Scan barcode
mcgovnhm's review
5.0
Zumas created within this novel an important, stimulating, emotional and- above all- heartfelt story. Her writing is at times prose and at others pure poetry. I loved every minute of reading this book and felt a deep connection to the narrators, each for a unique reason.
In the time I was reading it I caught myself stopping, re-reading and even reading aloud to myself the wonderful bits of words Zumas had strung together. This book was a reminder to me of the power that language can have. During the last few pages I started to cry, not because it was sad- although there was a great deal of sadness in the book- but because it was so beautiful.
In the time I was reading it I caught myself stopping, re-reading and even reading aloud to myself the wonderful bits of words Zumas had strung together. This book was a reminder to me of the power that language can have. During the last few pages I started to cry, not because it was sad- although there was a great deal of sadness in the book- but because it was so beautiful.
myriadreads's review
5.0
Soooooo good! Lyrical, thoughtful, speculative, female-focused. A book to buy and put on my shelf, for frequent re-readings. A more thorough review soon.
specksofbeck's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
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
4.25
nderiley's review
2.0
The plot definitely had potential, but it wasn't fulfilled for me. I had a hard time getting into the because the writing style makes it difficult to follow the story let alone connect to the characters and I didn't feel emotionally moved by any of their stories, but there were lots of different perspectives and the pacing was good
babybirdnoco's review
3.0
This story is told from the perspective of 4 different women (The biographer, wife, daughter, mender) all living in the same small town, with bits of a 5th person thrown in, an explorer from the 1800s. At first I found the story a little confusing and difficult to get into as we jump perspectives , but once I was able to associate the names with the descriptors of the characters and see how their stories overlapped I began to enjoy the story more.
This story definitely follows these women living in a potential future Roe V. Wade has been overturned , IVF is illegal and in order to adopt there must be two parents in the home. We see how these women's stories intermingle and how they all stand up for what they believe in and what is best for them as person even if society is telling them its wrong.
This story definitely follows these women living in a potential future Roe V. Wade has been overturned , IVF is illegal and in order to adopt there must be two parents in the home. We see how these women's stories intermingle and how they all stand up for what they believe in and what is best for them as person even if society is telling them its wrong.
lostingothicmusic's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
rkornetsky's review
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
4.0
oli5504's review
dark
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
4.5
flying_monkeys's review
medium-paced
4.5
After I finished The Handmaid's Tale, I did a quick search for similar books.
Enter: Red Clocks.
The latter is different in many ways from the former, but at their core is the question of who has control over women's bodies - the woman herself or those in power (who are predominately men)?
While Atwood set her story in the distant future, Zumas set hers smack dab in present day, which was equally effective, yet more terrifying than Atwood's setting choice.
More thoughts to come.
4.5 stars
"Well, I worry, kiddo. Don't like the idea of you being all alone."
"She could trot out the usual list ("I've got friends, neighbors, colleagues, people from meditation group"), but her okayness with being by herself--ordinary, unheroic okayness--does not need to justify itself to her father. The feeling is hers. She can simply feel okay and not explain it, or apologize for it, or concoct arguments against the argument that she doesn't truly feel content and is deluding herself in self-protection." [Ro, in response to her dad.]
Enter: Red Clocks.
The latter is different in many ways from the former, but at their core is the question of who has control over women's bodies - the woman herself or those in power (who are predominately men)?
While Atwood set her story in the distant future, Zumas set hers smack dab in present day, which was equally effective, yet more terrifying than Atwood's setting choice.
More thoughts to come.
4.5 stars
"Well, I worry, kiddo. Don't like the idea of you being all alone."
"She could trot out the usual list ("I've got friends, neighbors, colleagues, people from meditation group"), but her okayness with being by herself--ordinary, unheroic okayness--does not need to justify itself to her father. The feeling is hers. She can simply feel okay and not explain it, or apologize for it, or concoct arguments against the argument that she doesn't truly feel content and is deluding herself in self-protection." [Ro, in response to her dad.]
orianaber0940's review
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? No
5.0