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Original poster

The Power - does it get better ?

35 replies

mstrotwood · 05/01/2018 20:34

I read the first 50 pages of The Power by Naomi Alderman last night and fail to see what all the hype is about. I like the idea a lot but am so far not very impressed by the way it's written.

Does it get better or change drastically ? Or is there any other reason why I should read on ?

OP posts:
Original poster
mstrotwood · 05/01/2018 20:57

I had really high hopes as it was hyped as a great feminist read

Yes yes me too. I was really disappointed when I got a few pages in and realised that it wasn't that great.

all the god stuff turned me right off

and the voice turned me right off more than anything else, it didn't convince at all.

OP posts:
Solasum · 05/01/2018 20:50

I have just finished it. I am quite a fan of dystopian fiction, but this just really didn’t work for me. I didn’t like any of the characters, apart from the photographer, and it all felt forced. Shame, as it felt like an idea that could go somewhere interesting. I suspect it may work better as a film with lots of special effects than as a book.

AnneLovesGilbert · 05/01/2018 20:50

Oh no! I got it for Christmas and it’s next on my list to read. I was really looking forward to it.

Anyone enjoy it?

FiveGoMadInDorset · 05/01/2018 20:48

Its on my to read pile, hall I just give it to the charity shop now? Grin

MarshaBradyo · 05/01/2018 20:46

I couldn’t get past few pages, really disliked it

BobbinThreadbare123 · 05/01/2018 20:44

Nah. It's boring. Such a good premise and a decent start, but the writing was a bit weird. I was disappointed.

SophoclesTheFox · 05/01/2018 20:44

Yes, it didn't grab me either. I had really high hopes as it was hyped as a great feminist read, but I didn't find it very insightful and all the god stuff turned me right off.

Original poster
mstrotwood · 05/01/2018 20:41

I am relieved that I'm not the only one. Sometimes when a book is so hyped you start doubting yourself when you fail to see why.

I just didn’t really care much about the characters and found it a bit contrived.

Agree completely. And I found some of the plot developments too predictable to keep my interest.

OP posts:
Rainboho · 05/01/2018 20:37

I only managed the first half of the book. And I rarely fail to finish a book. It wasn’t because it was too complex or I didn’t grasp the themes - I have a literature MA! I just didn’t really care much about the characters and found it a bit contrived.

GlitterFart · 05/01/2018 20:36

I read it on holiday this year and found it very meh, can’t see what all the hype is about at all.