The Power by Naomi Alderman

Rating: 10/10

This is only the second 10/10 rating I have ever given on this blog about a book, and it is undeniably well deserved. Previously when reading other book reviews, I never understood how a book could be ‘breathtaking’ and deemed it an altogether ridiculous phrase to describe a book. Until I read 'The Power’.

I think the best thing about this book and what made it so spectacular, was the fact that I knew nothing about the storyline and bought it based on the fact that I had just finished reading Margaret Atwood’s 'The Handmaids Tale’ when this one popped up as 'like The Hunger Games and The Handmaids Tale combined’ and knew that I had to get my hands on a copy.

To try and preserve the 'surprise’ if you like, I’ll try to make my summary of the plot as general as possible, but enough to convince you that this book is an absolute masterpiece. The narrative follows a society much like today’s, but where women discover that they have all the power, and almost overnight men are cast out and realise that their power has been diminished to nothing. The novel flicks between four different characters, all located across the world in varying countries, documenting the spread of power and rise of women - Tunde, Margot, Roxy and Allie. These four characters all experience different situations and use the power to both their advantage, but sometimes to their detriment.

I can’t stress enough how thrilling and gripping this book is, because I was absolutely spellbound by it. I read it in a day and a half and couldn’t put it down, because at the end of every chapter you are left on a cliffhanger that leaves you gasping for answers and closure.

This novel is so powerful and articulated; it highlights certain elements of our society that are dark and evil, and it is so interesting to see circumstances that some women face reversed and transferred onto men. An utterly incredible novel that I know I am going to be raving about for years to come and recommending it to everyone that I meet - this is definitely a copy that is going to be on my bookshelf until I’m an old woman, and one that I know I will read and re-read for years to come.

Like I said previously, this is only the second 10/10 rating that I have ever given a book on my blog since starting it a year ago, so full ratings are not ones that I give lightly or very often because I make sure that I am critical and honest when I review books, because at the end of the day, the reason people read my reviews is for an honest opinion on a book - so that’s what I give. But if there’s one thing you should take away from this review, it’s that you HAVE to read this book.

Not only is is phenomenally written and very cleverly put together and structured, it highlights hidden and clear injustices within our society that we don’t talk about or consider closely enough - from rape to FGM, Alderman uses this book as a beacon for change by reversing issues that women face onto men and accentuates the importance of tackling these issues among readers.

This novel is wholly deserving of its 10/10 rating and is one that I hope after reading this review, you will go out and get your hands on, because not only does Alderman perfectly create a dystopian world wrapped in satire, she also artfully brings forward the struggles of women around the world. An absolute must read and a book that I will cherish for years to come. Please please please go and read this book!

There’s nothing more relaxing than reading along to the sound of crashing waves and the smell of salt water spray…

“Bibliomania”

the-two-germanys:

The Occult Significance of Blood

Rudolf Steiner
Boston: Occult & Modern Thought Book Centre, 1912.

“Rosalie saw before her eyes a tree of marvelous beauty.”  Color process illustration by Virginia Frances Sterrett for the book, Old French Fairy Tales, published about 1920.

“Ah ha!  You are at last in my domain, little fool!”  Color process illustration by Virginia Frances Sterrett, for the book, Old French Fairy Tales, published in 1920.

“They took out their precious book.”  Wood engraving by Joseph Swain, based on the artwork of John Everett Millais, for the periodical Once A Week, volume 6, December 1861 - June 1862.

Street Musician.  Etching by John Thomas Smith, for his book, “Lives of Famous London Beggars,” published in 1897.  Original etching likely reproduced by photoengraving.

“The southward journeying ducks, which would drop with loud quacking and splashing into the shallows.”  Color process illustration by Charles Livingston Bull for the book, The Haunters of the Silences, written by Charles George Douglas Roberts.  Published in 1907.

“Beneath an apple-tree our heads stretched out toward the sea.”  Color process illustration by Florence Harrison, for the book, Early Poems of William Morris, published in 1914.

The flowery-kirtl’d naiades.  Color process illustration by Arthur Rackham for John Milton’s book, Comus, published in 1921.

“Violette consented willingly to pass the night in the forest.”  Color process illustration by Virginia Frances Sterrett for the book, Old French Fairy Tales, published about 1920.

“Giotto in Cimabue’s studio.”  Lithograph by Alphonse-Leon Noel, based on the artwork of Jules-Claude Ziegler, for L’Artiste, published about 1830.

“Lest a nightmare should come to the fairies’ cousin twice removed on their mother’s side.”  Color process illustration by Dugald Stewart Walker for his children’s book, Dream Boats and other Stories, published in 1920.

“She looked down upon our street.”  Portrait illustration by Charles Dana Gibson, for the novel, About Paris, written by Richard Harding Davis and published in 1895.

Bookplate etching by William Bell Scott for Poems Dramatic and Lyrical, by John Byrne Warren, published in 1893.  The artwork was designed and engraved by Scott as a gift to the author.

A Winter’s night.  Etching by William Hole for The Poetry of Robert Burns, Volume 1, published in 1896.

“Under her childish gaze, a wolf that had been taken alive in the Bohemian forest crawled fawning to her feet.”  Portrait illustration by William John Hennessy, for the book The Witch of Prague; A Fantastical Tale, published in 1901.

Giant Silk Moths and purple coral tree.  Etching by Joseph Mulder, based on the artwork of Maria Sibylla Merian, for the book, “Over de Voorteeling en Wonderbaerlyke Veranderingen der Surinaamsche Insecten, published in 1730.

Glance at Detroit from the city hall.  Wood engraving by John Douglas Woodward for Picturesque America, Volume 1, published in 1872.  The book was edited by William Cullen Bryant.

The shower.  Woodcut by Felix Vallotton, for his biography, published in 1898 by Edmond Sagot and J. A. Stargardt

The falling of the leaves.  Landscape etching by Alfred Taiee, based on the artwork of Jean-Francois Millet for the book, J. F. Millet:  Souvenirs de Barbizon, published in 1876.

“But there was no voice throughout the vast, illimitable desert.”  Portrait illustration by Harry Clarke, for Edgar Allan Poe’s book, Tales of Mystery and Imagination.