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Anyone read "The Power," by Naomi Alderman?

36 replies

MsAmerica · 03/01/2023 00:07

It's rare that I read contemporary novels, and rarer that I find one I like, but this sounded promising: A future dystopia where women suddenly develop strange powers of channeling electricity through their bodies. The idea is, of course, that women then have no need to fear violence from men.

I ended up disliking this so much. Despite all the praise from reviewers, there was nothing so great about the writing, and although I liked the premise, it just became so dark, so depressing, so violent.

I'm dumping it because I don't even want it in the house.

OP posts:
stargirl1701 · 13/01/2023 19:22

Dystopian fiction is favourite genre. I really enjoyed it.

1000umbrellas · 16/01/2023 22:34

I found it really gripping from start to finish! The only part I didn't like was the editorialising from the 'future,' it felt like she was trying too hard to hammer the message home. I liked that she didn't pull any punches when it came to the brutality; as pps have said it glaringly spotlighted how normalised male on female violence often is.

For those who liked the concept but who are after something a little gentler, I can recommend The End of Men by Hannah Rosin, and the film No Men Beyond this Point which is quirky and quite funny.

MsAmerica · 01/02/2023 01:29

WhatWouldHopperDo · 03/01/2023 00:28

I wasn’t keen. I found it all a bit try hard. Interesting premise but I got bored of it quite quickly.

I agree, interesting premise - but I found it disappointing and off-putting, rather than boring.

OP posts:
TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 09/02/2023 00:00

OP I totally agree with you - I thought the plot line of women suddenly taking over the world because they found they could spark fire from their hands through years of tolerating misogyny had SO MUCH promise and potential.

The individual stories were very weak and I did fell the moral was ‘what about the menz’ and ‘women can be as bad as men’. I was so, so disappointed.

MsAmerica · 11/02/2023 01:10

TheObstinateHeadstrongGirl · 09/02/2023 00:00

OP I totally agree with you - I thought the plot line of women suddenly taking over the world because they found they could spark fire from their hands through years of tolerating misogyny had SO MUCH promise and potential.

The individual stories were very weak and I did fell the moral was ‘what about the menz’ and ‘women can be as bad as men’. I was so, so disappointed.

Weak is a good word for it.

OP posts:
mum2jakie · 30/03/2023 19:33

I really enjoyed this and just seen that it has been turned into a new TV series - out on Amazon Prime tomorrow which looks good too.

NewYearNewUsername23 · 30/03/2023 19:42

I really loved it but agree the end wasn’t great. I also agree with a pp who said Vox by Christina Dalcher is better. That’s also a dystopic womens rights based book.

BaconAndAvocado · 30/03/2023 19:52

Yes, I preferred Vox.

AbreathofFrenchair · 01/04/2023 19:07

BaconAndAvocado · 13/01/2023 19:17

Just to add, I much preferred Vox by the same author, which is also a dystopian novel.

Naomi Alderman didn't write Vox, it was Christina Dalcher.

Femlandia by Christina Dalcher is also very good, The Power is on my tbr bookcase

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 01/04/2023 19:24

Yes. DH raved about it but I wasn't that sure.

WednesdaysPlaits · 02/04/2023 10:03

Just started on Amazon Prime. Im not expecting much

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