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A review by sophronisba
Red Clocks by Leni Zumas
5.0
This book attempts to imagine a world in which the United States adopts a "life begins at conception" amendment to the Constitution (it was interesting to read this while following the coverage of Ireland repealing a similar amendment). This amendment makes both abortion and IVF strictly forbidden; in addition, the US also enacts an "Every Child Needs Two" law which outlaws single-parent adoption.
I will say that I have some problems with this setup -- even in today's political climate I struggle to imagine a House and Senate with a 2/3 majority for such a draconian amendment. In addition I was disappointed that there was no serious consideration of gay and lesbian couples and what the new IVF and adoption regulations might mean for them.
However, I am willing to hand-wave the setup because what is actually on the page is thoughtful and lovely and empathetic to a wide range of views. Zumas doesn't plunge the reader into a full-on dystopia as The Handmaid's Tale; instead Red Clocks takes us maybe a step-and-a-half into darkness. There are no red robes here; instead there is a Pink Wall, because Canada will arrest women trying to enter to have an abortion.
The novel really just gestures at a plot; Zumas is most interested in her four main characters--a pregnant teen, a single woman who wants to become a mother, an unhappily married woman, and an herbalist--and what they think and how they feel about the world around them. It's a thought experiment, but a compelling one, and easily one of the best books I've read this year.
I will say that I have some problems with this setup -- even in today's political climate I struggle to imagine a House and Senate with a 2/3 majority for such a draconian amendment. In addition I was disappointed that there was no serious consideration of gay and lesbian couples and what the new IVF and adoption regulations might mean for them.
However, I am willing to hand-wave the setup because what is actually on the page is thoughtful and lovely and empathetic to a wide range of views. Zumas doesn't plunge the reader into a full-on dystopia as The Handmaid's Tale; instead Red Clocks takes us maybe a step-and-a-half into darkness. There are no red robes here; instead there is a Pink Wall, because Canada will arrest women trying to enter to have an abortion.
The novel really just gestures at a plot; Zumas is most interested in her four main characters--a pregnant teen, a single woman who wants to become a mother, an unhappily married woman, and an herbalist--and what they think and how they feel about the world around them. It's a thought experiment, but a compelling one, and easily one of the best books I've read this year.