OK So it isn’t so great but it was my favourite troll

This is a haunting, psychologically compelling story about what the United States might be like under a right wing, fundamentalist theocracy. Adapted by the acclaimed playwright Harold Pinter from the novel by Margaret Atwood, this is a tale of the suppression of women by a totalitarian state called the `Republic of Gilead.’ In some respects one is reminded of Orwell’s 1984: the endless war from without, designed to keep the populace preoccupied and beholden to the state; the paucity of basic food stuffs and consumer goods expect for the ruling class, the general hopelessness, etc. There is horrendous pollution so that most women are not fertile, yet the state needs babies for the war effort and the economy. Consequently women’s bodies are taken over by the state, and those women that are fertile are made to bear children for the sterile leaders. Those who are not fertile are reduced to servitude. All overt sexual expression and any kind of activity not in keeping with the strict dictates of the fundamentalist religion is forbidden, and transgressions are punishable by death, sometimes in public hangings. In one ugly scene the handmaids themselves are made to pull the rope that attaches to the noose that strangles a wayward handmaid. This is followed by a man accused of rape being thrown to the handmaids, who literally rip him apart with their bare hands.

This is an example of “Great” Canadian writing? It seems to be more like a blender mixing dozens of different (better) Sci Fi books, throwing in a little “1337ness” by having the minority of the day (Lesbians in this case), and throwing a heavy handed message at everyone involved. Come to think of it, I remember how I suffered through some of Atwood’s other (horrible) books in High School. Thank you Joseph Conrad for saving me – when our teacher realized we didn’t care about Atwood, I had the opportunity to read Heart of Darkness instead of this sort of tripe. Seriously, what link does a nuclear wasteland/distopia have to religion? Japan has no real religious spirit and you will find consumerism (which is, and which will be, the root of any energy crisis) thrives in such places.

There should be a rule where modern literature is kept out of schools. Most of it is irrelevant (Margaret Laurence, Carol Shields, Margaret Atwood), and the stuff that is gold never makes it there (See: Pierre Berton).

The Russo-Japanese War marked the first time that an asian country had given the west a bloody nose. A very influential event for Revolutionary movements around the world, and an event which marked the rise of Japan.

The borrower is slave to the lender. If a family member owes/is giving you money, thanksgiving dinner tastes different.