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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I surprisingly really liked this book. It seems that if you read the reviews, people either loved it, hated it, or DNFed it. I nearly loved it.
The one thing that held this book back from being 5 stars for me is that if you had taken out the Personhood Amendment, the story could be of any time in recent American history so it didn't feel like the dystopian story that the book was advertised to be.
The one thing that held this book back from being 5 stars for me is that if you had taken out the Personhood Amendment, the story could be of any time in recent American history so it didn't feel like the dystopian story that the book was advertised to be.
I wanted to like this book, I wanted to love it. I thought it was going to be the next "The Handmaid's Tale" but alas I just couldn't get into it. That being said everything in this book is way too real, a president who believes a fetus deserves a burial and supports a personhood amendment to the constitution? Hello Mike Pence. Seriously scary
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
Diverse cast of characters:
No
4/5 ⭐️: bold speculative novel that feels more familiar than dystopian. In a not so distant future, abortion and IVF have been banned in America. Against a backdrop of restrictive reproductive rights, the stories of four different women (referred to as the biographer, the wife, the daughter, and the mender) are woven together. I loved that their connections to one another were slowly revealed throughout the novel. There’s another narrative about a fifth woman, a Faroese explorer who the biographer is writing about. I enjoyed her story, though I’m not sure how it related to the rest of the book (maybe just a way of showing how women’s experiences have always been overlooked?) One thing that bothered me is that the narrative lacked intersectionality; as far as I read it (though I could be wrong), all of the central characters were white women, which felt like a missed opportunity. The excessive description of animal death was a lot at times. I’ve seen this book compared to the Handmaids Tale, but it’s quite different. I enjoyed it despite a few misgivings!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Drug abuse, Abortion
I chose this book as my Book of the Month pick based on their description of the plot, which sounded intriguing and not entirely outside the realm of possibility (which makes it more frightening).
After seeing some mixed reviews on here, I’m happy to report that I loved this book and read it over the course of a day because I just couldn’t put it down. While I’m not entirely sure the biography portions came together for me in a way that was incredibly meaningful, I was engaged throughout and very much compelled by the four other main characters (aside from Eivor).
To put this solely in the category of dystopian feminist lit, or speculative fiction, while denigrating neither category, reduces the book to a label that can’t really encapsulate the book’s nuances. It’s definitely worth a read!
After seeing some mixed reviews on here, I’m happy to report that I loved this book and read it over the course of a day because I just couldn’t put it down. While I’m not entirely sure the biography portions came together for me in a way that was incredibly meaningful, I was engaged throughout and very much compelled by the four other main characters (aside from Eivor).
To put this solely in the category of dystopian feminist lit, or speculative fiction, while denigrating neither category, reduces the book to a label that can’t really encapsulate the book’s nuances. It’s definitely worth a read!
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Over all, I liked the book. I wouldn't call it dystopian, but I would definitely call it repressive or regressive. I liked the intertwining stories, though it had a little trouble getting off the ground. If you liked this book, or are interested in another that is kind of similar in vein, I would recommend Marilyn French's, The Women's Room. It came out in 1977, and it remains in my opinion an important novel of feminist thought and history. When I read it in the 70's, I was profoundly moved and it affected me deeply. I still remember and think about some of those characters. I'm thinking of picking it up again and seeing how it has "aged" over time.
challenging
emotional
sad
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes