Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.23 AVERAGE
3.23 AVERAGE
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
This is my second time reading a book by Dalcher after reading Vox initially. It seems all her main characters are the same, perhaps some weird self insert. In both Vox and Femlania they have jobs that in linguistics research, they are married to pathetic men, they got married and had their first child young, they got pregnant in middle age near menopause , they have a spunky, politically outspoken best friend. I enjoyed Vox but reading femlandia, the main character seemed far too similar.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I should have been the perfect audience for this book but I hated it. It gets two stars for having an excellent premise poorly delivered. Miranda was spineless, everyone was one dimensional, it was transphobic, in fact I almost DNF'd when the first transphobic comment appeared. The relationship between Jen and Win was completely unnecessary and creepily pedophilic. Loathed the epilogue. Just all in all not for me. Shame as the premise could have delivered an excellent thought provoking read.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism, Transphobia, Pregnancy
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Child death, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gun violence, Rape, Forced institutionalization, Murder
Spoilers below:
I was not a huge fan of this book. I found Miranda spineless and stupid in most of the situations she found herself in. I felt like she had absolutely no critical thinking skills and the reactions she had to every big plot point in the book left me with a bad taste in my mouth, because there is no way someone is that stupid to choose the worst course of action. And the way she had no sympathy for absolutely anyone especially toward her daughter. I also felt like all the other characters were very one-dimensional and there was no character development for anyone and I kind of hated all the characters. A lot of the topics and issues referenced were done in a very ham fisted and clumsy way. The plot point of what Femlandia does with the boys that are born to the mothers there felt like it was just there for shock value. It was rushed and kind of disgusting (which I guess is the point). The big reveal to other women left me confused. Like all the buildup for basically nothing? Also? Jen and Win being like a couple? So very weird because the entire book it was explained that Jen was Win's pseudo daughter. So the explanation that they did have sex? Very unnecessary. I did find Win's backstory interesting, to an extent. I think it was important to to give the reader an ability to understand why Femlandia was the ideal for someone like WIn. Yeah, at some points it read just like trauma porn, but these events are the reality for a lot of women in the world. At the end when Win explains what Miranda's father did, it felt like that was the first time that Miranda heard all this. Which is so weird? Because you would think Win would always talk about what he did and what happened, because it would ensure Miranda to be on her side. That she would understand why Femlandia was necessary for someone with Win's history. And the epilogue was absolutely unnecessary and really was just a shitty ending to a shitty book.
I was not a huge fan of this book. I found Miranda spineless and stupid in most of the situations she found herself in. I felt like she had absolutely no critical thinking skills and the reactions she had to every big plot point in the book left me with a bad taste in my mouth, because there is no way someone is that stupid to choose the worst course of action. And the way she had no sympathy for absolutely anyone especially toward her daughter. I also felt like all the other characters were very one-dimensional and there was no character development for anyone and I kind of hated all the characters. A lot of the topics and issues referenced were done in a very ham fisted and clumsy way. The plot point of what Femlandia does with the boys that are born to the mothers there felt like it was just there for shock value. It was rushed and kind of disgusting (which I guess is the point). The big reveal to other women left me confused. Like all the buildup for basically nothing? Also? Jen and Win being like a couple? So very weird because the entire book it was explained that Jen was Win's pseudo daughter. So the explanation that they did have sex? Very unnecessary. I did find Win's backstory interesting, to an extent. I think it was important to to give the reader an ability to understand why Femlandia was the ideal for someone like WIn. Yeah, at some points it read just like trauma porn, but these events are the reality for a lot of women in the world. At the end when Win explains what Miranda's father did, it felt like that was the first time that Miranda heard all this. Which is so weird? Because you would think Win would always talk about what he did and what happened, because it would ensure Miranda to be on her side. That she would understand why Femlandia was necessary for someone with Win's history. And the epilogue was absolutely unnecessary and really was just a shitty ending to a shitty book.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
This a pacy, dystopian thriller, which, if you’ve enjoyed Christina Dalcher’s other novels, I’m sure you’ll also love.
However, I’ve read some reviews that label her ‘TERF’, which concerned me so I’ve done some investigating. Her views don’t align with my own, so I won’t be picking up any more of her books.
However, I’ve read some reviews that label her ‘TERF’, which concerned me so I’ve done some investigating. Her views don’t align with my own, so I won’t be picking up any more of her books.
challenging
dark
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
dark
mysterious
sad
challenging
dark
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
N/A
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
more like terf-landia…
incredible premise, but i do feel like halfway through the plot sort of crumbles and the nuance keeps decreasing and decreasing
incredible premise, but i do feel like halfway through the plot sort of crumbles and the nuance keeps decreasing and decreasing