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A review by ericaereads
The Words in My Hands by Asphyxia
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I checked this out because the premise of a Deaf teen (Piper) learning sign language after being raised oral by a parent resistant to signing along with the mixed-media, epistolary format intrigued me. And The Words in My Hands delivered on this introspective, coming-of-age premise but also featured a thoughtful slightly-in-the-future dystopian plot that felt, for lack of a better word...cozy.
This coziness (I hope) signals a new form of speculative, dystopian fiction that focuses less on the good guys vs. the big bad guys and more on community building and cooperative work in the face of widespread hardship and gradual disaster. Asphyxia could easily have taken the tried (and tired) route of villainizing both Piper's mother and the corporation controlling food production, but instead offers a more nuanced, realistic depiction of both the individuals and the larger systems within this world that breathes new life into the genre.
So why not five stars? Well, if I'm honest, I've usually found Australian prose to be a bit distant and sparse, which makes me struggle to connect emotionally to the characters; and the prose here was no different. However, my rating reflects my personal reading experience and this book completely deserves ALL the starred reviews and awards it has received.
After the last few years, I never would have guessed that a dystopian book would make me feel both safe and hopeful, but this one did.
This coziness (I hope) signals a new form of speculative, dystopian fiction that focuses less on the good guys vs. the big bad guys and more on community building and cooperative work in the face of widespread hardship and gradual disaster. Asphyxia could easily have taken the tried (and tired) route of villainizing both Piper's mother and the corporation controlling food production, but instead offers a more nuanced, realistic depiction of both the individuals and the larger systems within this world that breathes new life into the genre.
So why not five stars? Well, if I'm honest, I've usually found Australian prose to be a bit distant and sparse, which makes me struggle to connect emotionally to the characters; and the prose here was no different. However, my rating reflects my personal reading experience and this book completely deserves ALL the starred reviews and awards it has received.
After the last few years, I never would have guessed that a dystopian book would make me feel both safe and hopeful, but this one did.
Content Warnings
Minor: Ableism