A review by thevietvegan
The Power by Naomi Alderman

adventurous challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I started reading this book after procrastinating starting it, and yall IT STARTS WITH A BANG. Immediately hooked in.

I really enjoyed following Roxy, Allie and Tunde's storylines, really couldn't care less about Margot. I found her motives were shit, her emotional manipulation was shit, and her general character just was frustrating. I understand that women like her exist haha. And from what I can tell, that's the same type of mindset that propelled the
reverse matriarchy that happens in the end.

Maybe I just have more faith in humanity but I struggle to believe that we'd completely turn the extremes of the patriarchy around to be a mirror version in matriarchy. 

I really struggle to see how anyone could justify (specifically in this new era where we already are aware of historical and current day atrocities) genital mutilation, extremely culling men's rights to mirror Saudi Arabia's women's rights in Bessapara, and that women-led states would nuke themselves into oblivion. I JUST DON'T SEE IT.

Roxy's storyline felt so anticlimactic to me, and so sad. Despite the fact that she is like a drug lord, I was really invested in hee success lol. I don't know why.

Mother Eve/Allie's storyline took such a turn that it felt out of character for her, but I guess she was manipulating people from start to finish anyway so I shouldn't be surprised.

I just think the whole Cataclysm was ridiculous and I don't understand why anyone thinks bombing countries into oblivion is helpful to anyone.

Also the end email messages between 'Neil' and 'Naomi' were really clever ways of relaying the culture of the new world. It is gross to see current patriarchy mirror displayed so overly as their matriarchy. 

I was excited for a compassionate utopia because I do believe humanity when we work together is beautiful and peaceful, but this story implies that women will get drunk on power and I think that's just a bummer lol.
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