The Handmaid’s Tale: The Graphic Novel by Margaret Atwood and adapted by Renee Nault
Quick Synopsis: The women of Gilead have been forced into submitting to a world we hope never arises. In Gilead, women are forbidden from “the pursuit of happiness.” They are not allowed to read, learn, make friends, hold jobs, or most importantly, make their own choices. The protagonist, Offred has been tasked with becoming pregnant with the Commander’s child. Her only value is her ability to reproduce. However, life for Offred wasn’t always this way. Before Gilead, she had a life, family, career, and a different name. Risking it all, Offred forms new friendships and tries to find a way out of Gilead.
Why I Like It: To be honest, I couldn't get into the regular version of The Handmaid’s Tale. I understood that it was a dystopia, I knew it was a novel about the harms and consequences of repressing women yet giving men free passes, but I couldn’t visualize the setting! I couldn’t see it in my mind, and about 2 chapters in I simply gave up. This graphic version, though, brought it to life for me. I found the book at my school’s library, and picked it up on a whim. I spent the rest of the night reading. It really brought the story to life for me, and I understood the themes and complexities Margaret Atwood conveyed through The Handmaid’s Tale. When I get some time, I may even pick up the original novel again.
Why You Might Like It: If you have watched the series on Netflix but haven’t read the book, I suggest this version. It’s a quick read, it will hold your attention, and you can compare it to the series as you go. Of course, he visual depictions of the characters will be different, but it will expose you to some of the original writing so that maybe for you, too, the themes come to life in different ways.
