Forced to wear red everyday, birthing other women's babies, could you do it?

Rating 4/5 it kept me on the edge of my seat but the ending was frustrating. Now this book was not only terrifying but it completely blew my mind. I hope this never actually happens in our future, but you can definitely see the possibilities in this especially since nowadays we aren't having children like we used to. I devoured all 311 pages of this book I could not put it down and even if I did it was because I absolutely needed sleep. I will also be reviewing the TV series, I have to be honest I haven't watched the whole thing but I will review what I have watched and my thoughts. TV series I would rate a 4/5 for this rating because I enjoy it I think its a great show. The TV series doesn't match the book well, but I really enjoy all the spin offs they have it makes it intriguing and gives the story a little more life.

Beware Spoilers Ahead

The story begins with Offred (Janine) who is a Handmaid in the Republic of Gilead (a totalitarian and theocratic state) that has replaced the United States of America because of the dangerously low reproduction rates. Along with being a handmaid they cracked down on women’s rights, forbidding women to hold property or jobs. Handmaids are assigned to bear children for elite couples that have trouble conceiving(basically you have to have sex with the husband and give birth to their child even though it is half yours). Every month, when Janine is at the right point in her menstrual cycle, she must have impersonal, wordless sex with the Commander while Serena sits behind her, holding her hands (can we say awkward, I would not be okay with this...well neither is she but she doesn't have a choice now). Mind you Serena is also not okay with this whole arrangement; Janine is constantly explaining how Serena digs her nails into her wrists while the awkward sex is happening. Janine's freedom, like the freedom of all women, is completely restricted (excuse me what...no thanks). She can only leave the house for shopping trips, the door to her room cannot be completely shut, and the Eye (secret police force) watch her every public move.

As Janine tells the story of her daily life, she frequently slips into flashbacks, in the old world, before Gilead. She had an affair with Luke, a married man who divorced his wife and married Janine they had a daughter together and were living happily. Janine and Luke took their daughter and attempted to flee across the border into Canada, but they were caught and separated from one another, she has not seen her husband or daughter since. After her capture, Janine’s marriage was voided (because Luke had been divorced), and she was sent to the Red Center. Women are introduced into Gilead’s ideology in preparation for becoming Handmaids. Aunt Lydia (major bitch sorry I have no better words for describing her) supervised the women,. She's giving speeches forcing Gilead’s beliefs that women should be subservient to men and solely concerned with bearing children, also saying that such a social order ultimately offers women more respect and safety than the old world offered them (let's all laugh at this). She also whips the women when they aren't "following the rules." While Janine is getting her training at the Red center her best friend Moira ends up there with her and she escapes to Canada, well so Janine thinks.

After some time has gone by without Offred (Janine) becoming pregnant, Serena suggests that she have sex with Nick secretly and pass the child off as the Commander’s. Serena promises to bring Offred a picture of her daughter if she sleeps with Nick, and she realizes that Serena has always known the whereabouts of her daughter. The same night that Offred is to sleep with Nick, the Commander secretly takes her out to a club called Jezebel’s, where the Commanders mingle with prostitutes. Offred sees Moira working there. The two women meet in a bathroom, and Offred learns that Moira was captured just before she crossed the border. She chose life in Jezebel’s over being sent to the Colonies, where most political prisoners and dangerous people are sent. After that night at Jezebel’s, Janine never sees Moira again.

Soon after Janine returns from Jezebel’s, late at night, Serena arrives and tells Offred to go to Nick’s room. Janine and Nick have sex of course the get feelings for each other and start sneaking around together without anyone’s knowledge. She becomes caught up in the affair and ignores Ofglen’s requests that she gather information from the Commander for Mayday (mayday is a secret society that takes women over to Canada to go back to a normal life). Serena has found out about Offred's trip to Jezebel’s, and she sends her to her room, promising punishment (not sure what these married women expect I mean they technically are already sleeping with the handmaids). Janine waits there, and she sees a black van from the Eyes approach. Nick comes in and tells her that the Eyes are really Mayday members who have come to save her. Janine leaves with them, over the Commander’s futile objections, on her way either to prison or to freedom she does not know which. That is where the story ends so you can believe whatever ending you want but I think the very fact that there were tapes to find means that she survived her meeting with the secret police who had to be Mayday. I will say this was a very dissatisfying ending especially because you don't get as final answer on if she got away or not...very frustrating.

I would love to hear your thoughts on this book if you've read it, if you want to read it or if you are currently watching the series on Hulu. Lets start a conversation.

Thank you so much for reading my blog review and I hope you all have a wonderful Wednesday!! Until next week Stay reading Selena Torres.