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mcmahonmegan's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
3.75
Premise of the book had so much potential but I feel like it just went way too quickly, and there’s so much more I’d like to know about. Really interesting concept though, although eugenics isn’t a completely unique idea, this played out quite well other than v rushed ending
your_true_shelf's review
adventurous
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
wilsoninho1's review against another edition
4.0
A very interesting novel exploring an idea that may seem complete fiction, but could well happen. This is my first time reading Dalcher's work, but it won't be the last. The story played out very well, and I was gripped.
hayleygibson101's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
literarylover37's review against another edition
2.0
Had to DNF bc the kid stuff disturbed me too much. I'm preggers and I have a toddler and the idea of someone taking my child away just messed me up. Made it through a third though and it was really well written just not for me right now.
sbubbletrouble's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
bethtabler's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to the author, publisher, and Netgalley for providing me with a copy of this in exchange for my open and honest review.
Wow. What a story. What an idea.
Again, Christina Dalcher has written an almost prescient story about humanity. Much in the Vein of Vox, Dalcher tackles the idea of the "haves" and "have nots" and takes it to a terrifying place. It isn't a new idea; I know of quite a few authors who have delved into the concept of inequality based on genetics or disposition. However, I can't think of one who pulled at my emotions as much as this story. Her book struck a chord in me. Maybe it is the combination of motherhood, something so powerful and innate it makes me shake thinking of someone taking away my child, and the current climate of unease. Or, perhaps the utter impotence and rage I felt reading about Elena's predicament. She fought to save her child in a near-impossible system.
Either way, Dalcher wrote a hell of a character.
Dr. Elena Fairchild looks like she has it all. On paper, she does because she has a high Q score, the perfect husband, the ideal career, the perfect children. The Q score is an amalgamation of all the characteristics a society considers "desirable." Underneath it all, people are imperfect. Because people are people warts and all, and when you shove them into a system like the one described in Master Class, you can see right away how people will start to fall through the cracks. People like those who learn differently, such as Elena's daughter. Or wives who fall out of love with their husbands. And especially those who have any disability, all of those who are outside the "perfect" line. When Elena's nine-year-old daughter bombs a critical test, her Q score becomes too low and is sent away to an institution, and Elena wants her daughter back.
I think that some who read Master Class will feel that it is a compelling dystopian story, and the undercurrent of narrative and discussion won't go any further than that. Others, though, like myself, Master Class will rip their heart out and have to put the book down a few times because of the building rage inside of them.
I wanted to yell a few times:
"Stay the hell away from her child!"
"What a bastard of a husband!"
"What a messed up system!"
Any book that can elicit such a strong emotional response inside of me is aces in my book.
Wow. What a story. What an idea.
Again, Christina Dalcher has written an almost prescient story about humanity. Much in the Vein of Vox, Dalcher tackles the idea of the "haves" and "have nots" and takes it to a terrifying place. It isn't a new idea; I know of quite a few authors who have delved into the concept of inequality based on genetics or disposition. However, I can't think of one who pulled at my emotions as much as this story. Her book struck a chord in me. Maybe it is the combination of motherhood, something so powerful and innate it makes me shake thinking of someone taking away my child, and the current climate of unease. Or, perhaps the utter impotence and rage I felt reading about Elena's predicament. She fought to save her child in a near-impossible system.
Either way, Dalcher wrote a hell of a character.
Dr. Elena Fairchild looks like she has it all. On paper, she does because she has a high Q score, the perfect husband, the ideal career, the perfect children. The Q score is an amalgamation of all the characteristics a society considers "desirable." Underneath it all, people are imperfect. Because people are people warts and all, and when you shove them into a system like the one described in Master Class, you can see right away how people will start to fall through the cracks. People like those who learn differently, such as Elena's daughter. Or wives who fall out of love with their husbands. And especially those who have any disability, all of those who are outside the "perfect" line. When Elena's nine-year-old daughter bombs a critical test, her Q score becomes too low and is sent away to an institution, and Elena wants her daughter back.
I think that some who read Master Class will feel that it is a compelling dystopian story, and the undercurrent of narrative and discussion won't go any further than that. Others, though, like myself, Master Class will rip their heart out and have to put the book down a few times because of the building rage inside of them.
I wanted to yell a few times:
"Stay the hell away from her child!"
"What a bastard of a husband!"
"What a messed up system!"
Any book that can elicit such a strong emotional response inside of me is aces in my book.
jnnkdl's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
elliemayxox's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Once again, Dalcher has wrote such a thought provoking, anger inducing, heart wrenching book.
This dystopian novel follows Elena Fairchild in one of the governments elite schools for high children with high 'Q' scores as she witnesses the advantages first hand. But when her daughter scores lower than expected, she's taken away. Elena follows her to her new home, a government institution.
Its complicated whether to say there's a diverse cast of characters. The portion of the book before Freddie goes on the yellow bus, is very white and middle to upper class seeming. Then after Elena gets to the yellow school you start to see glimpses of a more diverse class. It really adds to the narrative thought as it emphasizes to the reader how the policies in the book are white washing and ableist etc.
Elena as a character really developed through this book. At the beginning she essentially is very blind to the reality of the policies in place and the privilege that she has. It makes it all the more ironic when we find out some of the origins of the policies and how it seems like Malcolm has took ideas without credit; this really adds to the juxtaposition between Malcolm and Elena.
Something else I loved about this book, and other books Dalcher has wrote, is how she shows how easily a dystopian society can take place. The references to eugenics and the Holocaust, how it was never suppose to happen again. I also want to add how cleverly the Grandmothers story is in there, how it could be her story, or someone else's she passing along. The whole idea of knowledge is power, which is an interesting statement in of itself considering the context of the narrative.
The only thing that cheapened the ending for me was the reappearance of a particular character at the end. While, yes, it creates this bittersweet moment, it simply seems a bit farfetched and unnecessary personally. But I'm sure it could melt the hearts of some readers and add a bit of happiness to a kind of depressing ending.
This dystopian novel follows Elena Fairchild in one of the governments elite schools for high children with high 'Q' scores as she witnesses the advantages first hand. But when her daughter scores lower than expected, she's taken away. Elena follows her to her new home, a government institution.
Its complicated whether to say there's a diverse cast of characters. The portion of the book before Freddie goes on the yellow bus, is very white and middle to upper class seeming. Then after Elena gets to the yellow school you start to see glimpses of a more diverse class. It really adds to the narrative thought as it emphasizes to the reader how the policies in the book are white washing and ableist etc.
Elena as a character really developed through this book. At the beginning she essentially is very blind to the reality of the policies in place and the privilege that she has. It makes it all the more ironic when we find out some of the origins of the policies and how it seems like Malcolm has took ideas without credit; this really adds to the juxtaposition between Malcolm and Elena.
Something else I loved about this book, and other books Dalcher has wrote, is how she shows how easily a dystopian society can take place. The references to eugenics and the Holocaust, how it was never suppose to happen again. I also want to add how cleverly the Grandmothers story is in there, how it could be her story, or someone else's she passing along. The whole idea of knowledge is power, which is an interesting statement in of itself considering the context of the narrative.
The only thing that cheapened the ending for me was the reappearance of a particular character at the end. While, yes, it creates this bittersweet moment, it simply seems a bit farfetched and unnecessary personally. But I'm sure it could melt the hearts of some readers and add a bit of happiness to a kind of depressing ending.
kmerz's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5