Reviews with content warning for Sexual content - The Power

Reviews tagging 'Sexual content'

The Power by Naomi Alderman

95 reviews

hfjarmer's review against another edition

dark tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.0

I found this book to be just ok and not exactly what I was expecting. I thought it was interesting to see how she feels the world would look with an exact flip of power, not the peaceful and loving world one might think women would run, but an equally violent one. I was particularly interested in the way she used real biblical passages and logic to flip Christianity to become a woman-centric religion.

What I didn't care for as much were the characters. Not to lament too much about what the book could have been, but I wish she had cut some of the characters and focused more on development of the characters in her book and the diversity of the book. While her characters had diverse backgrounds in some regards, it is not as inclusive as I would have liked to see in this setting. Overall I found the book to take a bit of a predictable path, and I somewhat struggled to feel motivated to finish. I felt like once I read half of it I got the picture and could have stopped. Overall an interesting read. Would recommend just for the sheer discussion aspect.

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adasterism's review

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Really interesting premise, and extremely well written, but in the end I found Alderman's message troubling. The message of the book seems to be that absolute power corrupts absolutely, and I find her analysis of gender and gender roles lacking.

Her idea that within a decade of being physically more powerful, women would be raping and pillaging men and completely reverse the present gender dynamic, doesn't actually read to me as a very nuanced take on oppressive dynamics. It doesn't take into account the fact that this "power" would still be historically situated, and the dystopia that emerges after women get the power is completely cut off from any historical basis or analysis of how gender roles come to be, and how privilege functions. While I really enjoyed the premise and the characters at the beginning, I found it really hard to suspend my disbelief when women started raping men and the gender dynamic completely reversed, and I found the ending uncompelling.

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asena's review

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adventurous dark tense medium-paced

Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

It is an interesting premise and an easy read - remains very superficial and placative in its messaging. It is clear what the author tries to do, flipping the coin, showing that in the end it is not important to categorize into man and woman as the potential for violence is there once one has the discretion and ability to commit violence. But this idea is not really deeply explored, something that would have been possible through more character introspection and development. Characters fulfill more of a role, are more archetypes than "individuals" to push for symbolism - depends on whether one likes that, I find that underwhelming (was my biggest issue with the book).

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thevietvegan's review

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adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced

Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started reading this book after procrastinating starting it, and yall IT STARTS WITH A BANG. Immediately hooked in.

I really enjoyed following Roxy, Allie and Tunde's storylines, really couldn't care less about Margot. I found her motives were shit, her emotional manipulation was shit, and her general character just was frustrating. I understand that women like her exist haha. And from what I can tell, that's the same type of mindset that propelled the

reverse matriarchy that happens in the end.

Maybe I just have more faith in humanity but I struggle to believe that we'd completely turn the extremes of the patriarchy around to be a mirror version in matriarchy.

I really struggle to see how anyone could justify (specifically in this new era where we already are aware of historical and current day atrocities) genital mutilation, extremely culling men's rights to mirror Saudi Arabia's women's rights in Bessapara, and that women-led states would nuke themselves into oblivion. I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

Roxy's storyline felt so anticlimactic to me, and so sad. Despite the fact that she is like a drug lord, I was really invested in hee success lol. I don't know why.

Mother Eve/Allie's storyline took such a turn that it felt out of character for her, but I guess she was manipulating people from start to finish anyway so I shouldn't be surprised.

I just think the whole Cataclysm was ridiculous and I don't understand why anyone thinks bombing countries into oblivion is helpful to anyone.

Also the end email messages between 'Neil' and 'Naomi' were really clever ways of relaying the culture of the new world. It is gross to see current patriarchy mirror displayed so overly as their matriarchy.

I was excited for a compassionate utopia because I do believe humanity when we work together is beautiful and peaceful, but this story implies that women will get drunk on power and I think that's just a bummer lol.

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jourdanicus's review

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challenging dark reflective fast-paced

Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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