A review by tensy
The Book of Joan by Lidia Yuknavitch

3.0

Lidia Yuknavitch writes in beautiful prose which belies the horrific setting of this post-apocalyptic Earth. I often found the transitions confusing and I would have preferred reading this in print. There are many themes explored in this novel, environmentalism, child soldiers, spirituality or the lack thereof, and most importantly, feminism in a world where genders are irrelevant after reproductive organs have disappeared. Sexuality and the abuse of women is graphically depicted in this novel and should be read with the prospect that some scenes will be truly unsettling. There is a lot of promise in this book, but bizarre plot elements and often overly gruesome passages outweigh the impressive writing.

Interesting review from a literature professor that delves more deeply into the book (LA Review of Books). Retrofuturist Feminism: Lidia Yuknavitch’s “The Book of Joan”