Book of the month January 2017 - The Power by Naomi Alderman

[RachelMumsnet]

We're delighted to announce our first book of the month for 2017 will be Naomi Alderman's thrilling new novel, The Power. Find out more about the book. Join us in reading The Power over Christmas, post up your feedback on this thread and join the discussion with other readers and author Naomi, on here between 9 and 10pm on Monday 23 January.

If you fancy joining MN bookclub next year, discover all the books we'll be reading in the first 6 months of 2017 - both fiction and non-fiction. Each month we'll be offering up a chance to access free copies of all these books, and join the authors and other readers for webchats from the comfort of your own home (no babysitter required). Do make sure you're signed up to the books newsletter to ensure you have the up-to-date info on all book giveaways and author webchats.

Great to hear you have loads more novels to write. Looking forward to reading more!

@Hygellig

It was quite disappointing that it ended up in female abuse of men and a major war.

Naomi in the future can't believe that things like FGM could ever have happened - maybe after the Cataclysm Era a more peaceful society developed, if not an equal one?

A further question to Naomi: were you tempted to get involved in the trans debate - for example, would transwomen have skeins or would they have to have them implanted? (Although any man might want to do a Darrell and get their own skein).

Yes, sorry about the war and violence and so on. All I did really was to write about the world as it is, just turned on its head. And I couldn't think of a reason that women (hashtag notallwomen) wouldn't be as violent and selfish as men, I'm afraid... if there is a reason, I'd like to know it!

(Obviously no one knows what would really happen... but I guess I think if we find my version plausible then we've learned something interesting about maybe some stuff about men and women that is just kind of made up.)

I included an intersex character in Ryan but not a trans character... the trouble with picking gender as a topic is that it's not small! It touches literally everything. So I chose a few stories and hoped that readers would ponder their own, and how this world would be for them.

Hello Naomi!

I enjoyed the book very much. Certainly thought provoking! I was surprised by the ending. I have seen the book described as a feminist novel so I thought it would end in a way that was more flattering to women. Did you ever consider an ending that was?

Hi Naomi,
Read the book over Christmas which was amazingly empowering at a time when,as a woman, I am juggling a thousand balls in the air! I found it utterly compelling, realistically portrayed and as a former journalist I loved the narrative style of writing from the journo's point of view!
With all that is happening in the world - was this your opportunity to speak up and remind us Women that while the book is fictional - we are incredibly powerful- especially when we all come together? And what are your thoughts about a new wave of feminist protesting as seen at Saturday's march?

Am excited to hear there are more books coming When can we expect the next one?

The Power. Not my usual type of read, although one I couldn't put down. I genuinely had to check whether this was fiction / non-fiction!! Yes, I am a bit naive sometimes...
Naomi - thanks for being here tonight. What gave you the idea for this book? I can absolutely see this as a huge film at IMAX - who would you like to see playing the leading roles?

@M0stlyHet

Okay, I have a question (and possibly a follow-up).

The thing that really impressed me was that you'd managed to write an overtly political novel without being preachy. I think we all know works where the author's politics have proved to be the kiss of death to the narrative. So I thought I'd ask how you, as an author, managed to pull this off - how did you keep the authorial voice out of the picture while still making it work as political satire?

As a subsidiary question - I was very conflicted about the trick of using the framing device of having an imaginary mere male author write a work of historical fiction, and having the female publisher womansplain what he was doing to him (while not being able to resist a few bits of cheeky banter about how sexy she'd found parts of it). On one level I loved it because it so neatly skewered and inverted so many such earnest discussions I've seen in the real world. But on another level, it was the one bit I felt did step over the line from letting the reader work out the political message for herself into spelling it out for her.

(As a slight aside, have you ever read Esme Dodderidge's "The New Gulliver", published by the Women's Press back in the 80s? I find it an interesting companion piece to yours. Whereas yours is rooted in the idea of what would happen if we inverted the physical power balance between men and women, hers places the male protagonist in a world where it is social conditioning and expectation which do the work.)

I'm so pleased that you didn't think my novel was preachy! I came up with a premise that I thought talked about what I wanted to talk and think about... and then I let the premise do the work. There's no need to insist on the symbolism/metaphor: it's baked into the story. I also do like an exciting story, so I thought I'd write one, to help my feminist/gender theory go down ;-)

The letters... well, I really just wanted to have some fun :-). I love them, but I knew that for some readers they'd be too obvious but for others not obvious enough (believe it or not ;-) ). I thought at least I could make everyone smile.

(I've never read any Esme Dodderidge - what a great name! - I'll check her out. Have you ever read Ursula Le Guin's story The Matter of Seggri? UTTER GENIUS.)

