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3.66 AVERAGE
3.66 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
The world of [b:Future Home of the Living God|34217599|Future Home of the Living God|Louise Erdrich|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1499188017s/34217599.jpg|55268475] is never fully flushed out. We learn that women are giving birth to children who are evolutionarily behind humanity. There are references to other animals having the same problems and that crops are affected as well. The government becomes religious or a church takes over to some degree; I wasn’t sure which exactly. Needless to say, the world is sliding backwards and humanity is fighting to stay entrenched where we are.
I didn’t mind the lack of information, as interesting as it would have been to learn about. Me not having all the information about the world felt like how Cedar Hawk Songmaker, the narrator, doesn’t have all the information. The story is her journal that she’s keeping for her unborn child and we only know what she knows. The story felt claustrophobic and worrisome due to lack of information.
Cedar is adopted but seeks out her birth mother at the beginning of the tale because she is pregnant. She says she only wants to know about any hereditary concerns but she connects easily with her offbeat, new family. Shortly after this trip, all hell breaks loose. She is blockaded in her house with the father of her child as all pregnant women are being rounded up. The propaganda explains that the government wants to help the women but everyone knows this won’t end well for anyone.
She is eventually caught and we see the dismal conditions the pregnant women are in. She and her roommate are determined to escape. An underground group helps women out of facilities like this and will help them. She meets men and women who are willing to risk everything to let women give birth to their babies on their own terms.
Cedar became Catholic in college and her faith explains many of the worlds changes. Perhaps people and animals and plants are supposed to change because God wills it. Maybe the changes won’t be as bad as everyone expects. Maybe her baby will be just fine.
Both of her mothers, birth and adoptive, factor heavily into the story. Her adoptive mother is a fighter, an activist who will do everything she can to save Cedar. Her birth mother reflects Cedar’s spiritual side, sowing hope through the reservation’s patron saint. They are both necessary to Cedar’s survival.
The story did not end where I hoped or where I liked but it made sense. It felt realistic and that was disheartening, but I think any other ending would have seemed easy. When the world is ending around you, all you want is another chance.
I didn’t mind the lack of information, as interesting as it would have been to learn about. Me not having all the information about the world felt like how Cedar Hawk Songmaker, the narrator, doesn’t have all the information. The story is her journal that she’s keeping for her unborn child and we only know what she knows. The story felt claustrophobic and worrisome due to lack of information.
Cedar is adopted but seeks out her birth mother at the beginning of the tale because she is pregnant. She says she only wants to know about any hereditary concerns but she connects easily with her offbeat, new family. Shortly after this trip, all hell breaks loose. She is blockaded in her house with the father of her child as all pregnant women are being rounded up. The propaganda explains that the government wants to help the women but everyone knows this won’t end well for anyone.
She is eventually caught and we see the dismal conditions the pregnant women are in. She and her roommate are determined to escape. An underground group helps women out of facilities like this and will help them. She meets men and women who are willing to risk everything to let women give birth to their babies on their own terms.
Cedar became Catholic in college and her faith explains many of the worlds changes. Perhaps people and animals and plants are supposed to change because God wills it. Maybe the changes won’t be as bad as everyone expects. Maybe her baby will be just fine.
Both of her mothers, birth and adoptive, factor heavily into the story. Her adoptive mother is a fighter, an activist who will do everything she can to save Cedar. Her birth mother reflects Cedar’s spiritual side, sowing hope through the reservation’s patron saint. They are both necessary to Cedar’s survival.
The story did not end where I hoped or where I liked but it made sense. It felt realistic and that was disheartening, but I think any other ending would have seemed easy. When the world is ending around you, all you want is another chance.
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A fast read, I liked how it was written. It’s true that it’s very similar to the Handmaid’s Tale in premise but it’s written so differently and has such a different focus that I didn’t mind that. (For that matter, this is the fourth or maybe fifth post-societal story about a pregnant woman I’ve encountered recently, so obviously this is a pertinent topic and not a good reason to be discounted outright.)
I found the characters all very real and really enjoyed meeting them. My one critique is that it really doesn’t delve into its premise as much as one would like. It’s a character story, not a science fiction; the evolutionary premise is just a backdrop. Which is OK, but I found that disappointing.
I found the characters all very real and really enjoyed meeting them. My one critique is that it really doesn’t delve into its premise as much as one would like. It’s a character story, not a science fiction; the evolutionary premise is just a backdrop. Which is OK, but I found that disappointing.
This book was a slow start but then it pulled me in. I was captivated and had a hard time putting it down. Within the last 4 pages, I panicked that the ending would leave me feeling unresolved and it did.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Forced institutionalization, Pregnancy
challenging
dark
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Though normally vague post apocalyptic stories are extremely frustrating to me, Future Home of the Living God makes up for and justifies it completely with its beautifully written message of love and appreciation for the world around us. The interpersonal relationships are complex and very well done in my opinion (though they are only explored from the perspective of the main character.)
adventurous
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No