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abbywebb's review against another edition
3.0
I found the Carhullan Army to be a cross between [b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165522327s/5470.jpg|153313] and the movie Children of Men. This dystopian story took place in England after a corrupt government had taken hold of the country and stripped it of all its essence. Women were no longer able to conceive without consent from the so-called government, people were given food rashions that barely supported their bodies, and they were confined to dilapidated housing. The image in my mind was similar to the one created while reading [a:George Orwell|3706|George Orwell|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1175614486p2/3706.jpg]'s [b:1984|5470|1984|George Orwell|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1165522327s/5470.jpg|153313] earlier this year. At a certain point, the government requested that rural dwellers relocate to the cities in order to be "protected and cared for." Therefore, all those who remained in the country were now considered "Unofficials" and were removed from the registrar. A militia police force was formed that was unlike the police that we know but more like that in Children of Men.
The story centered around a woman who escaped the city Rith early one morning in search of an all-female colony in the country. The book documents her search for Carhullan, what she experiences when she gets there, and then finally (and briefly) the final coup to take down the city of Rith.
While the novel began with great anticipation of what was to follow, it failed to keep its promise. The most fascinating portion was the description of Rith and the government ruling the country, as well as the events which led up to such a corrupt government. It reminded me a lot of what is taking place in Europe right now, especially in Iran. There is no doubt in my mind that a government such as the one described in The Carhullan Army can easily be formed in a first world country in the near future. It doesn't happen overnight but is brought about by small changes in the government, and by the time the public notices it is too late to fight back.
I enjoyed the purpose of the novel although it was a bit too feminist for my taste. I also wished the author documented more about the events in the coup and how they managed to do what they did. Overall, I would recommend this story, as long as you are not afraid of a mostly female-dominated list of characters and their perspectives.
The story centered around a woman who escaped the city Rith early one morning in search of an all-female colony in the country. The book documents her search for Carhullan, what she experiences when she gets there, and then finally (and briefly) the final coup to take down the city of Rith.
While the novel began with great anticipation of what was to follow, it failed to keep its promise. The most fascinating portion was the description of Rith and the government ruling the country, as well as the events which led up to such a corrupt government. It reminded me a lot of what is taking place in Europe right now, especially in Iran. There is no doubt in my mind that a government such as the one described in The Carhullan Army can easily be formed in a first world country in the near future. It doesn't happen overnight but is brought about by small changes in the government, and by the time the public notices it is too late to fight back.
I enjoyed the purpose of the novel although it was a bit too feminist for my taste. I also wished the author documented more about the events in the coup and how they managed to do what they did. Overall, I would recommend this story, as long as you are not afraid of a mostly female-dominated list of characters and their perspectives.
gallerymoth's review against another edition
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This dystopian future is a tough, raw story about escaping from a repressed, miserable, collapsing society to join a group of “unofficial” women in the wild mountains in of Lake District. Sister idolises the leader of the group and will do anything to remain in her favour. She experiences torture, hard labour, extreme endurance, and a truly minimal existence in this communal society. But she doesn’t once regret her decision to leave her old life, grows to love the women in this exiled community, and is determined to support Jackie and the Carhullen army to do everything they can to fix society.
I found this a compelling story about the extremes people will go to for their freedom and to be part of a mutually respecting and wholesome society, despite huge hardships.
I found this a compelling story about the extremes people will go to for their freedom and to be part of a mutually respecting and wholesome society, despite huge hardships.
sarabz's review against another edition
4.0
This was not the dystopian novel I was expecting. The dystopia is contrasted with a small utopian community, existing outside the official oppressions. And utopia here is short, hard, and messy. Resistance, how and why we choose it or don't, is central to the story. The protagonist gives up her name, and all that it symbolizes, when she arrives at Carhullan, fleeing the daily squashing of her soul and freedoms to join the women's community established before the social unraveling that is the backdrop to the story. The name of the dynamic and charismatic co-founder of the community holds much more meaning and power. Carhullan belongs to Jackie on so many levels, despite the communal tenor of the farm, and I appreciated the exploration of the dynamics of leadership and authority.
The writing style was rich and compelling, and I totally got sucked into the story. Carhullan's beauties and flaws are well painted and make the community very real. But there were a lot of threads that bothered me, which I guess is a good thing - makes me engage with the ideas a little deeper. Should definitely make for a good Think Galactic discussion.
The writing style was rich and compelling, and I totally got sucked into the story. Carhullan's beauties and flaws are well painted and make the community very real. But there were a lot of threads that bothered me, which I guess is a good thing - makes me engage with the ideas a little deeper. Should definitely make for a good Think Galactic discussion.
saraa_t's review against another edition
2.0
I was pretty disappointed by this book. While the premise seems great – a group of women who band together after the "Authority" takes over Great Britain totalitarian-style – the delivery fell flat.
The main character, a woman known only as Sister, decides to escape the reach of the Authority and join a band of rebel women in a place known as Carhullan. There are no men at Carhullan, and the book seems to be positing that because of this, these women will survive better/longer than anyone else.
I was interested to see where Hall would take this idea, but the story was strangely paced and often left me confused and frustrated. The narrative is presented as an after-the-fact report written by Sister, but the files are "corrupted" and there are several parts of the narrative that are skipped completely with an inserted "[Data Lost]," which felt like a cop-out on the author's part.
I think this idea/book could have been taken in a much different direction, but I was not impressed overall by what Hall offers here.
The main character, a woman known only as Sister, decides to escape the reach of the Authority and join a band of rebel women in a place known as Carhullan. There are no men at Carhullan, and the book seems to be positing that because of this, these women will survive better/longer than anyone else.
I was interested to see where Hall would take this idea, but the story was strangely paced and often left me confused and frustrated. The narrative is presented as an after-the-fact report written by Sister, but the files are "corrupted" and there are several parts of the narrative that are skipped completely with an inserted "[Data Lost]," which felt like a cop-out on the author's part.
I think this idea/book could have been taken in a much different direction, but I was not impressed overall by what Hall offers here.
mollyfy's review against another edition
dark
reflective
sad
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? No
3.75
meghan111's review against another edition
3.0
This is pretty good, but I felt that it could have been much better, because the ideas in it are so compelling. It feels incomplete, or like there was much more to explore. I barely got settled into the story of a separatist feminist farm in a dystopian future England when that part of the novel ended and it rushed into the climax, which is told in incomplete fragments.
em_harring's review against another edition
3.0
[3.5 stars]
I quite enjoyed this narrative. I thought the 'worldbuilding' around Carhullan was well done, and enjoyed *most* of the characters.
I am, however, a little disappointed that what would have been, arguably, the best part of the narrative, was left out as "corrupted data." I wanted to see that. The story would have benefited from being longer. The ending felt incredibly rushed.
I quite enjoyed this narrative. I thought the 'worldbuilding' around Carhullan was well done, and enjoyed *most* of the characters.
I am, however, a little disappointed that what would have been, arguably, the best part of the narrative, was left out as "corrupted data." I wanted to see that. The story would have benefited from being longer. The ending felt incredibly rushed.
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.