Margaret Atwood, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, Elif Shafak & More On Finding Their Voice

This novel weaves through the minds and histories of nearly a dozen central characters, each section bound by triads of characters connected through blood and friendship. It captures the reality of intersectionality, exploring how women's lives are shaped by societal expectations, prejudice, and their own assumptions. The book is an ode to Black British women, spanning over 100 years and examining the complexities of femininity, masculinity, and human relationships[3][4][5].

The novel is set in a near-future New England in the Republic of Gilead, a patriarchal, totalitarian state that has overthrown the United States government. Offred, the narrator, is one of the 'Handmaids', women who are forcibly assigned to produce children for the ruling class, known as 'Commanders'. The story explores themes of powerless women, loss of female agency and individuality, and the suppression of women's reproductive rights. Offred's life is marked by her restrictive routine, her memories of her past life, and her interactions with the Commander, his wife Serena Joy, and other Handmaids, including her friend Ofglen who is part of an underground resistance movement. The novel is a scathing satire, an ominous warning, and a tour de force of narrative suspense[3][4][5].