Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Wonderful, haunting read following 5 women and the highlighting the real and perceived lack of/autonomy they have around their bodies and lives. Set in the near future, it reads like today's headlines.
Comparing this to The Handmaid's Tale is a mistake. Yes, this is another novel in which women have no reproductive rights. However, rather than creating a new country, Zumas demonstrates how easily this could happen right now. As she has said, The Handmaid's Tale would take some time to recreate. The world as Zumas envisions it could happen almost immediately. At first, you don't see much difference between Zumas' Oregon and today, but you soon learn that embryos have full human rights. Abortion is illegal as well as IVF. This is not far from our reality.
I loved that the characters were not perfect. Some of them lament that they were focused on their own lives and did not fight against changing laws. Their flaws and inaction will stick with me for a long time.
I loved that the characters were not perfect. Some of them lament that they were focused on their own lives and did not fight against changing laws. Their flaws and inaction will stick with me for a long time.
It was a little hard to follow the characters and the language was more complicated than it needed to be, making it seem a bit pretentious, but the theme was very interesting and a great conversation starter! A fantastic read for anyone interested or passionate about women's issues. At times it will infuriate you and make your own passions boil, but it's certain to spark conversations, and challenge you to think about the women in your life. This is a great book for a book club to read.
I wanted to like this more than I did. I think I expected there to be a stronger emphasis on the context -- that was the real pull to the novel. It seemed a terrifying political situation, and yet, the actual ways in which that seems to define these characters' lives was somehow ho-hum. I found the characters to be thinly developed, so I struggled to care about any of them -- particularly the Wife.
It is well-written, and was compelling enough for me to want to finish, but I think it is a forgettable attempt at a really good concept, unfortunately. I also found the interwoven story of Eivør to be fairly nonsensical, and did not feel that this contributed to the plot. Because of it's fragmented quality, it served to actually take away from my interest in both the book and the Biographer.
It is well-written, and was compelling enough for me to want to finish, but I think it is a forgettable attempt at a really good concept, unfortunately. I also found the interwoven story of Eivør to be fairly nonsensical, and did not feel that this contributed to the plot. Because of it's fragmented quality, it served to actually take away from my interest in both the book and the Biographer.
This book was phenomenal. I picked it up on a whim and am so glad that I did. The storyline is so poignant and appropriate for today’s times. Let’s not ever forget what today’s freedoms accord us. And also, how swiftly those freedoms can be whisked away.
Reviewers keep comparing this to The Handmaid's Tale, but it reminded me more of Midwives by Chris Bohjalian. I did enjoy it, but I liked both of those other books better.
Almost stopped after chapter 2, but am so happy I didn't! Once I figured out who the characters were, I didn't want to stop reading. Riveting and relevant.
emotional
reflective
slow-paced