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ohelzbellz's review
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookph1le's review against another edition
5.0
This was exactly the angry, vengeful book I needed at the moment. Give me all of your feminist rage and then some.
This book is a deep exploration of how deeply steeped American culture is in misogyny. Miller is not shy about detailing the myriad ways in which women are up against a system in which they have little chance of winning. From suffering through casual sexism to the grotesque ways in which men use and abuse women, this book explores them all.
It's also something of a superhero narrative. Harriet, Nessa, and Jo are all imbued with powers that don't exist in the real world. And while all three characters are developed and unique, they also stand at metaphors for the need to root out the rot from within, burn it down, and see that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Naturally, plenty of people will cast this book as man-hating. It isn't. Both men and women are nuanced in this book, and men aren't the only ones guilty of the crimes committed against various women in the novel. The book clearly shows how good men can do their part to tear down the biases and institutions holding women back, how they can treat women as equal partners and respect their abilities.
I have to give special props to Harriet. I pretty much ate up every word of every scene she was in. I loved how the book charted her evolution from a woman trying to conform to the unfair rules of the world in which she was living to a woman who unabashedly and unashamedly claimed her own power. She's a very morally gray character, and while her actions certainly made me uncomfortable at times, there were so many passages where I thought, "I would love to act just like Harriet. I would love to say exactly what she just said here." It it not at all hard to see why a woman like that would scare the ever-loving shit out of many men.
This is my first Kirsten Miller book and I can't wait to dig into her backlist.
This book is a deep exploration of how deeply steeped American culture is in misogyny. Miller is not shy about detailing the myriad ways in which women are up against a system in which they have little chance of winning. From suffering through casual sexism to the grotesque ways in which men use and abuse women, this book explores them all.
It's also something of a superhero narrative. Harriet, Nessa, and Jo are all imbued with powers that don't exist in the real world. And while all three characters are developed and unique, they also stand at metaphors for the need to root out the rot from within, burn it down, and see that the perpetrators are brought to justice.
Naturally, plenty of people will cast this book as man-hating. It isn't. Both men and women are nuanced in this book, and men aren't the only ones guilty of the crimes committed against various women in the novel. The book clearly shows how good men can do their part to tear down the biases and institutions holding women back, how they can treat women as equal partners and respect their abilities.
I have to give special props to Harriet. I pretty much ate up every word of every scene she was in. I loved how the book charted her evolution from a woman trying to conform to the unfair rules of the world in which she was living to a woman who unabashedly and unashamedly claimed her own power. She's a very morally gray character, and while her actions certainly made me uncomfortable at times, there were so many passages where I thought, "I would love to act just like Harriet. I would love to say exactly what she just said here." It it not at all hard to see why a woman like that would scare the ever-loving shit out of many men.
This is my first Kirsten Miller book and I can't wait to dig into her backlist.
dmagicwolf's review
5.0
Powerful story of three women, getting justice for women, whilst fighting the misogynistic and corrupt system that protects men that are monsters
athenap93's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
amydvm's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
mamakayb's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
3.75
justmi88's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
frenchfrybri's review
4.0
you know how in real life you give a man the benefit of the doubt and then he turns out impossibly shitty? well this is that in a book except you get to watch them all die impossibly painful deaths afterwards. happy womens history month everyone
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review
3.0
The Change by Kirsten Miller is a unique paranormal story. I wish there had been a warning on the book regarding some of the items in it. I was looking forwarding to reading this paranormal thriller (and then I started reading The Change and was shocked). I had trouble with the significant amount of foul language, nudity, graphic details on menstruation, and the intimate situations. There is also a great deal of man hating. I am a feminist, but I do not believe that feminism should involve bashing men (continually). The villains in the story were a little overdone. I could envision that cartoon villain in the tuxedo with the top hat and cape who twirled his groomed mustache (the type with the curled ends). I liked seeing the three witchy women came together to find a killer. Jo, Harriett, and Nessa unite to get justice for the girls being murdered in their town, Mattuak. I like how their magical powers complemented each other. Each of the women gained their powers upon reaching menopause. I liked that the protagonist were my age. The story is more of a paranormal thriller than a mystery which disappointed me because I love solving whodunits (and the blurb made is sound like a paranormal mystery). The pacing varied throughout the book. The beginning is slow as each of the characters are introduced. It takes a little while to get to the killings. I felt the story was overlong (almost 500 pages) and the author is overly descriptive. There were so many extra characters along with the backstories that were unneeded. I thought the second half was long with a predictable ending. I had a hard time getting through The Change. I am not a fan of books that make me cringe and grimace. While The Change was not my cup of tea, I suggest you obtain a sample to judge it for yourself. The Change is a not so bewitching tale with post-menopausal powers, a nefarious garden, murdered women, a distressed mother, an evil villain, and crucial justice.