The Handmaid's Tale - no spoilers

[litskispeciality]

I started reading the HandMaid's Tale. So far 60 or so pages in it's good...but confusing. Am I reading this wrong, or is the book that confusing? A couple of reviews spoke to this, but I'm afraid of spoilers. Anyway I guess where I'm confused so far
1. What time period are we in (what year?)
2. Where are they? 
3. Why do women have no rights (I think?)
4. Did she actually go to college, but now is in this home for lack of a better word for women?

Also, is there a reason the author doesn't use quotations? It's so confusing to know if someone is talking.

Thank you for your help!

[Nonny]

I'm probably not the best person to answer, because I hate this book and it's been a few years since I last read it, but I'll try.

1. It's taking place "now," in the present, but the exact year is kind of irrelevant. It's just supposed to be contemporary.

2. This will come out in annoyingly slow drips and drabs as you read more, but they are in the US (the NE somewhere if I'm remembering correctly).

3. See #2, but it boils down to religious extremism.

4. See #2/3, this will all come out as Offred reveals her backstory.

My snarky answer for Atwood not using quotes is because her entire writing style for all of her books eclectic and annoying. My non-snarky theory specific to this particular book though is filled with spoilers, so I don't want to post it, even with spoiler tags, since you are trying to avoid those.

[litskispeciality]

Perfect thank you for your help. Honestly I'm really only reading this because of the new show (which of course I don't have Hulu). The few reviews I saw had a lot of similiar comments, including her lack of quotations. Hopefully it's a quick read. I saw a review that it's rather slow too. I'll come back once I read it, see if anyone wants to discuss with spoilers.

[kelliebeans104]

I'm currently reading this too, about 40% in and I'm really liking it. I'd love to discuss when we're finished.

[aurora]

I love this book but haven't read it in a couple of years so I'm afraid of saying too much and spoiling it for you. I can confirm that you learn a lot of the answers to those questions later on in the book. In other words, first you meet the characters and the tone gets set, then you gradually learn more backstory. The backstory of how/when/where is where it gets really chilling.

ETA since I'm late to the thread, tagging litskispeciality.

[litskispeciality]

I'm excited to discuss the book. I realize I'm jumping the gun a bit. This just had me questioning if I know how to read, but I see now you just have to wait to find out more.

[aurora]

Also I respectfully disagree with everything Nonny said, in the friendliest way possible.

[Nonny]

Apr 25, 2017 12:58:57 GMT -5 aurora said:

Also I respectfully disagree with everything Nonny said, in the friendliest way possible.

You can't disagree with *everything* I said. My non-spoiler plot synopsis answers were perfectly factual, if embellished by my own bias. 

[kelliebeans104]

Apr 24, 2017 9:51:22 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I started reading the HandMaid's Tale. So far 60 or so pages in it's good...but confusing. Am I reading this wrong, or is the book that confusing? A couple of reviews spoke to this, but I'm afraid of spoilers. Anyway I guess where I'm confused so far
1. What time period are we in (what year?)
2. Where are they? 
3. Why do women have no rights (I think?)
4. Did she actually go to college, but now is in this home for lack of a better word for women?

Also, is there a reason the author doesn't use quotations? It's so confusing to know if someone is talking.

Thank you for your help!

I'm finding as I read more, that she uses quotations in conversations in the present but does not when remembering something from the past.  

[litskispeciality]

Apr 27, 2017 10:41:43 GMT -5 kelliebeans104 said:

Apr 24, 2017 9:51:22 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

I started reading the HandMaid's Tale. So far 60 or so pages in it's good...but confusing. Am I reading this wrong, or is the book that confusing? A couple of reviews spoke to this, but I'm afraid of spoilers. Anyway I guess where I'm confused so far
1. What time period are we in (what year?)
2. Where are they? 
3. Why do women have no rights (I think?)
4. Did she actually go to college, but now is in this home for lack of a better word for women?

Also, is there a reason the author doesn't use quotations? It's so confusing to know if someone is talking.

Thank you for your help!

I'm finding as I read more, that she uses quotations in conversations in the present but does not when remembering something from the past.  

This is helpful. I'm about 50% of the way through now. That makes more sense. Still annoying though, if you're quoting someone, just use quotations.

[kelliebeans104]

Apr 27, 2017 11:16:34 GMT -5 litskispeciality said:

Apr 27, 2017 10:41:43 GMT -5 kelliebeans104 said:

I'm finding as I read more, that she uses quotations in conversations in the present but does not when remembering something from the past.  

This is helpful. I'm about 50% of the way through now. That makes more sense. Still annoying though, if you're quoting someone, just use quotations.

Agreed.