The less is revealed of the plot before reading this book, the better, although I have to admit that I found it so disturbing that when I had read about a third I looked it up on Wikipedia to find out about the end!

It is a dystopia, up there with 1984, Fahrenheit 451, and Brave New World. The difference with those works is that this time the point of view is feminist. 1984 shows a world in which early 20th century totalitarism has triumphed; the latter two show the consequences of complete consumerism in a fake democracy, and The Handmaid's Tale shows the worst nightmare of an eighties' feminist.

Stylistically, the book is perhaps too fragmentary, but that is a consequence of the chosen mode. What can you expect from a first person narrator who has been forbidden to read and write for several years?

A highly recommended book for feminists and fans of dystopias alike. The only flaw is the risk of optimistic readers thinking that "at least things aren't as bad as this".