The Handmaid's Tale Read-Along - Discussion #Resistance #13WLRP

I'm wondering if now was a good time to read a book like this...because it scared me, and I had a weird feeling in the pit of my stomach throughout reading it. I now realize that it's an important read because it demonstrates why we must fight to keep the freedoms we have won. We must not let our status as women be demoted to that of the women in this book. We must not let the tenets of our Constitution (United States) be trampled upon. The freedom of speech, of the press, to address grievances. The separation of church and state.

I think the fear really hit me when I read this passage (p. 174, Ch. 28). "It was after the catastrophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on the Islamic fanatics, at the time."

Sound familiar?

Then, when Offred (the woman she was in the past) goes to buy cigarettes and is told that her Compubank card is invalid. Then she, along with the other women who work with her, is let go from her job. She finds out later that day from her friend, Moira that "women can't hold property anymore. It's a new law."

Sucker punch. I pride myself on my independence, as I'm sure many women do, whether they're married (or in a relationship) or not. Could this happen? Is this what insidious plan some government officials might have in mind for women?

This is probably my favorite quote from the novel. "Better never means better for everyone...It always means worse for some." The commander is the one who says this to Offred. Its meaning echoes the sentiments of one who says, "Make American great again." The quote is the Commander's justification for Gilead existing when Offred asks why it is such an awful society for women. As in most dictatorships, the elite believe the change they caused were for the public good, no matter how many people suffer as a result. Again, sound familiar?

It is truly alarming when a dystopian novel, a work of fiction, may be foreshadowing what's to come if the state of our country continues to proceed down the path it is currently on. It's a cue to us that we cannot be complacent. As many of us know from history, people never believed that things could get as bad as they did during the Holocaust. They never imagined that people would be imprisoned and killed just because they were Jewish, because they didn't fit the Arian mold that Hitler coined as the supreme human.

Complacency. We cannot smugly sit by and think, "That could never happen" because it very well could.

So, what are your thoughts? Share your insight and/or, if you wrote a blog post, share the link in the comments.


Thanks for reading along!

The Handmaid's Tale Read-Along - Update #Resistance

Okay, so I got behind on the read-along. (I suck, I know) Then I got sick. 😠 So, I've decided to do a final discussion this Friday which will be open all day. I created an event for our discussion here (if you're on Facebook and are a member of our group over there, you should have rec'd invites): https://www.facebook.com/events/168940450278958/ 

If you haven't yet joined the group, you'll find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1625188764455723/

I will have a post up here for discussion as well, for those who are not on Facebook. Stop by, start a conversation, share your thoughts, share your blog post(s).

Thanks for bearing with me, guys. Real life (mostly politics 😉 ) keeps interfering with my reading ambitions.

Join the 2017 13 Ways of Looking at The Lifetime Reading Plan Reading Challenge! #13WLRP

I created my new perpetual reading challenge, 13 Ways of Looking at The Lifetime Reading Plan back in September (read all the details and sign-up here), and I promised to offer a yearly challenge to assist us in meeting our reading goals and staying accountable with the perpetual challenge.

Here it is!

Details...

1. Be sure to sign up for the 13WLRP perpetual challenge.

I will be hosting these year long challenges annually so you will be able to mark a lot of books off your lists.

2. Pick a reading level

Decide how many books from the lists you want to read in 2017.

13Ways Challenge Novice: 1 to 3 books
13Ways Challenge Eager Reader : 4 to 8 books
13Ways Challenge Buff: 9 to 13 books
13Ways Challenge Devotee: 14 to 18
13Ways Challenge Diehard Reader: More than 19

3. Grab the challenge button and write a post

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You can write the post on your blog, website, Facebook or Google+ or any other social media.

Please show your support and help spread the word by including the challenge button in your posts. You can also add the button in your sidebar. Thanks!

4. Register for this challenge in the Linky below

Fill out the linky by doing the following:

Link title: Name and blog title (e.g. Michelle @ True Book Addict)
URL: Link to your Challenge Post, not your blog (e.g. http://www.truebookaddict.com/2017/01/2017-13-wlrp-challenge-signup.html

If you ever have any difficulties using the form, or any other questions, don’t hesitate to email me. There's a contact me button in the sidebar.

Sign up below:

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5. Each time you read a book (and review, if you review) you can add your review to the 13 Ways Challenge review page.

Add your review on the 13 Ways Challenge review page and cross another book off your list for this challenge! Well done!

When sharing your reviews or discussing this challenge on Twitter, use the hashtag #13WLRP

6. Write a wrap-up post

I'll write up a wrap-up post at the end of 2017 and there will be a linky to link your wrap-up posts. If you finish before the end of the year, you can share your wrap-up link in the comments below.

GUIDELINES

• The challenge runs from January 1 through December 31, 2017.
• You can make a pre-selected list of books, or make it up along the way.
• Crossing over with other challenges is encouraged!
• Any book format - print, audio, ebook - is allowed.

RESOURCES 

The two lists we are reading from can be found in the sidebar, or access here: 13 Ways Challenge - List 1 13 Ways Challenge - List 2

That's it! Happy Reading!