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A review by angelofthe0dd
The Oven by Sophie Goldstein
4.0
This short graphic novel is set in a post-apocalyptic world, but it could be set anywhere the line between life and death is a fine one. The theme of the book is: there are two kinds of people in world (with respect to living day to day). There are those that are willing to become worker bees in a large collective. Their lives have no meaning outside of their contribution to the rulers of the hive and the continuation of the hive as an artificial human ecosystem. For worker bees, the emptiness of their lives is an inner, bitter pain. But, their masters have a remedy - food and distraction! The hive is hard-wired with 1000s of media outlets to help chase away the thoughts of what does it mean to live.
On the other hand, there are some who do not want to be in the hive. They want to live out their lives the way all other animals do: scratching out a living from the Earth, trying to stay one step ahead of death each and every day. For them, there are no distractions. They want the question of life to stare them directly in the eyes. They're willing to trade modern comforts in exchange for the feeling of independence and having control over their fates. They write the story of their lives - for better or worse.
On the other hand, there are some who do not want to be in the hive. They want to live out their lives the way all other animals do: scratching out a living from the Earth, trying to stay one step ahead of death each and every day. For them, there are no distractions. They want the question of life to stare them directly in the eyes. They're willing to trade modern comforts in exchange for the feeling of independence and having control over their fates. They write the story of their lives - for better or worse.