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A review by lectrixnoctis
The Power by Naomi Alderman
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Naomi Alderman is the author of three previous novels; "Disobedience", "The Lessons" in "The Lair's Gospel" she has one orange award for a new writer and the Sunday Times young writer of the year award. she presents science stories on BBC Radio 4 she's also a professor of creative writing at Bath Spa University she is the co-creator and leader writer off the best selling smartphone audio adventure app and book "Zombies run!". she lives in London
"The Power" is a novel within a book: a manuscript of a supposed history of the turbulent era during which women worldwide developed and shared the power to cast electricity from their hands. The manuscript is submitted by Neil Adam Armon to another author named Naomi, approximately five thousand years after the power appears and revolution reassembles the world into a matriarchy. This historical fiction chronicles the adventures of Allie, Roxy, Margot, Jocelyn, and Tunde, as they navigate their rapidly transforming world.
The story is written in the past tense and third person.
"The Power" envisions a world in which women worldwide suddenly develop the ability to manipulate and send electricity through their hands. While this power is an intrinsically neutral one, women quickly realise what becomes its primary use: to harm others by sending them severe electrical shocks. Alderman examines the ten years between women acquiring this power and an event called "the Cataclysm," focusing on several primary characters.
In a discussion, Alderman stated that in composing "The Power", she wished to examine the belief that women would make better superiors than men. As the proportion of power tips from men to women in her book, Alderman argues that this would not be the case.
"The Power" nourishes a critical gaze at gender dynamics. At the start of the novel, gender relations reflect contemporary society: patriarchy in which men are more generally dominant, which Alderman posits is because men are more able to inflict violence, and therefore more able to gain power. But after women start to gain control, they turn those gender dynamics on their heads.
Sadly I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. The concept was great, and even the writing was quite impeccable, but I cannot put my finger into it. I did not feel connected with the characters at all. It has taken me a long time to finish this book. However, I do highly recommend it for anyone who loves science-fiction.
"The Power" is a novel within a book: a manuscript of a supposed history of the turbulent era during which women worldwide developed and shared the power to cast electricity from their hands. The manuscript is submitted by Neil Adam Armon to another author named Naomi, approximately five thousand years after the power appears and revolution reassembles the world into a matriarchy. This historical fiction chronicles the adventures of Allie, Roxy, Margot, Jocelyn, and Tunde, as they navigate their rapidly transforming world.
The story is written in the past tense and third person.
"The Power" envisions a world in which women worldwide suddenly develop the ability to manipulate and send electricity through their hands. While this power is an intrinsically neutral one, women quickly realise what becomes its primary use: to harm others by sending them severe electrical shocks. Alderman examines the ten years between women acquiring this power and an event called "the Cataclysm," focusing on several primary characters.
In a discussion, Alderman stated that in composing "The Power", she wished to examine the belief that women would make better superiors than men. As the proportion of power tips from men to women in her book, Alderman argues that this would not be the case.
"The Power" nourishes a critical gaze at gender dynamics. At the start of the novel, gender relations reflect contemporary society: patriarchy in which men are more generally dominant, which Alderman posits is because men are more able to inflict violence, and therefore more able to gain power. But after women start to gain control, they turn those gender dynamics on their heads.
Sadly I did not enjoy this book as much as I wanted to. The concept was great, and even the writing was quite impeccable, but I cannot put my finger into it. I did not feel connected with the characters at all. It has taken me a long time to finish this book. However, I do highly recommend it for anyone who loves science-fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Death of parent, and Murder
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Rape, and Violence