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The Handmaid's Tale Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

Margaret Atwood (Author), Elisabeth Moss (Narrator), Bradley Whitford (Narrator),

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Brought to you by Penguin.

Shortlisted for Audiobook of the Year at the British Book Awards 2020.

Winner of Best Audiobook (Fiction) at the New York Festival Radio Awards 2020.

Read by Elisabeth Moss, star of the hit Channel 4 TV series.

The Republic of Gilead offers Offred only one function: to breed. If she deviates, she will, like dissenters, be hanged at the wall or sent out to die slowly of radiation sickness. But even a repressive state cannot obliterate desire - neither Offred's nor that of the two men on which her future hangs.

Brilliantly conceived and executed, this powerful evocation of 21st-century America gives full rein to Margaret Atwood's devastating irony, wit and astute perception.

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Product details

Listening Length	11 hours and 22 minutes
Author	Margaret Atwood
Narrator	Elisabeth Moss, Bradley Whitford, Amy Landecker, Ann Dowd
Whispersync for Voice	Ready
Audible.com.au Release Date	30 April 2019
Publisher	Penguin Audio
Program Type	Audiobook
Version	Unabridged
Language	English
ASIN	B07R71V116
Best Sellers Rank	124 in Audible Books & Originals (See Top 100 in Audible Books & Originals) 2 in Dystopian Fiction 2 in Dystopian Science Fiction (Audible Books & Originals) 6 in Literary Fiction (Audible Books & Originals)

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2 star		3%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from Australia

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Chilling...

Reviewed in Australia on 8 July 2017

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I read this when it was first published in the 1980's and bought the Kindle and re-read it when I knew the series was being released recently. Told from a very intimate first person narration, 'The Handmaid's Tale' provides a gripping account of a young woman's struggle in a nightmare society in a dystopian future. Following a cataclysmic event, democracy is overturned, a progressive 'normal' Western society becomes an oppressive regime where women's civil rights and freedoms are things of the past.

This dystopia destroys individuality and freedom to achieve the perfect society. 'The Handmaid's Tale' takes place in the Republic of Gilead, where there is a caste system and strict rules to keep the community in order and to save the population by having complete control over reproduction.

The heroine, Offred, is now a Handmaid. She has borne a child, so since she is known to be fertile she is placed with a family who have been unable to conceive their own child. Any child she bears now will stay with Fred and his wife, while Offred will move to a new family (and receive a new name, since Handmaids are named for the head of the household where they live). "Humanity is so adaptable, my mother would say. Truly amazing, what people can get used to, as long as there are a few compensations." - Offred

The Handmaid's Tale is like the best science fiction, themes in the book expose larger social commentary, holding our own society up to a confronting mirror.
It is chilling. Atwood is an excellent writer, and the subject is profound. If you haven't read this book, I urge you to. I will now watch the series...

17 people found this helpful

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Ross McDougall

short sentences. big story!

Reviewed in Australia on 11 May 2017

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What a cool / terrifying book.
Any book or story in any form that has you gnawing on every detail, desperate for more is a great thing. The only thing that could have been better was more!

Offred was the kind of unreliable narrator that I love to read. Atwood gave her and the overarching story a great mix between keeping the various scenes moving and cutting all over the place too much. I also liked the easily digestible chapter lengths; it's a real 'just one more chapter' read.

The universe was well-realised, and bolstered more at the end. I'd like to hear more about this time in Gilead. While I think the book was about right in length, I'd happily trade some of the slower set-up of the world for some more exposition.

While a lot of reviews have commented on the inconsistency in inverted commas, I didn't find it very distracting; rather it encouraged me to read passages multiple times to catch the rhythm Atwood set. It made the reading far more interesting and a part of the story in itself with some ludicrously tiny sentences.

A splendid read! It took a while to get moving which removes one star, but it was still easy to stick with because every page posed more questions to be answered.

8 people found this helpful

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Sue Kingham

Atwood a modern day prophet

Reviewed in Australia on 4 May 2017

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I recently read the Oryx and Crake trilogy and was blown away by Atwood's perceptive take on society. In that she mentioned a wall being g built between the US and Mexico. In The Handmaids Tale she talks about the declining birth rate and the rise of surrogacy. She also predicts a Government take over based on the threat of Islamist forces. I think she must have a crystal ball. I thoroughly enjoyed this book but is not a comfortable read.

6 people found this helpful

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Margaret

Addicted

Reviewed in Australia on 29 October 2019

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After watching the Handmaid's Tales on TV and waiting for the next Series, I thought I'd read the book, this one didn't cover as much as the Series did. I have the Testament to read yet and I'm thinking it will only cover the Series so far but can only hope for more. Wasn't disappointed but there are a few differences between Series and book, but that's expected. Enjoyed this and looking forward to reading the Testament 🤗

One person found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

By a middle class white liberal for other middle class white liberals.

