The Handmaid's Tale

"I would like to believe this is a story I’m telling. I need to believe it. I must believe it. Those who can believe that such stories are only stories have a better chance. If it’s a story I’m telling, then I have control over the ending. Then there will be an ending, to the story, and real life will come after it. I can pick up where I left off..." (chapter 7 Atwood)
I found this passage particularly compelling in that it caused sympathy within me. I have found that even in my own life I do this on occasion. It is easy for a person to believe in stories but much harder to believe in life itself. The author uses an awesome skill to pull the reader in and make them feel what Offred was feeling. The total disbelief is present in the writing making it feel like you can almost hear it in the tone of Offred's voice, even though you cannot. It shows Offred's desperate attempt at maintaining sanity by controlling the one thing she has left... her thoughts.
"the Eyes of God" are meant to "protect" the people and in the same breath their name is meant to strike fear and respect to those that hear it.The symbol of a winged eye is used in reference to them. The wings could (in my opinion) symbolize angels, and that they are doing the work of god. The eye shows watchfulness. The combination of the two parts of the symbol along with the directness of their name leads one to conclude that the Eyes of God are to show that those in control of Gilead are equal to God himself.
While this was not the best book we have read so far, it was the only one that kept me guessing, and wanting to read on plus have an awesome ending. I thought the authors ending was nicely done and her manner of doing it was intriguing. Many people often overlook the history notes and i think that her subtle ending allowed her readers to make a choice as to whether or not they wanted to know if or how it ended. I really did enjoy this book from begining to end, with no exceptions.