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A review by nomo_book_club
The Last Woman in the World by Inga Simpson
4.0
This apocalyptic novel, set in a dystopian Australia that has already been besieged by fires and pandemics, tells the tale of a shadowy force that is fearfully stalking and wiping out the population. The Last Woman in the World is focused around the character of Rachel, a reclusive glass artist living off-grid and alone out in the bush, unburdened by societal expectations of partnership or motherhood, and who is blissfully unaware of what is happening. Her self-imposed exile from society is suddenly interrupted by the arrival of a strange woman with a sickly baby at her door one night. The stranger, Hannah, warns Rachel of the impending danger, but together they need to leave the safety of Rachel's home and journey out into the world in order to find medication to save Hannah's baby. They must travel cross-country to Rachel's sister's clinic in a nearby town, but her sister is gone, so they then go onto Canberra to find her sister (who is also childfree).
The book presents an interesting duo with its mother and childfree combo. Rachel has no interest in a traditional female role and is somewhat bemused by what to do with a baby - and even when she is forced into a more hands-on role later, there is no cliched epiphany of Rachel realising that her redemption lies in embracing motherhood. But, however dark the story is, Rachel does go on a journey of healing (we find out her background trauma bit by bit across the novel) and comes out at the other end as truly a survivor.
The book presents an interesting duo with its mother and childfree combo. Rachel has no interest in a traditional female role and is somewhat bemused by what to do with a baby - and even when she is forced into a more hands-on role later, there is no cliched epiphany of Rachel realising that her redemption lies in embracing motherhood. But, however dark the story is, Rachel does go on a journey of healing (we find out her background trauma bit by bit across the novel) and comes out at the other end as truly a survivor.