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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Red Clocks by Lett Zumas is eerily prescient given the current atmosphere in the United States, but the book manages to be strongly feminist without becoming overly political. Set in a potentially not-too-distant future when the government has passed new laws regulating procreation and adoption, the novel examines the resulting effects on five female characters. Zumas dedicates alternate chapters to each of these women who represent some of the major roles women currently occupy, whether chosen or not. Though the woman have names, they are identified in each chapter heading by their identifying positions- Biographer, Explorer, Mother, Daughter, and Mender. The characters’ overlapping experiences and distinct interior struggles highlight the consequences of tortuous indecision, guilty covetousness, naivete, and rebellion. Although the women are all connected in some way, they remain solitary and somewhat estranged from each other. The male characters are ancillary to the plot, portrayed at best as ineffectual and unnecessary, at worst as abusive perpetrators. A major theme is the need for action and autonomy, overcoming expectations and inertia in order to embrace unknown possibilities. It encourages the idea that chosen paths can be abandoned, and even well-worn identities can adapt to expand or absorb others. Ro, the Biographer, comes to realize: “Her life, like anyone’s, could go a way she never wanted, never planned, and turn out marvelous.” Timely and well-written, Red Clocks provides a fresh perspective on women’s choices, societal- and self-limiting decisions, and escape from constrictive definitions.
challenging
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I thought the prose in this book was phenomenal. Compelling sentences control pace and tension precisely while presenting convincing and sympathetic characters. Set in fairly modern times, legislation has been passed criminalizing abortion, requiring two parents for adoption, and several other similar things. Cycling perspective between four women, Zumas manages to portray a fully human balance of weakness and strength, despair and hope.
challenging
emotional
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:
Complicated
I guess we can probably expect more of these weird feminist(?) dystopias in the wake of [b:The Handmaid's Tale|38447|The Handmaid's Tale|Margaret Atwood|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1498057733s/38447.jpg|1119185]'s Hulu series. Between this and the superhero-movie-turned-superhero-book trend, you can pretty much predict the new book trends based on what's popular on the big and small screens.
Here, Zumas imagines a United States where the Personhood Amendment gives rights to unborn embryos, outlawing abortion and IVF (because said embryos cannot give consent). The Canadian government assist by erecting a figurative "Pink Wall" across the U.S.-Canadian border, meaning that they will capture and return any woman suspected of crossing the border for an abortion or IVF.
It sounded fascinating to me. Given the political climate in the U.S. and the fervor of pro-life advocates, it is not a particularly implausible scenario. But, unfortunately, the amount of "literary" frills in [b:Red Clocks|35099035|Red Clocks|Leni Zumas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494345016s/35099035.jpg|56404277] made it almost impossible to enjoy (maybe that isn't the right word, but you know what I'm saying).
It is such a painfully cerebral read, and it feels to me like a book of this kind has the greatest impact when you are pulled deep into the lives and horrors of the characters, not viewing them through a distant lens. [b:Red Clocks|35099035|Red Clocks|Leni Zumas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494345016s/35099035.jpg|56404277] would be a horror story for many women, including myself, and yet I felt so emotionally-distanced from the story and all four (or you could say five) perspectives.
I have to assume the emotional distance is intentional. Zumas refers to the four main characters as "The Biographer" (Ro), "The Wife" (Susan), "The Daughter" (Mattie) and "The Mender" (Gin), with the fifth perspective being that of fictional explorer, Eivør Minervudottir, who "The Biographer" is writing a book about.
Each of the main four are dealing with womanhood issues that are threatened by the new laws. Ro's perspective is easily the most palatable, though we still have to sit through a vaginal exam that unfolds like this:
Yum.
Ro is trying desperately to conceive before a new law is introduced banning single parent families. Susan is something of a cliche depressed housewife, struggling with the dissatisfaction of staying home. Mattie is a teenager, pregnant, and unsure of what to do. Gin provides herbal remedies for abortion, amongst other things, and is the modern-day equivalent of a witch under the new amendment.
Zumas experiments with different styles that change as we jump from one character to another. The narrative is fractured and messy - definitely more about experimental writing than telling a compelling and/or important story. I appreciate that this will be better suited to the kind of reader I am not.
Overall, I felt the book was more concept and writing than characters and narrative structure. It really depends on what you're looking for, but I would personally expect a book with this intriguing a premise to contain a strong emotional pull and more of a plot. Oh well. I'm sure similar novels will be on the way.
