I first read this book in my very early teens. I wasn't that impressed; all it did was leave me with a vague sense of uneasiness which I didn't quite understand. It was not the only thing I did not understand.

I read the book again, some ten years later I think, and was considerably more affected than before. Now I've read it yet again and it seems to me that this is one of those books that gets more horrifying each time. The worst part of it for me, the very worst, is the scene where the Commander smilingly tries to explain to Offred that change means breaking eggs (not his, of course) and that better for some (him) doesn't mean better for all (every her in creation). The level of dehumanisation is appalling and - crucially - terribly accurate. We've all seen people who think this way. We've all heard them pontificating and watched them scratch their way to power. I think we've all just seen an election result where the victor would happily have found himself at the hotel party, grabbing at the imprisoned whores, admiring their awful costumes and smugly congratulating himself on being there.

This whole thing is just shudderingly awful. A vivisection of fear and temptation and the desire to put down the other.

I may not read this again for another ten years. I'd like to think that if/when I do, it'll have somehow become less recognisable. But I doubt it.