The Book Interrupted women kick-off Seasons Three: The Banned Book Season with “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood. Atwood’s dystopian novel has been banned for being sexually explicit, violently graphic, and morally corrupt. The Book Interrupted members give their first impressions of the book, and continue in the group discussion while joined by Lindsay. The women discuss the parallels between the book and current reality, women’s rights, fertility, gift giving, penis imagery, and the end of the world.

Discussion Points: 

• Fiction based on reality
• The importance of a name, and women changing or keeping theirs after marriage
• What’s in the name Offred?
• Superfans reading deeply into books
• Cyndi Lauper’s response to overturning of Roe v. Wade
• Everyday toxins, and fertility of both men and women
• Abstaining from having children for environmental reason
• Pollution, capitalism, consumption, and gift giving
• Penis metaphors or just your dirty mind
• Pooping during labour and loss of modesty

Mentioned on this episode of Book Interrupted:

Book Interrupted Website

Book Interrupted YouTube Channel

Book Interrupted Facebook Book Club Group

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

Lessons In Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

Margaret Atwood Teaches Creative Writing MasterClass

Sapiens by Yuval Noah Harari

Cyndi Lauper Talks About Women's Rights