#econowives

REVIEW

My name isn’t Offred, I have another name, which nobody uses now because it’s forbidden. I tell myself it doesn’t matter, your name is like your telephone number, useful only to others; but what I tell myself is wrong, it does matter. I keep the knowledge of this name like something hidden, some treasure I’ll come back to dig up, one day. I think of this name as buried.

I first became aware of this book when the news came out about the series on Hulu. Somehow I’d missed anything by Margaret Atwood in the past, even in school, so I was intrigued to check this out just based on the premise. Although it had moved a few notches higher on my TBR list at the time and I made sure to take note of when the first episodes premiered, I hesitated to start reading because it seemed as if it would feel a little too close to home given everything going on regarding women’s issues politically. After a little back and forth, I finally dove in and gave this a chance.

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Despite my initial reservations, the uneasiness I felt is a big part of what made this a great read. Some moments were hard to take in given the context and the connections my mind made to the present, but I almost think it was written that way to get its point across. At times this read as historical fiction detailing events from the past, while other times it seemed to take place in a future dystopian era - I could never truly get a handle on its point of reference, but in the end that didn’t bother me.  That initial discomfort carried over into worry for the characters’ situations and fear of how/if they would survive.

Maybe none of this is about control. Maybe it isn't really who can own whom, who can do what to whom and get away with it, even as far as death. Maybe it isn't about who can sit and who has to kneel or stand or lie down, legs spread open. Maybe it's about who can do what to whom and be forgiven for it. Never tell me it amounts to the same thing.

Overall, it was still a great read and I look forward to finally diving in to the show. The ending left me wondering about both Offred and the town’s futures so maybe this adaption will be able to expand on that.