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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
Full review at: http://www.everydayiwritethebookblog.com/2018/11/red-clocks-by-leni-zumas/
Red Clocks fits into the new wave of feminist dystopia, joining books like Vox by Christina Dalcher in warning readers about the dangers of a world where women are silenced, demoted and deprived of their rights. In Red Clocks, a conservative administration has passed the Personhood Amendment, making it illegal for women to have abortions and outlawing IVF and adoption by single women or gay couples. Zumas tracks four women living in Oregon: an unhappily married mother of two, a single woman in her early 40s trying to conceive on her own, a pregnant high school student, and a woman who lives in the woods and provides herbal remedies to people in pursuit of untraditional (and illegal) medical help.
Through the unique lenses of these four women, Zumas explores the experience of being a woman – a mother, a daughter, a professional – and in particular a woman whose options are increasingly limited. Zumas’ writing is sharp and real; she pulls no punches when it comes to the details – often unpleasant – of these women’s lives. It’s pretty bleak in the world of Red Clocks. As a result, this isn’t the most uplifting read. I am glad I read it; I can’t say I enjoyed it that much. But I think it’s important to read books like Red Clocks – you’d be surprised by how realistic it all seems. (Which is scary.) Imagining a very bleak world that isn’t all that far off is a good reminder of the need for vigilance and action in defeating such a misogynistic agenda.
Red Clocks fits into the new wave of feminist dystopia, joining books like Vox by Christina Dalcher in warning readers about the dangers of a world where women are silenced, demoted and deprived of their rights. In Red Clocks, a conservative administration has passed the Personhood Amendment, making it illegal for women to have abortions and outlawing IVF and adoption by single women or gay couples. Zumas tracks four women living in Oregon: an unhappily married mother of two, a single woman in her early 40s trying to conceive on her own, a pregnant high school student, and a woman who lives in the woods and provides herbal remedies to people in pursuit of untraditional (and illegal) medical help.
Through the unique lenses of these four women, Zumas explores the experience of being a woman – a mother, a daughter, a professional – and in particular a woman whose options are increasingly limited. Zumas’ writing is sharp and real; she pulls no punches when it comes to the details – often unpleasant – of these women’s lives. It’s pretty bleak in the world of Red Clocks. As a result, this isn’t the most uplifting read. I am glad I read it; I can’t say I enjoyed it that much. But I think it’s important to read books like Red Clocks – you’d be surprised by how realistic it all seems. (Which is scary.) Imagining a very bleak world that isn’t all that far off is a good reminder of the need for vigilance and action in defeating such a misogynistic agenda.
5 different women with 5 different personalities and opinions. Wow! The author did a great job ensuring each character had their own voice. I wasn’t a big fan of this book. The story did not captivate me and I almost DNF at one point. It was very well written but the story fell flat for me.
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
This was an odd book. It was kind of hard to get into at first because of the introduction of 5 characters throughout the first 4 chapters and corresponding interludes, we'll call them. Eventually, their stories started intertwining, but I never really got the purpose of the interludes, so I started skipping them. As though the 4 other characters' chapters didn't halt the story enough, the interludes kind of slammed the breaks after each chapter. In addition, the author's decision to refer to each by their "role" made it hard to follow - the daughter, the biographer, the wife, the mender. The only one I kept straight was the daggone lady the biographer was writing about in the interludes!
The story concept was intriguing. A near-future in which abortion is criminalized; IVF treatments too. Single parent adoptions are soon to be abolished. This is a storyline which could appeal to both sides of the argument, but I think it was poorly executed, as mentioned above. Plus that cover... no subtlety there!
The story concept was intriguing. A near-future in which abortion is criminalized; IVF treatments too. Single parent adoptions are soon to be abolished. This is a storyline which could appeal to both sides of the argument, but I think it was poorly executed, as mentioned above. Plus that cover... no subtlety there!
2.5 stars. When I first heard about this book in June of 2017, it immediately went onto my TBR. The premise is scary in its possibility, and the yonic cover is fantastic... perhaps seven months of waiting made my expectations too high but I have to say I was pretty disappointed with this book.
It is written in a very detached style with generic word choice (e.g. "The Daughter", "The Mother") and disjointed paragraph structure. With this stylistic choice, I didn't feel a genuine connection with any character. I especially found the Faroese polar explorer sections repetitive and distracting. There are a few reasons why the book might be written in this style: to emphasize the superficiality of imposing roles on women, to highlight how all women would be affected by a ban on abortion, etc. I'm not sure which of these reasons motivated Zumas but it just wasn't for me.
I just felt like the speculative aspect fell flat, and the story itself lacked narrative. I wanted more about the Personhood Amendment and the patriarchal state, more comparisons with witch hunts, or even more about Yasmine, whose story I found the most interesting despite her not being present in the book's events. Yes, there are many important subjects and themes in the book - medicalization of birth, decline of midwifery, safe access to abortion - but I think the book would have been much stronger if it had focused on just one of them within the context of the Personhood Amendment. I honestly feel as though the hype has largely been carried by recent political events more than the story itself.
It is written in a very detached style with generic word choice (e.g. "The Daughter", "The Mother") and disjointed paragraph structure. With this stylistic choice, I didn't feel a genuine connection with any character. I especially found the Faroese polar explorer sections repetitive and distracting. There are a few reasons why the book might be written in this style: to emphasize the superficiality of imposing roles on women, to highlight how all women would be affected by a ban on abortion, etc. I'm not sure which of these reasons motivated Zumas but it just wasn't for me.
I just felt like the speculative aspect fell flat, and the story itself lacked narrative. I wanted more about the Personhood Amendment and the patriarchal state, more comparisons with witch hunts, or even more about Yasmine, whose story I found the most interesting despite her not being present in the book's events. Yes, there are many important subjects and themes in the book - medicalization of birth, decline of midwifery, safe access to abortion - but I think the book would have been much stronger if it had focused on just one of them within the context of the Personhood Amendment. I honestly feel as though the hype has largely been carried by recent political events more than the story itself.
So so good... scary... prescient. I was really amazed by how well the stories come together.
I wanted to love this book. I loved the concept but there was something missing in the execution. Just when I was beginning to connect with the characters the story came to its end without much of a satisfying conclusion. As mentioned in other reviews it seemed like the author was trying too hard and offered some truly cringeworthy descriptions.
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
I read this for a book club I recently joined. It's packed with a lot of meaning and shows the strife of women, their reproductive rights, marriage rights, and the like (I mean, the cover is basically an abstract vagina). It just wasn't what I'd personally choose to read. I started it in print, but ended up having to use an audible credit on the audiobook cos I just wasn't getting it done.
DNF - 25%
I could not get into the writing style. I skipped around wondering if the build up would lead to anything and it felt flat.
Like they wanted to write the Handmaids Tale before Handmaids Tale without copying too much.
Disappointed, really thought I'd like this one.
I could not get into the writing style. I skipped around wondering if the build up would lead to anything and it felt flat.
Like they wanted to write the Handmaids Tale before Handmaids Tale without copying too much.
Disappointed, really thought I'd like this one.