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Mar
9 2012 | ||
THE THREE WINNERS ARE: Barbara Elness, Supagirl and Catslady – Email me your mailing addresses, or if you’d like me to send it for your kindle, note that and I’ll get the orders in at Amazon so the books can wing their way to you! Thanks to all who commented.
So I’m going to be giving away three copies of Margaret Atwood’s magnificent and sadly prophetic THE HANDMAID’S TALE today. This had been something I was considering until I read the comments to the reviews at Amazon. Those comments about women wasting their breeding potential with careers and “hordes” of others “outbreeding us” convinced me to go ahead and give away not just one, but three copies.
In the world of the near future, who will control women’s bodies?
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 only valued if their ovaries are viable.
Offred can remember the days 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….
Funny, unexpected, horrifying, and altogether convincing, The Handmaid’s Tale is at once scathing satire, dire warning, and tour de force.
I read this book back in college. THT is a chilling version of a future I could only have imagined back when I read it the first time. And now? Well, I try to stay away from politics in general here at my blog, but I have a daughter and I can’t be silent anymore. Women are not property. We are full and whole citizens who have control over our bodies and through that, we can make choices not available to generations before us. Those choices have broadened our lives and the lives of future generations of women.
The Handmaid’s Tale is an incredible book and if you haven’t read it, here’s your chance! I’m going to be giving away THREE copies today in paper or digital via the kindle (sorry, it’s difficult to gift it digitally from other places – and I do hope BN fixes that). I’ll choose the winners from the comments here so please check back to see if you’ve won! Winners announced tomorrow, March 10 at 11 am pacific.
March 9th, 2012 at 9:54 am · Link
I’ve heard of this book before but never had the chance to read it. I would love to have that chance now!
Thanks so much!!
Christina
March 9th, 2012 at 9:58 am · Link
You are absolutely right and it is a very good idea to raise awareness of the backlash that has been going on for a while. Many politicians all over the world – and their supporters – seem to feel that women are mere commodities instead of people in their own right. You only have to watch some people’s campaigns – makes your hair stand on end!!! 🙁
March 9th, 2012 at 10:26 am · Link
I have been wanting to read this book for years. I would love to win a copy! Thanks for offering it.
March 9th, 2012 at 10:26 am · Link
I really want to read this book! It has everything: religious fanatics, slavery and lies. And to be able to actually read it!? 😛 😮
March 9th, 2012 at 10:33 am · Link
The Handmaid’s Tale is one of my favorite books! Don’t enter me in the contest, I already own the book.
March 9th, 2012 at 10:35 am · Link
This is an incredible book that everyone should read – what a great giveaway, Lauren! I read it in college and it was so impactful. I don’t need to be entered in the drawing, I just wanted to chime in about the book.
March 9th, 2012 at 10:38 am · Link
How have I not read this book yet?
March 9th, 2012 at 10:40 am · Link
Oh how have I missed this? It sounds so good!!
supagurlheather @ gmail. com
SupaGurl
March 9th, 2012 at 10:42 am · Link
Would love to read it!! You are so right about it being prophetic. Women need to stand up and realize whats going on. All women, no matter what their views are need to stand together.
March 9th, 2012 at 10:56 am · Link
This is such a great idea given our political climate but also our economy at the moment. Everyone has been recommending this book lately so I keep checking the book exchange closest to me and hoping they get it in but so far nothing. I’d love to win!
March 9th, 2012 at 11:04 am · Link
This is a classic that I’ve always wanted to read. Thanks so much for the giveaway!
I just saw this article about making birth control OTC that might interest you. The author makes some great points.
Fight Birth-Control Battle Over the Counter
March 9th, 2012 at 11:46 am · Link
Thank you for doing this. We had to read it in high school and it was chilling then; the fact that it applies so much today makes it even more so.
March 9th, 2012 at 12:09 pm · Link
I haven’t heard of this book before but it sounds really good. Thanks for the contest and the introduction to the book.
March 9th, 2012 at 12:22 pm · Link
I read this in college and it has stuck with me ever since. There are parts of the book that were not in existence when I read it (like not using cash at the checkout and just swiping a card – yes I am old) that are common practice now. Would love to have this book again – lent my old one out and never got it back.
March 9th, 2012 at 12:44 pm · Link
I’ve read this book and it made me think – a lot!
Still have the book so might just reread now that you reminded me of it 😀
March 9th, 2012 at 1:28 pm · Link
This is so topical. Thank you for doing this. The state I live in is considering a slew of nonsensical bills about heartbeats and what not. I was planning on reading this after I finished Patricia’s Brigg’s Fair Game.
March 9th, 2012 at 2:19 pm · Link
I’m a little scared to read this book, afraid it will be too “twenty minutes into the future” of current headlines. But I am starting to think we all *need* to read this book. Thank you for offering the giveaway.
March 9th, 2012 at 2:51 pm · Link
Very thought provoking in a chilling and horrific way. Especially when you think of the things that have happened in our history, such as The Holocaust and the genocide in Rwanda. You think it’s not possible, then you look at the horrible things in our history and just go hmmmmm, maybe not so impossible one day if we don’t do something now.
March 9th, 2012 at 2:53 pm · Link
Can’t believe I never read this book in college. Thanks for the giveaway, Lauren.
March 9th, 2012 at 4:15 pm · Link
THT has been on my to-read list for a while, and now looks like the perfect time to get to it. Thank you for the giveaway and thank you for speaking up.
March 9th, 2012 at 4:16 pm · Link
Hope I win this, never read it and feel I should now or never!
March 9th, 2012 at 5:15 pm · Link
I haven’t read it but I would love to. Wish I had read it when I was younger. I have a lot to say on the subject but I’ll just say I have two daughters and I want them to have different lives. My oldest would love to read it too.
March 9th, 2012 at 5:16 pm · Link
Sorry – here’s my email (just in case lol) – catslady5(at)aol.com
March 9th, 2012 at 6:42 pm · Link
I haven’t read it but I would love to get a chance to read it !!!
March 9th, 2012 at 7:26 pm · Link
Would love to be in the running for a paper edition, please. So many books I probably should buy, but have never got around to it yet.
March 9th, 2012 at 7:33 pm · Link
This was required reading when I was in high school and I think it was one of the best books I read at that time. I think it is still required reading for all Canadian students. Homegrown talent. The movie did not do it justice. Excellent giveaway.
March 9th, 2012 at 9:59 pm · Link
A teacher caught me reading THT during lunch break when I was fourteen and was concerned that it wasn’t age-appropriate. She was probably right (it gave me the willies—okay, I’ll be honest, it freaked me the %#°§ out!) but the story stayed with me, and yes, recent news from the States do bring THT to mind. I think now might be a perfect time for a reread, I want to read it from an adult perspective.
March 9th, 2012 at 10:29 pm · Link
Reading this blurb gave me the chills. Scary stuff to those of us that watch the news anymore.
March 10th, 2012 at 11:31 am · Link
I’ve never read The Handmaid’s Tale and didn’t know what it was about. It sounds like a fantastic story, please count me in.