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3.71 AVERAGE
3.71 AVERAGE
I had heard a lot about this book so was intrigued to read it. I can understand the mixed opinions on it, as while I think it is an interesting concept, I think it could have been done better.
The writing makes this book quite a difficult read. It’s such an emotive subject so I don’t think distancing the readers from the characters works here. The chapters jump between the different women, and I could it hard to keep track of who each was about.
Personally, I think the wrong style was chosen for the book, and a more in-depth look at the women’s lives and feelings would engage the reader more.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
The writing makes this book quite a difficult read. It’s such an emotive subject so I don’t think distancing the readers from the characters works here. The chapters jump between the different women, and I could it hard to keep track of who each was about.
Personally, I think the wrong style was chosen for the book, and a more in-depth look at the women’s lives and feelings would engage the reader more.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for a copy of this book.
A Woman's Role
I finished this book hoping it would influence me to feel more for the characters, but it left me with a negative taste.
I finished this book hoping it would influence me to feel more for the characters, but it left me with a negative taste.
I read this really quickly (once I actually started it), but somehow I didn't feel like I ever really got into it. It's not bad at all, but I felt at a remove from all the characters - I'm guessing at least part of this was intentional, considering how the chapters are titled "The Daughter," "The Mender" and so on. The most interesting parts of the novel to me were Ro and Mattie's stories. I thought I knew where they were going, but I was wrong and I really like how everything turned out there. Susan and Gin's stories didn't feel like they connected with the others in the same way, and Susan's in particular feels like it could be in any work of fiction written in the past sixty or so years. That's not necessarily bad, and it was definitely well-written, but it didn't seem to take advantage of the setting in the same way as the others. As far as the setting, I wish the author had taken it further - I know all these restrictions are based in reality, but the world didn't seem as fully realized as something like The Handmaid's Tale, even. (Like, did they get rid of the Supreme Court? Most of the new laws would be blatantly unconstitutional.) Overall, this was interesting and definitely a change of pace from my usual fiction reading, but I don't think it's something I'll be compelled to return to.
I loved this. I expected a pacey, plot-dense kind of dystopian novel, but what Zumas has created is so character-driven, so quiet and believable, that it really took me by surprise in the best possible way. She explores the day-to-day, almost mundane details of very real-seeming women living in a world where their reproductive rights have been stripped away. There is no vast conspiracy, no headlong mission to escape - there is just the daily grind of trying to assert your own personhood and achieve your desires in a world that has limited you. It's surprisingly quiet and gradual, but absolutely gripping and beautifully written, as well.
challenging
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This book was really enjoyable but I wanted more especially with the ending; it sort of fell flat for me. I would have loved to have read from the POV of Lola Fivey since her character had more background with Gin and her testimony would directly effect Gin's fate. Also, when Lola testified for the second time and told the truth so easily I had a hard time believing that because after years of being afraid to tell the truth why did it come so easily now? Overall, I would give this book a 3.5 because I did enjoy it up until the ending. It made me think about current events and the constant battle for women to have a choice.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like the content, but the writing style was a little weird and was distracting from the message.
I liked this book, but I wanted so much more from it. The dystopia was well constructed throughout the book. Characters were a bit hard to understand because of naming mechanisms used, though it becomes clearer over the course of the book. Overall, I wish there was just a little *more* at the end.
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced