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kathrinpassig's review against another edition
3.0
Das Positive zuerst: Alle Sätze waren schön, dafür ist der dritte Stern. Inhaltlich habe ich mich von Anfang bis Ende geärgert. Die Protagonistin flieht aus einer blöden Dystopie in eine noch blödere Utopie. Die Dystopie besteht vor allem daraus, dass man leben muss wie in einem britischen Roman aus dem frühen 20. Jahrhundert, in dem Die Massen verachtet werden: Sie leben wie die Kaninchen in engen Mietskasernen! Sie essen aus Konservendosen! Sie arbeiten in der Fabrik! (einer komplett unspezifischen Fabrik, Hauptsache Fabrik). Die Utopie ist Das Ehrliche, Authentische Landleben™, bei dem man nach einem langen Tag beim Torfstechen erst so richtig merkt, wie verkehrt das andere Leben mit den Konservendosen war. Die Nachteile dieses postapokalyptischen Landlebens werden nur am Rande gestreift, ok, es ist also nicht so gut geheizt und man kann immer nur kurz und lauwarm duschen, aber sonst ist alles bestens, keine Kindersterblichkeit, reichlich zu essen, gute Laune. 65 Frauen leben auf engstem Raum zusammen und sind dabei allzeit kooperativ. Nebenbei handelt es sich um einen gewalttätigen Prepper-Kult, der in jedem anderen Kontext als Utopie extrem erklärungsbedürftig wäre (dazu mehr in dieser Rezension). 90% des Buchs sind worldbuilding, 10% sind so was Ähnliches wie Handlung, wobei die Haupthandlung immer übersprungen wird. Ich fürchte, die Autorin ist mal zu Fuß zu einem von Frauen bewirtschafteten Bauernhof im Lake District gegangen und hat dort selbstgemachtes Lavendeleis gegessen, und das ist jetzt die Folge.
Aber die Sätze waren schön.
Aber die Sätze waren schön.
amycrea's review against another edition
3.0
3.5, maybe. I see it often being compared to Handmaid's Tale, but I think they're two very different books. I appreciated the level of detail Hall brought in, even though it often slowed the story down.
tomikorobson's review against another edition
4.0
A dystopian future that is terrifyingly easy to imagine. What’s fascinating about the story is the question of how a person might, if desperate enough, become a fanatic.
nssutton's review against another edition
4.0
SO GOOD. i know i have a soft spot for utopia/dystopia/post-apocalyptic literature (as evidenced by the "what if" game in our apartment), but this really made me question what i do would do in that particular situation. some of the early parts regarding feminism were enough to coat this douglass college girl's throat with emotion. as it sped quickly toward the end, i was forced to tell those around me to not even think about speaking to me until they heard me slam the book closed at the very very last word.
sausome's review against another edition
4.0
If I could, I'd give this book 3.5 stars because I'm somewhere in between "liked it" and "really liked it."
An interesting take on the 'new' society post-forcibly-changed old society. I think my favorite part of the book was the first part that has Sister traveling from Rith (government controlled city with a 'big brother' feeling) to Carhullen (women-only society set up in the country, living off the land, and 'unlisted' according to government census counts). The philosophical discussion is also really interesting -- the whole question of sexuality, need, women's reliance on man, the government mandated control of women's bodies, gender roles and abilities, etc. I also would've liked to read more about this society when Jackie and Veronique were both around running it.
In a weird way, Jackie reminded me of Kurtz, from Heart of Darkness. It's like she's succumbed to some accepted madness that has everyone in her company adopting the madness while also being in awe of her, while others are like "what a sec, that's crazy!" She's seen and had to do some hard things, which I think make her into a completely different person. She has way more glimmers of humanity than Kurtz, though -- he's off the deep end without hope of being reeled in.
Here's a quote from the book that I liked: "But he must have known at heart that I was not depressed. He must have known it was more than a simple chemical response to the ongoing situation. Mine was a different kind of sickness. I didn't feel listless or oppressed. I didn't want drugs or numbness to mask my consciousness. I knew that everything around me was wrong. I could see it. I could sense it. And I had not yet found a voice with which to make my arguments. It still lay somewhere inside me, unexpressed, growing angrier."
Then, in a Q&A with the author at the back, Sarah Hall says: "The examination [of society:] is more about power systems, how people exist within them, how some people are rendered vulnerable or discriminated against, and how these systems can be broken. It's a book that celebrates female fortitude -- that's its focus. I'm certainly not attempting to damn men."