I thought the principles behind the story in this book were really original. It is interesting how the idea of power can so often end in cruelty and violence and that, even when women are the dominant force, a potential for armageddon ensues. I wonder whether this was the ending you envisioned when you started on this project

I'd also like to ask which character you liked or associated with best.
I thought the "letters" at the beginning and ending of the book just made the whole thing more thought provoking, but wonder if there was anything that gave you inspiration for this.
From games apps to broadcasting to writing, I am amazed how you are able to come up with so many ideas. I will definitely seek out your other works.

And I couldn't think of a reason that women (hashtag notallwomen) wouldn't be as violent and selfish as men, I'm afraid... if there is a reason, I'd like to know it!

This is exactly what I was debating with myself during and after I read your book. I couldn't come up with anything either.

Hi Naomi

I really enjoyed The Power; the style in which it was written appealed, particularly Tunde's descriptive chapters that allowed you to picture the events as if you were indeed watching them. The excerpts from the online forums also resonated - everyone mouthing off about things which they knew nothing about with people only too quick to believe what they were being told.

I have to admit that I did not feel that the book needed the dialogue between Neil and Naomi as the novel would have worked perfectly well as a standalone however I will caveat that statement with the truth that if I hadn't read the very end, I wouldn't have realised the dialogue was from the future and the illustrations suddenly appeared in a different light!

To me, The way the events unfolded was perfectly believable; it showed the absolute corruption of power and how although everything changes, nothing changes. It showed that there will always be one side in charge - if not male or female then rich or poor, or young against old. Basic human instinct is for self preservation - the men did this first by trying to reclaim their perceived upper hand and then the women did it by having to destroy the men.

To me, Tunde came across as quite a gentle character; my question is if he had been quite a "macho" character, would he have been accepted by the women for so long and trusted by them? Did you ever consider having all your lead characters female or was Tunde's character always going to be a man?

@DeviTheGaelet

Amazing book Naomi, I loved it! I would like to know if you are a feminist and if you are which feminist issues are closest to your heart?

Certainly am a feminist. I get very angry about almost all of the issues. I am PASSIONATE about encouraging women to be MORE AMBITIOUS for themselves and their careers and their lives, and to get into PUBLIC SPEAKING and being ENTREPRENEURS and not just having this "oh I'll take what I'm given, don't mind me" attitude. Go for what you want!

I am also PASSIONATE about how much the gender binary hurts men as well as women. They're just not allowed to/acculturated to talk about it because THE DEFINITION OF MASCULINITY INCLUDES NOT TALKING ABOUT FEELING HURT. Sometimes I think about this until I actually cry.

@pbandbacon

And I couldn't think of a reason that women (hashtag notallwomen) wouldn't be as violent and selfish as men, I'm afraid... if there is a reason, I'd like to know it!

This is exactly what I was debating with myself during and after I read your book. I couldn't come up with anything either.

I know. Disappointing in a way. And yet in another way, not.

@KERALA1

Just started it. Used to work at the same law firm as Naomi and remember seeing an email saying she had left to be a writer - was impressed and envious! Seems to have worked out for her incredibly well!

May you find release from the law firm soon, comrade. ;-)

@pbandbacon

I really liked this book. I found it to be very plausible alternative reality (other than the actual "power") if the balance of power swung to women at this point in our history. I'd like to think that women would never be as vindictive and abusive as those portrayed in the book, but then I have never been abused, oppressed or diminished so severely solely because of my gender. I really enjoyed the paths my mind wandered along and the questions I started asking myself while reading this novel. Would I go along with the crowd? Would I let the power get to me?

Ever a skeptic, I wonder whether Neil's dear friend Naomi took the credit for his book after suggesting he publish under a woman's name?

Well, it was published with my name on the cover, soooooooooo ;-)

@aristocat

I also thought this was an exceptional book! How one sex can be made to seem inferior to the opposite sex because of physical, mental and sexual abuse is terrifying. But this is such a good read :)

The book is strong, emotive and really does have 'power'. Will this be made into a film?

Thanks for a great read, a fabulous start to 2017

I've sold it for telly, and hopefully I'll be the lead writer!

www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/uk-banner-sister-pictures-options-feminist-sci-fi-novel-power-tv-956402

Great I assumed you were because of writing the novel in the first place but as it was so dystopian I wasn't sure!
I'm a huge fan because I have spent quite a lot of time pondering if there are any circumstances in which patriarchy wouldn't be the dominant model and I find it hard to imagine any. Can you envisage a situation where women become dominant without a physical advantage, like in the power?

@BearAusten

An intriguing and thought provoking novel. It was, however, definitely not an easy read. It is quite depressing to think that regardless of which gender has the 'Power', the one in control will be corrupted and turned into an abusive, oppressive force. I really don't think I could stomach watching a TV programme or film at the cinema about such a violent and brutal dystopia.

