A review by annamolpus
The Book of the Unnamed Midwife by Meg Elison

adventurous dark tense 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? No

5.0

Apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction is not for everyone, but it's definitely a genre I return to repeatedly.  I think I'm just fascinated by what kinds of societal structures people might create if the existing ones collapsed abruptly.  The Book of the Unnamed Midwife definitely explores that question as it envisions a post-pandemic America where 95% of men and 99% of women and children are killed by a virus.  The scarcity of women leads to some very disturbing male behavior so this is not for the faint of heart.  But the story is centered around a strong female protagonist and ends on a hopeful note.
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