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3.68 AVERAGE
3.68 AVERAGE
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Didn’t hate it. Didn’t like it.
dark
hopeful
fast-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
Ahhh. It was an interesting premise, but I wish there had been more of the world building.
adventurous
informative
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
This book is short but thought provoking. So many important themes in such a short amount of words.
Really interesting in light of the current peril of abortion access in the US and the Chinese government now trying to recover from their disastrous one child policy by now telling folks they should have three kids.
A short story, Halfway to Free, by Emma Donoghue
It's 2060 and the world has been up to 9 million people but with radical changes, it's heading back down to 6 million, although some think that a better goal would be 3 million people. Even though it's not illegal to have a child, doing so is made almost impossible due to housing, employment, healthcare and social acceptance being removed from those who might do so. Children only happen to billionaires, who can afford to live without government incentives and support, or to radical people who leave "normal" society, to live away from all the "good" things the government provides, independently providing for themselves and their like minded community.
There is a lot packed in this little story and I'd love for it to become a full length novel, so we could follow Miriam and her friend, as they explore an option that most people would never consider. Poor Miriam does get an earful from her personal IA device, when she searches for information about pregnancy and childbirth. When it's all regurgitated the way the IA puts it, I'm surprised anyone would voluntarily get pregnant.
Emma Donoghue’s Halfway to Free is part of Out of Line, an incisive collection of funny, enraging, and hopeful stories of women’s empowerment and escape.
This is a Kindle Unlimited selection.
It's 2060 and the world has been up to 9 million people but with radical changes, it's heading back down to 6 million, although some think that a better goal would be 3 million people. Even though it's not illegal to have a child, doing so is made almost impossible due to housing, employment, healthcare and social acceptance being removed from those who might do so. Children only happen to billionaires, who can afford to live without government incentives and support, or to radical people who leave "normal" society, to live away from all the "good" things the government provides, independently providing for themselves and their like minded community.
There is a lot packed in this little story and I'd love for it to become a full length novel, so we could follow Miriam and her friend, as they explore an option that most people would never consider. Poor Miriam does get an earful from her personal IA device, when she searches for information about pregnancy and childbirth. When it's all regurgitated the way the IA puts it, I'm surprised anyone would voluntarily get pregnant.
Emma Donoghue’s Halfway to Free is part of Out of Line, an incisive collection of funny, enraging, and hopeful stories of women’s empowerment and escape.
This is a Kindle Unlimited selection.
A captivating short story that left me with so many lingering questions. What does it mean to be free? To be human? To have agency and choice? Can we value community and still facilitate the individual? I’ve left out so many others on nature, instinct, parenthood… Will be ruminating on this one for a while.
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No