I wasn't even finished with this book before I started recommending it to anyone I could. What a great book, for so so many reasons! The language is just spectacular: several times I would reread a sentence just to absorb how perfectly composed it was. And the story itself is very compelling... It is not likely (the way things look now) that underpopulation will be a threat to America any day soon, but an overbearing corrupt theocracy? Hmm.... that could be so many places in the world (Taliban?). *political comment coming soon* If the Bush administration continues its gradual destruction of women's rights, then how far are we *really* from the world portrayed in this book? Will we soon be banned from reading, forced to stay at home and fulfill rigidly state-defined roles for society while men roam freely?

The best part was the ambiguous but hopeful ending. I cannot wait to dive into more of Margaret Atwood's work, and wonder at why I haven't already.

Released on Thursday, June 19, 2003 at Open Eye Cafe in Carrboro, North Carolina USA.

Hahahahahaa!! Yet another release of this fantastic book in the greater CH-C'boro area!

I found The Handmaid's Tale in a cafe in Chapel Hill. I'd read another of Atwood's, and liked it very much. Her writing style is fluid and expressive. I had always wanted to read Handmaid's Tale, but for some reason, never had...until now. I just finished the book this week and I loved it. I couldn't put it down. it was disturbing and surreal, yet one can imagine the horrors in this book becoming reality. In fact, some of the horrors, such as the political structure discussed in the book, exist today and have been in the world since the beginning of civilization. I'm planning to re-release this book, probably tomorrow or the next day.

Released on Saturday, September 13, 2003 at Amity United Methodist Church Women's Bathroom in Chapel Hill, North Carolina USA.

I left the book in the bathroom at the church, outside of the auditorium. I was hopeful and a bit anxious about letting it go, but it felt good to do it. Enjoy, whoever finds this book!

I found this book today in the ladies rest room of Amity
Methodist Church. Since I have already read it , I am
passing it on to my daughter.

My mother gave this book to me the other day. She had already told me about BookCrossing.com, and it sounded like such a cool idea. Since I had just finished a P.J. O'Rourke book, I was ready for something a little...different. Once i started, I could not put it down ( I read the entire thing in 4 days). Margaret Atwood is such an incredible writer. The story is compelling and frightening. I've lived my whole life in a society where i was free to do almost anything i wanted. I cannot imagine life being so restricted. And the change seemed to happen so quickly, where were the revolutions? Throughout, this book was terrific, the ending held out a little hope. I enjoyed this book and would reccomend it to anyone.

CAUGHT IN CHAPEL HILL NORTH CAROLINA U.S.A