Scan barcode
gealach's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
whimsicalmeerkat's review against another edition
4.0
[b:The Unit|5730888|The Unit|Ninni Holmqvist|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1320530547s/5730888.jpg|5902518] is the saddest piece of dystopian fiction I have ever read. Normally the genre leaves me angry or frightened or feeling the need for a good shower, but this made me feel heartbroken. The Unit is a place where women who have reached the age of 50 and men who have reached the age of 60 without having children are sent to live in order to participate in "humane" experiments and act as organ donors for the so-called needed. These people are known as dispensable.
The story portrayed is one where these people are provided a life of complete luxury with no cost to themselves, but also have no freedom to leave, no rights to privacy, and are compelled to participate in whatever experiments and physical sacrifices required of them. Psychology is used to great effect to keep them happy. Eventually they all go for their "final donation," the surgery in which all of their vital organs are harvested for the benefit of needed people. [a:Ninni Holmqvist|1232086|Ninni Holmqvist|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1296387214p2/1232086.jpg] paints a painful picture of people who feel they have failed and never found love, of people who have always been lonely, being thrust into proximity, finding love or friendship, then constantly losing those people to the demands of the Unit. This book disturbed me greatly and will stay with me for some time.
The story portrayed is one where these people are provided a life of complete luxury with no cost to themselves, but also have no freedom to leave, no rights to privacy, and are compelled to participate in whatever experiments and physical sacrifices required of them. Psychology is used to great effect to keep them happy. Eventually they all go for their "final donation," the surgery in which all of their vital organs are harvested for the benefit of needed people. [a:Ninni Holmqvist|1232086|Ninni Holmqvist|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1296387214p2/1232086.jpg] paints a painful picture of people who feel they have failed and never found love, of people who have always been lonely, being thrust into proximity, finding love or friendship, then constantly losing those people to the demands of the Unit. This book disturbed me greatly and will stay with me for some time.
sarahsteve_family's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
dameverte's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.0
georgiarae_reads's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
abbywebb's review against another edition
4.0
A great book to curl up with on an unconventionally cold Labour Day weekend. Just don't go expecting to feel warm and fuzzy after reading it.
This dystopian book takes us to near-future Sweden, where childless men and women who do not contribute to the economy in any way are taken to a locked facility called The Unit. Women enter at age 50 while men are given 10 years extra due to the longevity of healthy sperm and are committed at age 60.
While in the Unit, life is idyllic as the citizens (or "dispensables") are allowed to wander freely through the spectacular greenhouses and gardens (even a replica of Monet's famous garden), eat whatever they want, take part in various fitness activities (running, swimming, yoga, spinning - you name it, they have it), and even attend the cinema, art gallery openings, and live theatre.
Oh, did I forget to mention the involuntary experiments and organ donation? Silly me, it completely slipped my mind. Yes, it is true that the dispensables are in fact, dispensable. That is, they undergo psychological or behavioural or medical experiments that test new drugs, new treatments, and the like. Everyone at some point also contributes a vital organ here or there, with the "final donation" being the end of one's life as all of the organs are auctioned off to needy people in society (i.e., parents, especially those with meaningful jobs).
A thrilling read, but not thrilling like, "I'm riding a killer rollercoster" so much as "Oh, they really do that and no one objects?!" A great read for dystopian fiction lovers - just don't think that you will predict the outcome (as least I didn't).
This dystopian book takes us to near-future Sweden, where childless men and women who do not contribute to the economy in any way are taken to a locked facility called The Unit. Women enter at age 50 while men are given 10 years extra due to the longevity of healthy sperm and are committed at age 60.
While in the Unit, life is idyllic as the citizens (or "dispensables") are allowed to wander freely through the spectacular greenhouses and gardens (even a replica of Monet's famous garden), eat whatever they want, take part in various fitness activities (running, swimming, yoga, spinning - you name it, they have it), and even attend the cinema, art gallery openings, and live theatre.
Oh, did I forget to mention the involuntary experiments and organ donation? Silly me, it completely slipped my mind. Yes, it is true that the dispensables are in fact, dispensable. That is, they undergo psychological or behavioural or medical experiments that test new drugs, new treatments, and the like. Everyone at some point also contributes a vital organ here or there, with the "final donation" being the end of one's life as all of the organs are auctioned off to needy people in society (i.e., parents, especially those with meaningful jobs).
A thrilling read, but not thrilling like, "I'm riding a killer rollercoster" so much as "Oh, they really do that and no one objects?!" A great read for dystopian fiction lovers - just don't think that you will predict the outcome (as least I didn't).
doctorsophie's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
punpun95's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
suedd's review against another edition
4.0
Dystopia set in an institution where the dispensable people (those without children/dependents) are sent at around 50 years of age. Organ donations and experimentation is their future. Makes you think about marginalizing those who do not have children, the value of contributing to society. Slow start, but worth the read.
sallycacchi's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.5
An interesting premise, but the book ended up being something I wasn't expecting.
This book seems to try too hard to critique capitalism and society's view of individual worth and just ended up being a bit shallow and obvious. There was nuance missing here and the story could have been built in a more subtle way.
As a late 30s childless woman myself I found some of the commentary around relationships between women with children and those without a little troubling. Perhaps attitudes are different in Sweden and this talks to more of societal norms there but I didn't resonate with this at all.
The premise of the book came across as really unrealistic to me and there are a number of plot holes, I think that the author leant too much on the "literary" style to deflect from these shortcomings, but the book does not have the emotional depth to pull this off.
The part of the book that most resonated with me was Dorritt's relationship with her dog, in all honesty this seemed to be the only part of the book with any true emotional depth.
I found the main character to be extremely unlikeable, I do wonder how closely she resembles the author in character...
This book seems to try too hard to critique capitalism and society's view of individual worth and just ended up being a bit shallow and obvious. There was nuance missing here and the story could have been built in a more subtle way.
As a late 30s childless woman myself I found some of the commentary around relationships between women with children and those without a little troubling. Perhaps attitudes are different in Sweden and this talks to more of societal norms there but I didn't resonate with this at all.
The premise of the book came across as really unrealistic to me and there are a number of plot holes, I think that the author leant too much on the "literary" style to deflect from these shortcomings, but the book does not have the emotional depth to pull this off.
The part of the book that most resonated with me was Dorritt's relationship with her dog, in all honesty this seemed to be the only part of the book with any true emotional depth.
I found the main character to be extremely unlikeable, I do wonder how closely she resembles the author in character...