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A review by goblinhearted
The Power by Naomi Alderman
2.0
I really wanted to like this book. After the first few chapters, my mind was reeling with possibilities at the concept: women develop a gland that allows them to shoot electricity from their fingertips. I was so completely on board… until I wasn’t.
The title, “The Power”, is significant here. The novel explores the nature of power, and what happens when someone has an abundance of it. The execution felt heavy-handed and one-dimensional.
What drew me to this concept was the potential to explore the impact of power on women– historically, a group that’s been oppressed and forced into subservient roles. I was interested in how this newfound power would influence and change them.
My biggest critique is that the book seems to overlook the reasons why women have been oppressed in the first place. It felt disconnected from feminist and gender theory. While some might argue that the author didn’t set out to write a feminist novel, it’s hard to ignore the implications when the story revolves around such a significant change for an entire gender as a group.
This book felt like a missed opportunity. The central message seemed to boil down to "Power is bad," which felt too simplistic for such a long and complex story.
One of my major issues is how this "power is bad" message is conveyed. Essentially, the women in the book start to abuse their power in the same ways men historically have:by subjugating the opposite sex, humiliating them publicly, and even resorting to rape and violence just because they can.
I felt like this novel could have been so much more, but it wasn't.
The title, “The Power”, is significant here. The novel explores the nature of power, and what happens when someone has an abundance of it. The execution felt heavy-handed and one-dimensional.
What drew me to this concept was the potential to explore the impact of power on women– historically, a group that’s been oppressed and forced into subservient roles. I was interested in how this newfound power would influence and change them.
My biggest critique is that the book seems to overlook the reasons why women have been oppressed in the first place. It felt disconnected from feminist and gender theory. While some might argue that the author didn’t set out to write a feminist novel, it’s hard to ignore the implications when the story revolves around such a significant change for an entire gender as a group.
This book felt like a missed opportunity. The central message seemed to boil down to "Power is bad," which felt too simplistic for such a long and complex story.
One of my major issues is how this "power is bad" message is conveyed. Essentially, the women in the book start to abuse their power in the same ways men historically have:
I felt like this novel could have been so much more, but it wasn't.