The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood

The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood was an inspired choice by Dennis, who also hosted the BBC with typical aplomb. 

The Handmaid's Tale takes place in the Republic of Gilead, a country formed within the borders of what was originally the United States of America after nuclear, biological, and chemical pollution rendered a large portion of the population sterile and a staged terrorist attack killed the President and Congress. After the attack, a revolution occurred which deposed the United States government and abolished the US Constitution. New theocratic governments, including the Republic of Gilead, were formed under the rule of a military dictatorship.

The story is told from the point of view of a woman called Offred, who is kept by the ruling class as a concubine ("handmaid") for reproductive purposes shortly after the beginning of what is called in the epilogue the Gilead period. The story's narrative is disjointed and out of order and ends abruptly, which is revealed at the end to be caused by its supposedly having been narrated onto a series of unnumbered audio tapes.

BBC members were disturbed by many of the book’s scenes, which although presented in a matter of fact way, presented events such as organized rape, the shredding of imperfect babies. Beyond the scope of imagination, but at the same time with touches of irony, such as in the naming of social groups, including terms such as the “econowives”. An invocation of imagination both spare and highly provocative. Members also noted touches of John Wyndham, and interesting analogies to current events, despite the book having been written over 20 years ago. Members seemed to be able to relate themselves to particular groups within Gilead, such as Al as the fitting comfortably into the Econowife category.

Dennis 8.5
Al 8.5
Andrew 8.5
Kevin 8.5
Mark 9
Mary 8
Score: 8.5

A 1990 film adaptation was directed by Volker Schlöndorff, with the screenplay written by Harold Pinter. It starred Natasha Richardson (Offred), Faye Dunaway (Serena Joy), Robert Duvall (Fred), Aidan Quinn (Nick), and Elizabeth McGovern (Moira).[5] MGM released the film on DVD in 2001.

This can be viewed on YouTube at: 

The Handmaid's Tale

There is also an operatic adaptation, written by Poul Ruders, which premièred in Copenhagen on March 6, 2000, and ran at the English National Opera in London in 2003. There is a full-cast dramatization, produced for BBC Radio 4 by the award-winning John Dryden in 2000. A straight stage adaptation by Brendon Burns was toured by the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke, UK in 2002

For the next book Andrew, who will also host on 20 May, has chosen “The Rings of Saturn” is by WG Sebald.