The Handmaid's Tale
The Handmaid's Tale By Margaret Atwood Published 1985 Published by Anchor Books Source: Borrowed 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... So I was hangin' out, reading a dystopia, like I do and my friend was all "Oh hey, if you like dystopias, you should read this book. I'll bring it for you." And then, the next day she showed up with it. W...