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Here, Zumas imagines a United States where the Personhood Amendment gives rights to unborn embryos, outlawing abortion and IVF (because said embryos cannot give consent). The Canadian government assist by erecting a figurative "Pink Wall" across the U.S.-Canadian border, meaning that they will capture and return any woman suspected of crossing the border for an abortion or IVF.
It sounded fascinating to me. Given the political climate in the U.S. and the fervor of pro-life advocates, it is not a particularly implausible scenario. But, unfortunately, the amount of "literary" frills in [b:Red Clocks|35099035|Red Clocks|Leni Zumas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494345016s/35099035.jpg|56404277] made it almost impossible to enjoy (maybe that isn't the right word, but you know what I'm saying).
It is such a painfully cerebral read, and it feels to me like a book of this kind has the greatest impact when you are pulled deep into the lives and horrors of the characters, not viewing them through a distant lens. [b:Red Clocks|35099035|Red Clocks|Leni Zumas|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1494345016s/35099035.jpg|56404277] would be a horror story for many women, including myself, and yet I felt so emotionally-distanced from the story and all four (or you could say five) perspectives.
I have to assume the emotional distance is intentional. Zumas refers to the four main characters as "The Biographer" (Ro), "The Wife" (Susan), "The Daughter" (Mattie) and "The Mender" (Gin), with the fifth perspective being that of fictional explorer, Eivør Minervudottir, who "The Biographer" is writing a book about.
Each of the main four are dealing with womanhood issues that are threatened by the new laws. Ro's perspective is easily the most palatable, though we still have to sit through a vaginal exam that unfolds like this:
On a scale of one to ten, with ten being the shrill funk of an elderly cheese and one being no odor at all, how would he rank the smell of the biographer's vagina? How does it compare with the other vaginas barreling through this exam room, day in, day out, years of vaginas, a crowd of vulvic ghosts? Plenty of women don't shower beforehand, or are battling a yeast, or just happen naturally to stink in the nethers. Kalbfleisch has sniffed some ripe tangs in his time.
Yum.
Ro is trying desperately to conceive before a new law is introduced banning single parent families. Susan is something of a cliche depressed housewife, struggling with the dissatisfaction of staying home. Mattie is a teenager, pregnant, and unsure of what to do. Gin provides herbal remedies for abortion, amongst other things, and is the modern-day equivalent of a witch under the new amendment.
Zumas experiments with different styles that change as we jump from one character to another. The narrative is fractured and messy - definitely more about experimental writing than telling a compelling and/or important story. I appreciate that this will be better suited to the kind of reader I am not.
Overall, I felt the book was more concept and writing than characters and narrative structure. It really depends on what you're looking for, but I would personally expect a book with this intriguing a premise to contain a strong emotional pull and more of a plot. Oh well. I'm sure similar novels will be on the way.
Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Youtube
I've seen many readers comparing this book to The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood and I would disagree, I don't think every book on women’s roles and reproductive rights had to be compared to the Handmaid’s Tale. I didn't get frustrated by this book at times, but it was really a well-written representation of women’s struggles and some pretty taboo topics.
Personally interesting and timely concept given the current political jeopardization of female reproductive rights. Yet, I failed to empathize with any singular character due to the distant voice coupled with the intertwining narrative with improbable connections that felt imposed on a concept rather than freely flowing from (potential) human experience.
This book is about a 3.5 stars. I really wanted to like all the characters (there are four POV, all female) but I couldn't. I'm not sure what to think of this book besides it being so scary because of what is going on right now in America.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Infertility, Misogyny, Blood, Medical content, Grief, Abortion, Pregnancy
Red Clocks is one of the best and most unique books I’ve read in a while. I saw Leni Zumas on a reproductive justice panel years ago (she was great) and can’t believe it took me so long to read this. Note that it’s not a light story: this alternate US where abortion is illegal, IVF is banned, and the Personhood Amendment grants rights to every embryo does not feel so “ferociously imaginative,” just as I believe the author intended/predicted.
I loved the way this was written - Leni Zumas cleverly and creatively cuts right to the heart of many issues. I have not yet encountered any of the challenges that the four main women face, and yet I deeply connected with each of their experiences. I will say that the parts about the polar explorer went over my head. The themes of womanhood, motherhood, marriage, identity, DV, protest, and connection across history were incredibly compelling and well written. Would highly recommend!
I loved the way this was written - Leni Zumas cleverly and creatively cuts right to the heart of many issues. I have not yet encountered any of the challenges that the four main women face, and yet I deeply connected with each of their experiences. I will say that the parts about the polar explorer went over my head. The themes of womanhood, motherhood, marriage, identity, DV, protest, and connection across history were incredibly compelling and well written. Would highly recommend!