Apples and oranges. The topic may be similar superficially (in that both books somehow deal with women's roles in a society not ours), but this is shorter, the narrative approach is different, and it's just plain goddamn funny ... which isn't exactly how I'd characterize "The Handmaid's Tale."

As long as you're fine with the mythology (it's a reinterpretation, but she's faithful to the sources -- and she actually lists the main ones she used at the end), this may be a good book to get into Atwood. And Laurel Merlington's interpretation certainly helps.

I hope you will as well.

Based on Elentarri's comment below, I'm tempted to say, get the Laurel Merlington audio. :D

Maybe the audio is what made the difference to me? Laurel Merlington really makes this come alive -- not a preachy line to be noticed. (But then, I don't think I'd have found the text version preachy, either.) I guess we'll have to chalk this one up to "tastes differ" ...