Reviewed in Australia on 31 August 2018

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" Now, tell me. You’re an intelligent person, I like to hear what you think. What did we overlook? "
"Love ", I said.
Yes, because if you're a middle class liberal, love is all you need. Societies stand or fall on love, not economics.
Here's a tip: no society ever fell because of love or lack of it. No rebellion ever happened because of morality or lack of it. It's always about economics. It's always too many immiserated with too little material means who can't take it anymore. Always. Don't take my word for it, have a look at history.
Only liberals believe the power of an individual's romantic/maternal love can move mountains or bring them down.
The only thing prescient about this book is its middle class liberal myopia.

One person found this helpful

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FAR, FAR BETTER THAN THE TV VERSION

Reviewed in Australia on 10 December 2019

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I watched it first, then decided it was time to read it, thinking it would be ok. But it was Fabulous! I was addicted, and even though I knew the story, I could hardly wait for my evening reading time, in fact I spent a hot smoky day curled up inside, finishing it. Such wonderful writing. It’s my second book by Margaret Atwood, having read and been hooked on Hag-seed.

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Love 2 Read

Thought provoking

Reviewed in Australia on 28 June 2018

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This book depressed me because it was too close to the social engineering and we're starting to introduce in modern 2018. It was also too close for comfort to the dystopian worlds depicted in Orwell's books.
It was also written in a style I was unused to. As it was almost entirely an inner dialogue, it was difficult to follow who said what when the narrator was reflecting on conversations and actions.
I haven't watched the TV show and I'm not sure I want to although it may be one of those rare occasions when the book is not as good as the film.

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Trace

Good but I enjoyed the TV more

Reviewed in Australia on 26 October 2018

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I only read this after watching the TV series and being totally mesmerised by it. I did enjoy the book but not as much as the TV. Had I read this first maybe I would have enjoyed it more? It was well written and quite amazing if you think about when it was written. Having said this still a good read

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Top reviews from other countries

CalenderGirl

The Handmaid's Tale

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 11 August 2018

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What an incredible book. Somewhat unbelievable in some ways, but very much believable as it could happen, in the worst scenario ever (look at what's happening today). It could be reality, it could be women's worst nightmare. I haven't seen the TV programme, only read the original book, so no idea how the writer's have progressed this story for TV. It left a mark on me, it opens your mind as to how women have been treated over time and how we are considered a 'lesser person vs men'. Disturbing book, but very thought provoking. Very.

123 people found this helpful

Mariya Georgieva

Degrading to women

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 28 January 2019

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This book was recommended to me by many women and was listed in several Must-reads for women. I had great expectations and yet this is one of the very few books, which I just couldn't finish no matter how hard I tried. I have never read something more stupid and degrading to women (maybe only comparable to "50 shades of grey" in shallowness). Writing style... well with all my respect to the famous Ms Atwood, it is strained and presumptuous, and the narration is slow and boring.

97 people found this helpful

Don’t expect a transcript of the TV program

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 29 May 2018

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Not my usual read. But read on the recommendation of a friend . Don’t expect the script of the TV series the book is much much better.Margaret Atwood uses words to spin a tale in which you get entangled. I really didn’t want to put it down, even though I watched it on TV and knew the story. I would and have recommended this book to friends not as a vintage classic but as a must read classic

106 people found this helpful

emmaclare1810

Masterclass in dystopia

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 7 August 2017

Verified Purchase

This book is amazing. It has been my favourite novel for fifteen years since I read it for A Level. I'm now an English teacher and every year I buy more copies than I'd like to admit to give to students. It is, in my opinion, the perfect dystopian novel: fiction that's just close enough to reality to scare the living daylights out of you.

105 people found this helpful

M D Tuch

Couldn't force myself to finish this depressing tale

Reviewed in the United States on 16 November 2018

Verified Purchase

I realize that I am late coming to the ‘Handmaid’ party. It has been my intention to read it for some long time, but for some reason that I don’t fully understand, I was intimidated by the gravity of the book. I really wanted to be impressed, but Atwood’s view of a dark dystopian society left me depressed, confused and ultimately bored.
I confess, I couldn’t finish the book. I couldn’t force myself to endure more than 115 pages peppered with complete and unnecessary gibberish. ‘If I have an egg, what more can I want?’ There are tons of this fluff.
Atwood’s view of the future, and I assume that’s what I think we must consider that she intends, is poppycock. A nightmare with no beginning, middle or end. If this is what is in store for us, count me out.
I was interested in a storyline or two along the way, but the author refused to develop them, instead droning on and on about meaningless details in the heroine’s life, or existence.
I couldn’t go any further. My mind kept drifting to all the really entertaining stories out there, waiting to be read and enjoyed. Why was I wasting precious time reading tripe?

881 people found this helpful

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The Handmaid's Tale Audible Audiobook – Unabridged

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