Scan barcode
A review by mimosaeyes
Moths by Jane Hennigan
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Interesting!
This book imagines a matriarchal dystopia where the only surviving men are kept in facilities, their role in post-apocalyptic society being whatever you get if you triangulate between prisoners, patients, and prostitutes. The ways in which they are disempowered and infantilised bear striking parallels to the position of women in our own, patriarchal civilisation. For this reason, unlike <i>The Power</i> for instance, which I detested, I'd argue that this book is rightfully marketed as feminist. You just have to dig a little for the ideas it's bringing up. There's also the specific flavour of psychosis that the moths' toxins induce in half of men (the half that don't die immediately) - always charged with gendered violence and sexist language. As premises go, this is well put together.
Having the protagonist be a woman in her 70s is uncommon in fiction, and I liked that decision here. It makes perfect sense for the story, giving Mary a layered perspective on how things have changed within her lifetime. I also appreciate that the author does not gloss over what happens with queerness in this new world order. Heteronormativity essentially gets left behind with patriarchy, while homosexual couples become the new normal. Additionally, no sooner had I wondered, "But what about trans people, can they get infected?" than my question was answered. I like that these things were considered and thoughtfully addressed in the plot.
I'll have to ponder about the implications of that final moth imagery...
This book imagines a matriarchal dystopia where the only surviving men are kept in facilities, their role in post-apocalyptic society being whatever you get if you triangulate between prisoners, patients, and prostitutes. The ways in which they are disempowered and infantilised bear striking parallels to the position of women in our own, patriarchal civilisation. For this reason, unlike <i>The Power</i> for instance, which I detested, I'd argue that this book is rightfully marketed as feminist. You just have to dig a little for the ideas it's bringing up. There's also the specific flavour of psychosis that the moths' toxins induce in half of men (the half that don't die immediately) - always charged with gendered violence and sexist language. As premises go, this is well put together.
Having the protagonist be a woman in her 70s is uncommon in fiction, and I liked that decision here. It makes perfect sense for the story, giving Mary a layered perspective on how things have changed within her lifetime. I also appreciate that the author does not gloss over what happens with queerness in this new world order. Heteronormativity essentially gets left behind with patriarchy, while homosexual couples become the new normal. Additionally, no sooner had I wondered, "But what about trans people, can they get infected?" than my question was answered. I like that these things were considered and thoughtfully addressed in the plot.
I'll have to ponder about the implications of that final moth imagery...