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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 05-2006
Posts: 5639
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August: The Handmaid's Tale


Our choice for August is The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

Synopsis: From Library Journal
In a startling departure from her previous novels ( Lady Oracle , Surfacing ), respected Canadian poet and novelist Atwood presents here a fable of the near future. In the Republic of Gilead, formerly the United States, far-right Schlafly/Falwell-type ideals have been carried to extremes in the monotheocratic government. The resulting society is a feminist's nightmare: women are strictly controlled, unable to have jobs or money and assigned to various classes: the chaste, childless Wives; the housekeeping Marthas; and the reproductive Handmaids, who turn their offspring over to the "morally fit" Wives. The tale is told by Offred (read: "of Fred"), a Handmaid who recalls the past and tells how the chilling society came to be. This powerful, memorable novel is highly recommended for most libraries.

To purchase a copy: Amazon Link

Feel free to use this thread for discussion of the book.


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http://douglassdiaries.blogspot.com/
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Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
Location: An alternate state of attitude
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


This is a book that make one think. For starters the main character has no name, she is of Fred, as in belonging to Fred.

What is that makes men fear and feel the need to subjugate women?

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
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Lady Emm Profile
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Hurley Bird

Registered: 06-2006
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


quote

Onyx2201 wrote:

This is a book that make one think. For starters the main character has no name, she is of Fred, as in belonging to Fred.

What is that makes men fear and feel the need to subjugate women?



Do you really want an answer to that question O? or is it rhetorical?
8/6/2007, 4:26 pm Link to this post PM this user
 
Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
Location: An alternate state of attitude
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


It is sort of rhetorical, but it is something to keep in mind as we read the book

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
8/9/2007, 7:46 pm Link to this post Email this user   PM this user
 
Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


I bought a new copy of the book and the sparks notes that will explain stuff too. When do we start discussing??

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
8/16/2007, 10:03 pm Link to this post Email this user   PM this user
 
MrsDouglass Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 05-2006
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


Whenever you want! I'm still waiting for mine to come! I think my mailman took the week off. I'm expecting 5 packages, and none have arrived.

---


http://douglassdiaries.blogspot.com/
8/16/2007, 10:38 pm Link to this post Email this user   PM this user yahoo
 
Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


I guess I'll start.

As I was reading the first few chapters, I was struck with the adaptability of women, in this case sad, but never the less women adapt. Offred was surprised at how the tourists were dressed and it took a while for her to remember that she had once dressed in such a manner.

Also one of the Aunts made the comment about there being two kinds of freedom; freedom "to" as in the previous time and now they had freedom "from". the Aunt reminded the women not to underrate the freedom from.

I was also struck (once again) by the limitation of education for women, them being given tokens with pictures and the names of the stores being blotted out, one shopped at the store w/ a certain picture. But that also make me realize just how VERY important education is. I don't think I've given anything away

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
8/18/2007, 8:53 am Link to this post Email this user   PM this user
 
Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
Location: An alternate state of attitude
Posts: 4096
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


There is a "Latin" phrase that Offred uses I spent some online time and procured the translation
the phrase is
Nolite te bastardes carborundorum, and traslates as Don't let the bastards grind you down.

I plugged the phrase in and got to wikipedia and they explained it quite well. It's called Dog Latin

To be more correct Latin it should read :
Nolite te nothus frendo espiritu

or don't let those born without honor crush the spirit

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
8/18/2007, 6:46 pm Link to this post Email this user   PM this user
 
Lady Emm Profile
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Hurley Bird

Registered: 06-2006
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


My dad used the phrase as Illigitemi non carborundum - Don't let the bastards get you down.

It's the only "Latin" I know, despite having gone to Mass a zillion timea pre- Vatican 2
8/20/2007, 12:23 pm Link to this post PM this user
 
Onyx2201 Profile
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Sawyer's Harem

Registered: 07-2006
Location: An alternate state of attitude
Posts: 4096
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Re: August: The Handmaid's Tale


It's not even real Latin, but dog latin.

Don't you remember ect tum spiri tu tu oh?! I remember that from my days at Latin mass.

or maybe it was
ectum spirititu tu oh?

---
Life is a banquet and most poor suckers are starving to death.
-Auntie Mame
8/21/2007, 12:35 am Link to this post Email this user   PM this user
 


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