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A review by isabezza
The Power by Naomi Alderman
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.75
I was inspired to read this book as a fan of Margaret Atwood, science fiction, and feminist fiction, but I have a mixed response to this after reading it.
There are many notable and positive features of this story. I had my pen handy for underlining the powerful clauses, and I enjoyed the steady pace. Particularly, I enjoyed the underlying structure of the plot. Having a different narrator and POV for each area life the Girls' power effects, the reader is shown how the military, people's religion, World politics, the criminal underworld, and the media are slowly transformed and dominated by Women's power in this dystopian science fiction.
However, this book was difficult to pick up again or stay engaged with for a long period of time. I personally found the story impossible to devour in a day or two; I had to keep putting it down. Although there are some very distressing chapters, my aversion was often due to disinterest in the character's themselves. Similarly, the ending was confusing and disappointing - it seems there was not an ending at all - as if it were rushed.
Overall, an amazing plot (which I would recommend) but poor execution of the characters and the ending.
There are many notable and positive features of this story. I had my pen handy for underlining the powerful clauses, and I enjoyed the steady pace. Particularly, I enjoyed the underlying structure of the plot. Having a different narrator and POV for each area life the Girls' power effects, the reader is shown how the military, people's religion, World politics, the criminal underworld, and the media are slowly transformed and dominated by Women's power in this dystopian science fiction.
However, this book was difficult to pick up again or stay engaged with for a long period of time. I personally found the story impossible to devour in a day or two; I had to keep putting it down. Although there are some very distressing chapters, my aversion was often due to disinterest in the character's themselves. Similarly, the ending was confusing and disappointing - it seems there was not an ending at all - as if it were rushed.
Overall, an amazing plot (which I would recommend) but poor execution of the characters and the ending.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Body horror, Child abuse, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Hate crime, Misogyny, Torture, War, and Violence