"Handsmaid's Tale" is rather dated, when you read it now. If you haven't read Atwood before, I would recommend starting with "Cat's Eye," "The Blind Assassin" or "Alias Grace."

"Fathers and Sons" is a much easier read than most 19th century Russian novels, and it is relatively short, too.

Byatt has several wonderful books of short stories, which you may sample to decide if you like her writing. "The Djinn in the Nightingale's Eye" is especially engaging.

The following Byatt novels are a series, so you may not want to start there: "The Virgin in the Garden," "Still Life," "Babel Tower," and "A Whistling Woman."

Wilkie Collins is a Victorian author who wrote wonderfully Gothic mysteries. If you like the Victorian tales of wronged heiresses they used to always show on "Mystery!" then, you would like Wilkie. Both "The Moonstone" and "The Woman in White" are good books to start with.