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3.24 AVERAGE
3.24 AVERAGE
With transmisogyny fundamentally baked into the premise, and apparently a long history of cissexism before this, the author's presumed insights into gender, power and humanity are nothing but a trainwreck.
In particular, there is one scene towards the end that made me forget all of the previous goodness. Let’s face it. The entire concept of Miles forgetting or ignoring the fact that he is a male made me scratch my head. I understand the reasons for this but I don’t buy them. Just like I don’t buy the little rebellion he has towards the end. Yes, teenagers are moody, selfish, and self-absorbed, but they aren’t stupid. They know right from wrong, and they certainly know when to listen, especially when it comes to life or death situations. Miles simply doesn’t feel like an authentic teen voice.
The other thing I struggled with is this idea that Cole and Miles MUST get to their home in South Africa to avoid the issues facing the few remaining men in the United States. There is nothing to indicate to the reader that life in South Africa is better for men than it is in the U.S. Other than the fact that she is a South African citizen and would have more rights than she does remaining in the U.S., we know nothing about what is occurring there to make us believe that Miles will be safer. I get why she wants to flee, but Ms. Beukes does not convince me that it is the right decision.
This idea of seeing a world without most of its men and seeing the women adapt is intriguing, and one that Ms. Beukes executes really well. We get to see how industries struggle to adjust to the fact that most of their employees and executives were men. Also, we see women mourn the idea of not becoming a mother and adjust their ideas of relationships. Plus, she does an amazing job of showing how close society comes to collapsing, as women around the globe watch their husbands, fathers, and sons die, but doesn’t.
Afterland is okay, but not Ms. Beukes’ best. The characters are weak and lack development. While the world-building is great, the rest of the story struggles to find its cohesion. Better luck next time.
The other thing I struggled with is this idea that Cole and Miles MUST get to their home in South Africa to avoid the issues facing the few remaining men in the United States. There is nothing to indicate to the reader that life in South Africa is better for men than it is in the U.S. Other than the fact that she is a South African citizen and would have more rights than she does remaining in the U.S., we know nothing about what is occurring there to make us believe that Miles will be safer. I get why she wants to flee, but Ms. Beukes does not convince me that it is the right decision.
This idea of seeing a world without most of its men and seeing the women adapt is intriguing, and one that Ms. Beukes executes really well. We get to see how industries struggle to adjust to the fact that most of their employees and executives were men. Also, we see women mourn the idea of not becoming a mother and adjust their ideas of relationships. Plus, she does an amazing job of showing how close society comes to collapsing, as women around the globe watch their husbands, fathers, and sons die, but doesn’t.
Afterland is okay, but not Ms. Beukes’ best. The characters are weak and lack development. While the world-building is great, the rest of the story struggles to find its cohesion. Better luck next time.
"You can’t imagine how much the world can change in six months. You just can’t."
Oh no?
Not sure the timing of this book is perfect or much-too-ironic but it hit the spot for me and got me thinking. Which is why I read.
I enjoy the writing, love the varying perspective, and appreciate the depth of characters drawn, even the ones I don't like. Especially the ones I don't like.
Oh no?
Not sure the timing of this book is perfect or much-too-ironic but it hit the spot for me and got me thinking. Which is why I read.
I enjoy the writing, love the varying perspective, and appreciate the depth of characters drawn, even the ones I don't like. Especially the ones I don't like.
Thanks to NetGalley and The Publisher for this eARC in exchange for an honest review
3.5 stars rounded down.
This book started out great. Action packed and fast paced, but then it it started to drag and I struggled to reach the ending, which I also felt was a big let down when I got there. Potentially reading this during an actual global pandemic that has totally changed my way of life may have reduced my ability to just enjoy this as a random bit of dystopian fiction. However, something about the personality of the female characters bothered me. I was expecting more empowerment in a female dominate society written by a female author, but just seemed to be seeing just how far patriarchy is enshrined in our collective consciousness. that said, there was some fantastic world building and some good musings and food for thought on what the world would be like If men were almost wiped out.
3.5 stars rounded down.
This book started out great. Action packed and fast paced, but then it it started to drag and I struggled to reach the ending, which I also felt was a big let down when I got there. Potentially reading this during an actual global pandemic that has totally changed my way of life may have reduced my ability to just enjoy this as a random bit of dystopian fiction. However, something about the personality of the female characters bothered me. I was expecting more empowerment in a female dominate society written by a female author, but just seemed to be seeing just how far patriarchy is enshrined in our collective consciousness. that said, there was some fantastic world building and some good musings and food for thought on what the world would be like If men were almost wiped out.
(Is anyone else bothered by anomalies in books set at least partially in 2020? Like, in this book, they take a family vacation to Disneyland in July 2020. So unrealistic!
Really enjoy her style of writing, action kept going up until the very end which I love. Good narrator for audio version. One of many post-apocalyptic books I’m burning through.
emotional
tense
slow-paced
Strong character development:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
sad
medium-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes