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A review by katykelly
The Power by Naomi Alderman
5.0
Superb. From the bookends that offer a kick in the guts to the meat of the novel itself, this is a tour-de-force of 'reimagined' social history, complete with historical artefacts and a timeline of a new world order that starts as any new leadership seems to - with hope.
A male writer sends his work to a publisher, asking for benefaction. His story, the one we read, tells of what really happened when women and girls around the planet began developing powers that allow them to break out of old moulds, positions and roles in society.
Told through several narrators, one male, the others female, the reader sees a society radically transform, from small changes as the new power is seen as a blip, a phenomenon, to how its impact spreads and takes hold worldwide.
Role-reversal has been used before to terrific effect (Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses), in books and films, and here it is particularly effective and shocking.
There are graphic scenes that almost hurt to read, as a woman. The narrative builds up a picture of how a world can change, how power can change hands (no pun intended) when something alters in society.
We see the point of view of a politician, a reporter, a young girl who grows up the daughter of a gangster, a foster child who reinvents herself as her powers grow. The 'Power', at first a novelty, not understood or fully respected, develops along with the characters and worms into society.
The cleverness of the artefacts becomes clear as the story progresses and their meaning is made more explicit, and the whole makes for a perfectly compelling dystopia.
Incredibly hard to put down, and a rather important book. Stands up next to 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, and other noted works in the genre as a book that needs reading, that will not leave you unaffected.
Some very graphic sexual and violent scenes, but highly recommended. Just get a copy. You won't regret it.
A male writer sends his work to a publisher, asking for benefaction. His story, the one we read, tells of what really happened when women and girls around the planet began developing powers that allow them to break out of old moulds, positions and roles in society.
Told through several narrators, one male, the others female, the reader sees a society radically transform, from small changes as the new power is seen as a blip, a phenomenon, to how its impact spreads and takes hold worldwide.
Role-reversal has been used before to terrific effect (Malorie Blackman's Noughts and Crosses), in books and films, and here it is particularly effective and shocking.
There are graphic scenes that almost hurt to read, as a woman. The narrative builds up a picture of how a world can change, how power can change hands (no pun intended) when something alters in society.
We see the point of view of a politician, a reporter, a young girl who grows up the daughter of a gangster, a foster child who reinvents herself as her powers grow. The 'Power', at first a novelty, not understood or fully respected, develops along with the characters and worms into society.
The cleverness of the artefacts becomes clear as the story progresses and their meaning is made more explicit, and the whole makes for a perfectly compelling dystopia.
Incredibly hard to put down, and a rather important book. Stands up next to 1984, The Handmaid's Tale, and other noted works in the genre as a book that needs reading, that will not leave you unaffected.
Some very graphic sexual and violent scenes, but highly recommended. Just get a copy. You won't regret it.