore Girls-which is my favourite show. So looking forward to it!
Interesting! Admittedly, the following paragraph(s) won't really be related to the Handmaid's Tale so it's in a spoiler :POff-topicI think a lot of this is to do with the big increase in lifestyle diseases across the population. We see this increase primarily in Western populations.
Actually had a lecture about this on Tuesday that, although admittedly it didn't address infertility, it looked at certain healthy behaviours in men that have been shown to significantly improve risk of developing things such as diabetes, vascular disease, etc. and how such a low percentage follow even a few of the behaviours.
Realistically, so many things can affect your fertility - obesity, smoking, drug and alcohol use, STDs - the list goes on and on. Plus, there's environmental factors, and all of the other determinants of health :)
Timing is quite spooky though.
So glad I was directed to this thread! I absolutely love both the book and the TV series. I have been listening to the soundtrack non-stop for a month :)
Are you happy with the way that the TV series portrayed the novel? I certainly am. Also, I was speaking with Emily Tyrrell the other day about how I seemed to think environmental issues came up more in the TV series than it did in the novel - perhaps a reflection of the times. But I last read the Handmaid's Tale 4 years ago now! So my memory isn't so good.
I was very happy with how the TV show adapted the book. I haven't read the book for a while either - it is on my to read list for when I finish exams!
I haven't watced the series, but I'm picking up a copy of it tomorrow from the library! Will provide my thoughts when I finish it :)
I CANNOT WAIT TO WATCH THIS but I haven't found the time to sit and enjoy yet! Everyone tells me the first episode is shocking (in the best ways)It's soooooo good. Just watched the 4th episode last night and wow. Easily the best made show out there atm
Season 3 airs on the 6th of June (aka in 2 days!!!) if I'm not mistaken. Thoughts? Predictions?I've seen so many ads for it. Am excited. It's also somehow even more scarily accurate than when season 1 aired. Might have to rewatch the previous seasons at some point though, I'm not sure I remember a lot of the details.
I've seen so many ads for it. Am excited. It's also somehow even more scarily accurate than when season 1 aired. Might have to rewatch the previous seasons at some point though, I'm not sure I remember a lot of the details.Afaik season 1&2 are still available to watch on SBS on demand.
Ohmigosh, I had NO IDEA there was a Handmaid's Tale Discussion thread!I'm always trying to convince my friends to read it! It's a very well done book and a well done TV show - have you watched the show?
When I was in yr 9/10, the teachers decided to trial letting students pick 2 books of the same genre and I chose dystopian beacuse I adore dystopian books (Read all the..The Selection, Animal Farm, The Hunger Games, Divergent, The Giver, Uglies, Ready Player One, Matched, Delirium, and like a tonne more!!).
Sooo, my dad had recently bought me 1984 so I was so excited to choose that, and I'd heard of The Handmaid's Tale so I picked it.
Honestly, I knew absolutely nothing about it and the only reason I chose it is because I'd read that Emma Watson had been hiding copies of the book around Paris and poor oblivious little me thought that sounded nice so yeah, I chose that!
Woah. It was absolutely terrifying!! I still get a bit freaked out thinking about it. But, I feel like it's such an important thing that people need to know about!! Kinda come to realise that most dystopian novels end up with something more than a happily ever after (like in the Selection)!
I feel like the grimness of The Handmaid's Tale seeped into my own writing; I had to do a creative response for it and I wrote from the perspective of Offred's daughter (this was before the show actually came out and we knew nothing about her). So if anyone's interested in reading, let me know :).
But ahhh, so excited that there's an actual board about it!!