The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

From Goodreads.com

   Offred is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead. She may leave the home of the Commander and his wife once a day to walk to food markets whose signs are now pictures instead of words because women are no longer allowed to read. She must lie on her back once a month and pray that the commander makes her pregnant, because in an age of declining births, Offred and the other Handmaids are valued only if their ovaries are viable. Offred can remember the years before, when she lived and made love with her husband, Luke; when she played with and protected her daughter; when she had a job, money of her own, and access to knowledge. But all of that is gone now.

   The Handmaid's Tale has been on my TBR list for years, it's a banned book you know? (Is it bad that I look at banned books as precautionary tales?) I finally picked it up after getting it for a steal from one of my daily emails. For some reason I thought this was an older book. I was very surprised to find it was first published in 1986. The writing is good, but I must say it was a little odd at first. There were no quotation marks to distinguish dialogue. After a chapter or two it was easier to realize what was part of a conversation.

   I especially liked that Offred remembers what life was like before the new laws were in place. She is in the transition phase of this take-over. Most dystopian books (at least those that I've read) are taking place after a corrupt system has been in place for numerous years. It was interesting to see how she felt about not being allowed to read, knowing that future generations of girls wouldn't even know how. Along with how she felt about many other changes. They took her daughter away, she wasn't allowed to love, and was passed from household to household when they became dissatisfied with her for not becoming pregnant.

   Obviously if you like the dystopian genre this book is a must read. This should also be on any list of someone who likes banned books. If you're not interested in these genres this book probably isn't for you.