An interesting take on the 'new' society post-forcibly-changed old society. I think my favorite part of the book was the first part that has Sister traveling from Rith (government controlled city with a 'big brother' feeling) to Carhullen (women-only society set up in the country, living off the land, and 'unlisted' according to government census counts). The philosophical discussion is also really interesting -- the whole question of sexuality, need, women's reliance on man, the government mandated control of women's bodies, gender roles and abilities, etc. I also would've liked to read more about this society when Jackie and Veronique were both around running it.
In a weird way, Jackie reminded me of Kurtz, from Heart of Darkness. It's like she's succumbed to some accepted madness that has everyone in her company adopting the madness while also being in awe of her, while others are like "what a sec, that's crazy!" She's seen and had to do some hard things, which I think make her into a completely different person. She has way more glimmers of humanity than Kurtz, though -- he's off the deep end without hope of being reeled in.
Here's a quote from the book that I liked: "But he must have known at heart that I was not depressed. He must have known it was more than a simple chemical response to the ongoing situation. Mine was a different kind of sickness. I didn't feel listless or oppressed. I didn't want drugs or numbness to mask my consciousness. I knew that everything around me was wrong. I could see it. I could sense it. And I had not yet found a voice with which to make my arguments. It still lay somewhere inside me, unexpressed, growing angrier."
Then, in a Q&A with the author at the back, Sarah Hall says: "The examination [of society:] is more about power systems, how people exist within them, how some people are rendered vulnerable or discriminated against, and how these systems can be broken. It's a book that celebrates female fortitude -- that's its focus. I'm certainly not attempting to damn men."
jisimpson's review against another edition
4.0
This came highly recommended, but I have to admit I was a bit wary of its bleak, dystopian setting -- that said, by page two I was hooked. A very quick read and beautifully written. A few cliches here and there, and the ending left me a bit wanting.
Eager for more by Sarah Hall. Moving on to The Electric Michaelangelo.
Eager for more by Sarah Hall. Moving on to The Electric Michaelangelo.
spinstah's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this, but I wanted more. The story is set in a dystopian future where the government of the UK has toppled after an enormous flood, and "The Authority" is in charge. Reproduction is controlled, and of course this means some women are forced to have a contraceptive device installed. One of these women leaves for a settlement of women outside of The Authority's control, called Carhullan. The story follows her arrival and how she eventually fits into the society there, which eventually revolts against The Authority.
I'm conflicted about the author's choice to skip over some pretty important sections in the action (the conceit is that the book is a corrupted transcript), particularly at the end. On the one hand, this puts the emphasis more on the protagonist's journey, but on the other hand I grew invested enough in her that I wanted to know more about what she was going through.
I'm conflicted about the author's choice to skip over some pretty important sections in the action (the conceit is that the book is a corrupted transcript), particularly at the end. On the one hand, this puts the emphasis more on the protagonist's journey, but on the other hand I grew invested enough in her that I wanted to know more about what she was going through.
lady_oracle's review against another edition
3.0
incredibly written. the passages were descriptive and dark. i could see and feel and smell the settings. casual mention of rape gave me initial pause, but was a useful world-building tool. i felt sympathy for every character, and rage and fear and determination alongside the protagonist. however the ending was rushed, and while i understand why the author chose this method of storytelling, it left me unsatisfied.
readacorn's review against another edition
3.0
Also ich weiß nicht.
Einerseits lässt es sich super weg lesen, andererseits fehlte mir bei dem Ganzen irgendwie der Sinn. Bei dem, was Klappentext und Marketing versprachen habe ich mir von der Lektüre etwas anderes erwartet. Etwa anderes bedeutet nicht zwangsläufig etwas besseres, in diesem Fall habe ich mir tatsächlich deutlich mehr erhofft. Dennoch bin ich froh, dass ich mir hierzu eine eigene Meinung bilden konnte.
Einerseits lässt es sich super weg lesen, andererseits fehlte mir bei dem Ganzen irgendwie der Sinn. Bei dem, was Klappentext und Marketing versprachen habe ich mir von der Lektüre etwas anderes erwartet. Etwa anderes bedeutet nicht zwangsläufig etwas besseres, in diesem Fall habe ich mir tatsächlich deutlich mehr erhofft. Dennoch bin ich froh, dass ich mir hierzu eine eigene Meinung bilden konnte.