GROUP READ? The Handmaid' s Tale

There's been some interest expressed randomly scattered on some of the other groups about a reading or rereading of The Handmaid's Tale. I'm game. Is anyone else here interested in this for May or June?

I could send the others who express interest over here for discussion. . .

Sounds good to me. It's been a few years since my last re-read.

I've been meaning to read this for awhile, so I would like to do it. Probably May rather than June. By the way, avaland, I wasn't able to follow any of the links you left to get here, I had to search for the group, so you may want to check the links.

Thanks, will do. . .

edited to add that the links have been fixed (missed one of the quotation marks)

I wouldn't mind rereading it!

I'm in. This book has been on my mind for a while and I've been planning to reread it.

I'm in. May or June works for me.

Well I'm still reading the book right now. I haven't gotten around to reading it for awhile now. Why don't we chose another one of her books instead.

beatles1964

beatles1964, I would be happy to do that a bit down the road, but I'm trying to corral all the people from other groups who have been thinking about or considering this book, into one place (and this seems as good a place as any and we can use the 'action'). It's a good warm-up book too:-) Actually, the thread title is probably a bit of a misnomer, it's probably less of an Atwoodians read, than a multi-group read being held here (it's probably my ex-bookstore tendencies. "So, there's a bunch of you who want to read X, then lets get together and do it!".

re: Handmaid's Tale. Let's start a rolling discussion around mid-May? How's that? I'll set up a discussion only thread and cut & paste some basic information and questions. You can post when you like thereafter. It will probably be a few weeks before I can reread. . .

beatles1964, perhaps we can think about an Atwood summer read? I suspect we will have as many different nominations as she has books! But I'd be game.

ok, I set up the thread with some nice introductory bits from the publisher sites. I know a few others who will be joining us.

I'm in on The Handmaid's Tale for May. I am reading it now and will soon finish. I'd like others to discuss it with others.

avaland that sounds fine by me. I should probably be finished reading The Handmaid's Tale by the time you set up the discussion group. I own several other Margaret Atwood books like The Cat's Eye that I haven't read before.

beatles1964

I like the mid-month idea, with other theme reads, ER books that come in around the end of most months, and my book club meeting the last Friday of the month, that should work well.

I saw this linked elsewhere so I thought I'd jump in-Handmaid's Tale has been my favorite book for almost a decade and I reread it at least once a year. For some reason, when I was pregnant, I read it almost every month-some women crave pickles and ice cream; I apparently crave dystopian stories about fertility and the Old Testament. :)

Funny, kaelirenee! I craved science fiction when I was pregnant and nursing my third child -- sci-fi and nothing but sci-fi would satisfy me, and I read boxes of them.

>14 kaelirenee:, 15 that is very funny because I read the majority of my SF while pregnant and while the kids were small. I think it is a literature conducive to big changes in one's lives (and/or perhaps more digestible at stressful times:-) I don't read much of it now - is it because I changed, it changed, or it failed to change?

I've noted this read on BookTalk, What are You Reading Now?, Girlybooks, Dystopian Lit, and a few others small groups. I probably should note in on the SF group also. . .(off to leave a note).

Count me in. I haven't read this book for about five years.

Me too.

I would be interested in rereading--please count me in, as well. Thanks, avaland!

I almost hate to admit this, but I have never read The Handmaid's Tale, and I know I am missing out. This is the perfect "excuse" to read it. Count me in! =)

I'm in!

I think this is a great idea, but regretfully just will not have the reading time to take part in the group read. I look forward to reading the discussion however.

I've already done my planned Atwood reread for the year, Robber Bride, and have several other authors on my reread list before I do another. Then there is my growing 'to read' list, book club, an April ARC, ( plus the March ARC if it every gets here). Maybe next year. Can I put my vote in for Alias Grace?

After we finish reading and discussing The Handmaid's Tale I was wondering what our next Atwood group read will be. I also own Life Before Man, The Robber Bride, The Edible Woman, Wilderness Tips and Cat's Eye. And I have never read any of these books as well so any of them would be good for me. Any other thoughts on our next group read?

beatles1964

Hello all,

I have read Handmaid several times and I'd like to participate. I love me some Atwood.

beatles 1964, I'd second Cat's Eye for a future round, too.

well, thus far we have nominations for Alias Grace, Cat's Eye and all the books you list, beatles1964. I'm pretty open for any Atwood for a summer reread.

I've just read The Handmaid's Tale in the last year, so I doubt I'm up for a re-read yet, but I will be watching the discussion with interest and may pop in, if my memory of the book is sufficient.

LOL-I just read it a couple of months ago, but I'm one of those people that is oddly obsesed with it.

I'd love to do a group read of either Cat's Eye or Alias Grace, as both are on my top five Atwood novels.

I'd love to join in with you all - I guess it's been about a little over a year since I last read The Handmaid's Tale and would love to read it with a group of obsessed Atwoodians :p

As for the next round, I'd love to re-read Cat's Eye, Alias Grace or The Blind Assassin (which is the book that started my love of Atwood).

Yay!

I'm with fasciknitting on The Blind Assassin, which I would love to discuss.

kaelinrenee, don't be self-deprecating :-)

I don't think it's at all odd to be obsessed with THT, in fact I think it gains more and more relevance every time I reread it. (Sigh.)

Aww, but if I can't be self-depricating, you're taking away at least half of my humor. :)

It is refreshing to know that others still find so much from the novel as I do. I sometimes feel like an English teacher when I try to explain to people why I like it so much (with absolutly NO disrespect intended to English teachers)-"no, no, it has everything-plot, characterization, some satire mixed in with commentary about the political atmosphere of the time."

You know Stephen King was an English Teacher at one time in the past. I would've loved to have had him as my English Teacher.

beatles1964

Great idea - I have been meaning to read my copy for an age - I shall slot it for May.