The Hand Maiden

Disturbing but so close to the truth it's scary!

Once again, did anyone notice the poor sound quality.

I watched ten minutes but didn't like it

I read the book several years ago and found it very disturbing. I can't remember the end but I do recall feeling pretty miserable after reading it.

I have to say that I thought the TV adaptation was good - the acting superb - though, with the misery being piled on, I'm not sure I will last out the whole series.

Yes, it's 10 episodes in total!

Yes I watched it and found it disturbing but I will carry on with it. The sound quality wasn't brilliant, had to turn the sound up a fair bit.
The original book was written in 1985, I think, quite a scary scenario.
From what I have read it has been a big hit in America and a second series has been commissioned.
Watch this space !!

I thought the same Sar53. I read the book years ago and saw the film, which I felt didn't do the book justice.
Going on the first episode, this version certainly captures the essence of the book.
As an earlier poster said, it's not far removed from reality either, particularly if you recall events in Romania. Women denied contraception, and expected to produce children for the state. Scary.

I've recorded it, but haven't decided yet whether to watch it because of the time commitment required. How can a book that took five or six hours to read equate to a drama lasting well over twice as long? With more of the same in the pipeline? I did enjoy the book, but perhaps I'll just re-read that instead!

I may have to get it on dvd as I found the adverts very annoying, but what I saw I was very impressed with. I've never read the book but a friend of mine always said her favourite book was the authors Oryx and Crake, and I've always meant to read that. I have subtitles up all the time these days so I didn't notice the muffled sound.

I heard a few days ago that even Margaret Atwood didn't want to watch it, so I won't.
I read the book and wondered why afterwards.

Read The Handmaid's Tale years ago. Margaret Atwood is such a good writer. I too thought this production did it far better than the film and Elisabeth Moss managed so well to show the difference between her previous life and the one she was enduring. Considering it was written so long ago it somehow seems even closer to present day circumstances. If you haven't read Atwood try Cat's Eye, the best account of girls' childhood bullying I have ever read.

Apparently durhamjen Attwood has a cameo role in it! I think it's a brilliant production, despite having to use sub titles for poor sound quality. I read the book when I was young and naive and dismissed it as sci if, but now I'm not I find it extremely chilling. Apparently Attwood didn't put anything in that hadn't actually happened, and I find it so apposite for our times and the oppression that women are experiencing in parts of the world today. Unredeemingly depressing so I can understand anyone not wanting to watch it, but if you do best on record - too many annoying ads.

Thoroughly intrigued and enjoyed it, but yes, will have to put subtitles on next week it was mumbly.

Review in the Times today said it is a 'reimagining' of Margaret Atwood's book. My DD has just finished reading the book and said it was very different in lots of ways.

Really, Lazigirl? Obviously she was persuaded. I'd like to see her views on the whole production - but I'm still not going to watch it. It can stay in my head.

The older I get the more I find myself disturbed by drama that has the ring of truth. The extreme right wing in the US is very real. We have connections with educated liberal Americans who live in Texas. They talk of the 'Texas Taliban' the latest rant they have is to make it a crime to just drive a woman to an abortion clinic.....basically any poor taxi driver. Its sounds laughable but these people are real.
I could not watch this, I feel I should but I know it would unsettle me too much.

Margaret Atwood is a wonderful writer I have read The Blind Assassin, Alias Grace and Cats Eye, all brilliant, although like many authors she has produced her duds, her latest The Heart Goes Last wasn't up there with her greats.

I found the production quite ponderous, Elizabeth Moss is a very accomplished actress and managed to convey a lot without that much dialogue. It's very dark and the executed men, particularly one that had the label on his body denoting he was a homosexual, together with the enforced sex the women had to endure for procreation just put me in mind of the enslaved Yazidi women. The book was written in the 1980s, I haven't read it, elements of last night's episode just put me in mind of the control wielded by ISIS.

My sister bought the book for me a few years ago, as a birthday present. I never read it, glad I didn't now.
At my age I want to be cheered up, not depressed.

Yes as other have said, sound quality not good, at times when Americans mumble it would be good to have sub titles. Perhaps they feel the same about us!

Hilda; and also it isn't illegal in some states in America to marry underage girls, I believe....

My son bought me it Tricia. I am pleased he hasn't asked me what I thought of it!

A friend once said that Cat's Eye should be required reading for anyone intending to teach because it portrayed so well the subtle form that girls' bullying takes, and that if you hadn't encountered it personally, you might be completely unaware of.

As am already depressed won't bother!

I agree about Cat's Eye - a gripping book with, from what I recall, some surprises.

Also, Alias Grace is a very good read.