Chapter three of The Handmaid's Tale introduces Serena Joy — the Commander's wife — and she is not happy to see the handmaid. She has a garden, a knitting basket, and a diamond ring. She also has thin lips, a clenched-fist chin, and flat hostile eyes. From a distance, it looks like peace. Banned Camp is a comedy podcast where we read banned books chapter by chapter — we don't read ahead, so you're discovering the story with us. Things To Listen For: Dan compares the Commander's wives to Fred Trump. The scarves Serena Joy knits for soldiers at the front lines. Dan and Jennifer piece together what might actually be happening to those scarves. Jennifer stops mid-sentence while reading Atwood's description of Serena Joy's face. She says she loves that writing. She called it a beautiful piece of writing. She's not wrong. Rochlen reports on an East Tennessee school district that reversed its ban on Roots by Alex Haley — and why the reason for the reversal is almost as disturbing as the ban itself. Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? Chapter three is a quiet chapter on the surface — a garden, some knitting, a brief hostile introduction. But Atwood is already showing how authoritarian systems don't just control behavior, they hollow out personhood. Giving women fake purpose while stripping them of real agency is exactly the kind of idea book banners don't want anyone reading about. It hits too close to home. If this is your first episode, you're fine starting here. Our fact-checking Robot catches you up fast, then we read the next chapter (spoilers). Banworthy to Bingeworthy While you're waiting for the next episode, check this out: Here's The Scoop from NBC News — Hosted by Yasmeen Vossoughian, Here's The Scoop is a daily news podcast from NBC News that takes you through the day's top stories with NBC's trusted journalists. Sharp, thoughtful, and informative. Listen daily wherever you get your podcasts. Rate, Review, & Follow on Apple Podcasts Rate, review, and follow us on Apple Podcasts to help other scary book people find us!  Disclaimer Banned Camp features readings and discussions of banned books for the purpose of criticism, commentary, education, and entertainment, in accordance with fair use guidelines. The material used from the book The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood is shared under these principles, with the intent of provoking thought and discussion about literature, censorship, and societal issues. The original work remains fully owned by its copyright holders, and we strongly encourage listeners to purchase a copy here to experience the book in its entirety.  This podcast is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or officially connected to Margaret Atwood, her estate, or the publishers of The Handmaid's Tale. Any monetization of the podcast is separate from the copyrighted material discussed. Frequently Asked Questions Why was The Handmaid's Tale banned? The Handmaid's Tale has been challenged and banned in schools and libraries across the United States for decades. Critics cite sexual content, profanity, and its portrayal of religion and political systems. But the deeper reason is that Atwood's novel imagines a world where women's bodies, identities, and voices are legally controlled by the state — and it makes that world feel uncomfortably plausible. That's the part that actually scares book banners. Is there a podcast that reads The Handmaid's Tale chapter by chapter? That's us. Banned Camp reads a different banned book every season, one chapter at a time — neither host has read ahead, so you're discovering the story together in real time. Season 11 covers The Handmaid's Tale, and every episode includes the chapter reading, discussion, a fact-checking Robot, and a segment on why books get banned. Do I need to start Banned Camp from the beginning? No. Every episode opens with Robot's recap of the previous chapter, so you can jump in anywhere. Most listeners tell us they started mid-season and went back to the beginning after they were hooked. Topics Covered: The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood, Chapter Three, Serena Joy, the Commander's wife, Gilead, handmaids, Roots Alex Haley, book banning Tennessee, female autonomy, authoritarian control, fake purpose, banned books, banned books podcast, book banning, censorship, literary analysis, comedy podcast