Reviews

The Orchid Nursery by Louise Katz

rivqa's review against another edition

4.0

A terrifying cautionary tale. Could it happen? Probably not quite like this, but Katz's examination of fanaticism from inside and out is brilliantly written regardless.

lauredhel's review against another edition

This will be dubbed "The Australian Handmaid's Tale", I suspect, but - while that would be enough to sell me already! - it is also more than that. Three very different women travel three very different journeys through a near-future postapocalyptic theocratic dystopia (with possibly an ounce of fairytale spirit). Katz does not blink or flinch away from the explicitly horrific realities of her Christlamic future State, but somehow at the same time she manages to drop in moments of sarcastic hilarity.

[Note that this is not a YA book. Instances of the two C words abound, and [very mild spoiler]

there is sexual violence and mutilation and the abuse of people with disabilities.

. It is possibly not the best book to leave lying open while hotel staff come and help you at your table.]

patriciajoan's review

challenging dark tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0