One thing I would say about this... people call it a dystopia. But. Nothing happens to a man in this book that isn't happening to a woman somewhere in the world right now. I promise. So... if this is a dystopia, does that mean we live in a dystopia right now? I think probably yes. Happy 2017!

@daimbardiva

What will stay with me is that every time something happened that seemed far-fetched or too horrific, I was immediately hit by the sobering and horrifying fact that something like it was already happening to women somewhere in the world.

Yes, exactly this! I'm sorry about the, you know, world.

Thank you Naomi for such a thought provoking novel. I read it over Christmas and was amazed by your timing. You obviously had no idea at the time of writing the book that it would come out during the Trump era. Having marched in London on Saturday, I was quite overwhelmed by how feminism once again took centre stage. It also made me think about your novel Were you marching?

@RingInTheNew

I've just finished reading this and enjoyed it very much. It is a very thought-provoking read, and certainly as other readers have mentioned, it can be unsettling to witness how women use their power.

I'd like to ask Naomi: if you had the chance to have 'the power', would you take it? And if so, how would you use it?

Thank you!

Well here's the thing. I could use it, but in isolation it wouldn't do me much good. Doesn't do Ryan much good to have it, because he doesn't belong to the class of people who are associated with it. Just like an amazing woman kickboxer can still be subject to sexism.

Would I take flipping the world over like this though? I mean I guess the novel probably says I wouldn't. But then the first half of the novel at least says that I'd be tempted. If there has to be an imbalance, wouldn't we rather be at the top of the see-saw than the bottom?

Good thing I don't have to make this choice really.

@DeviTheGaelet

Excited for the Web chat! I am on my second read through and I love it more than the first. Trying to figure out what happened at "the cataclysm". Naomi, can you tell us or is it spoilers?

There was definitely a war. And probably almost what they call an "extinction event". But we're very spread out on the globe, human beings, and very smart. It'd be really hard to wipe us all out.

You know, when I started writing this novel, it seemed a bit farfetched and old-fashioned to bring up the spectre of nuclear war again.

Ahahahahahahsob.

Thanks for your reply.
I will look forward to seeing the film too.

Are you still involved in game design? It sounds very exciting. You definitely are a lady with many talents

@todormirchev

I want to thank MumsNet for the opportunity to read this remarkable novel. This is not my typical literature genre, and my first encounter with Naomi Alderman's books and I have to say, that I am really impressed. The book is very philosophical and thought provoking. It highlights the problems and issues woman face everyday in our society. My questions for Naomi Alderman are:

1. When did the idea for the book first come to you, and what provoked it?
2. What was the society reaction you aiming for, writing "The Power"?

Thank you

Yes! My first degree is in philosophy, and I've always thought SF is the most philosophical of genres.

1. I had a terrible breakup with a bloke. Really AWFUL. I cried for about a year. And in that period of my life, on the tube I saw a poster for a movie of a BEAUTIFUL GIRL CRYING. And it just broke me. It felt like the world was saying: hey, we like it when you cry, we think it's BEAUTIFUL.

So I started to think about what would have to change in the world so that I could get onto a tube carriage and see a photo of a BEAUTIFUL SEXY MAN CRYING. And here we are.

1. Total revolution of the ideas of gender of everyone in the world. Acceptance that there's no such thing as a 'male personality' or a 'female brain'. I like a bit of ambition.

That's my point..there's so much violence and war in the world (historic and current) that I'd rather save for stomach for it for my non-fiction reading. Just my personal preference though.... obviously a novel with this plot isn't going to be a light read. Some novelists want to reflect real life in all its awful detail, challenge their readers and make them think; others go down the Alexander McCall Smith route of saying there's more than enough real life in real life without putting it in novels as well. I think when choosing novels I prefer somewhere in between.

@Fillybuster

DH (who read it first) loved this book even more than me!

I particularly liked the pictures of "artifacts" - although I also winced slightly, as I remembered my own postdoctoral research which aimed to re-read Sumerian texts to find support for earlier goddess cultures....

Like a pp, the only part of the book I wasn't mad about was the introductory section, which I felt was a bit didactic and didn't leave space for the reader to slowly draw their own conclusions through the course of the text. So I'd love to know whether Naomi planned to include that from the beginning, or if that was a narrative device added in at the end because the publishers didn't trust her audience to "get it"?

No they said I should take it out, but I wouldn't because I thought it was FUNNY. And god knows, that book has some VERY UNFUNNY bits. I knew it would divide readers though. You can always pull the pages out if you don't like it, you have my permission ;-)