Rebecca and The Handmaid's Tale

I chose to read Rebecca because of its place on both the BBC Big Read Top 100 and the I'm-not-so-sure-exactly-where-this-list-originated-but-it-seems-to-be-everywhere-list.  I checked it out from our library with no clue as to what the plot of the novel is or its significance in terms of literary achievement.  I was scared it was going to be some crap romance (not that romance in and of itself is crap, but the romance genre often is little more than crap), but I figured that it couldn't simply be crap and also be chosen as one of the best-loved novels of the British people, so I decided to go ahead and take the plunge.  The result?

I.love.this.book.  I think I read it cover to cover in less than three days; I'd get home from work and simply bury my nose in this book- it was that good.  Maxim DeWinter has been a widower for almost a year when he meets the young, naive, and quite shy narrator of the story while in Monte Carlo.  In a very short amount of time, the two are wed, honeymoon in Italy and return to his English estate at Manderly.  But upon their arrival, our narrator finds the adjustment difficult; the servants are style loyal to Rebecca (Maxim's first wife), and the neighbors always compare her to Rebecca.  Rebecca is every day implied, but never absolutely discussed.  The following weeks reveal to our narrator the true character of several key players, and one tragic event leads to the discovery of a horrendous secret. 

I can easily see how this book ranked as the 14th-most beloved novel of the British people.  DeMaurier's ability to engage the readers in her story is exceptional; her writing style flows easily, and the readers find themselves so engrossed in the story that they look up after what seems like only a few minutes to discover they've been reading this exceptional novel for more than a few hours.  Read this book- you will love it, I'm sure.  I recently checked out the film from the library as well, but the DVD was so badly scratched that I couldn't make it through the entire film...but from what I saw, the film does a good job of telling the story.

A while back, I heard a few people talking about Margaret Atwood and her genius work that is The Handmaid's Tale and when I saw the book on the list-of-unknown-origin, I was reminded I still had not read it.  So of course, I went to the library.  Side note: every time I think about the library, I am sad for my friend Tracie...you see, she does not have a library within 45 minutes of her home- and that one, as I understand it, isn't very good at all.  So I am making a determination to be positive about the Louisville library system, even if they don't have a few of the items I want...

Back to Atwood and her novel.  Her story is a classic presentation of the future as dystopia.  Much like other famous futuristic novels like 1984 and A Brave New World, Atwood describes a world of potential futures- one in which women are reduced utterly and completely in their status as individuals.  They are divided into few specific groups which each have strictly regulated codes of conduct and roles in the society.  The novel is set in the near future, and radiation poisoning from nuclear plant meltdowns have left a vast majority of the population sterile and unable to produce children.  In order to ensure their survival, the nation of Gilead has forced those women who have birthed as least one child into the role of handmaid; there only job is to reproduce (although they do not necessarily do this easily or successfully).  Each handmaid is assigned to a Commander, a high-ranking official in Gilead's regime, for a specified period of time.  Her name is completely stripped from her; if she is assigned to a Commander with the given name of Fred, the Handmaid's name is simply "Offred".  If after one year she is moved to a Commander named Glen, her name then becomes "Ofglen". If conception is not successful during her tenure at the Commander's household, the Handmaid is transferred to another Commander to pursue the same goal, and another Handmaid is assigned to the previous Commander.  You can imagine the complexities that arise when individuals have no personal liberty.

My summary is definitively oversimplified, but I think it would be best for you to read the book in order to fully understand the plot and message Atwood conveys.  Though there is definitely some mature and awkward content, as well as some language, I generally find that for the most part, I enjoy futuristic novels explaining the impending dystopia of our society (not that I am necessarily a 'doom and gloom' kind of gal- I just find them rather interesting).  I also think I will read more of Atwood's work, as I have heard so many good reviews.