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Susan S. (Lafayette, CA)
MIsogyny run amok
This book takes place in a current, recognizable United States, except that women are banned by law from working or speaking more than 100 words per day, with the ultimate goal of turning them into virtually silent Stepford wives. They also cannot use the internet or even access the mail that comes to the house. Homosexuality is also illegal. The fact that it is basically set in the present day makes it feel more chilling and less removed from reality. in the book, the new laws are based on interpretations of Biblical precepts, and are not very different from the actual desires of certain segments of our society.
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I found the book hard to put down (it is a page turner) and also hard to keep reading (because it is scary). It felt very timely.
(I had a small quibble with it in that enforcing the 100-word limit required fitting all women with an electronic cuff, and it would have been logistically, physically impossible to do this on 150 million women in the time frame implied in the book, and there were other logistical issues that also would have taken much longer to work out.) (less)Everyone will compare this story to The Handmaid's Tale and I am no exception. While I enjoyed the story, I found myself flipping through the last 20 pages to get to the end. This was a great story in there somewhere, and I was somewhat captivated by the first half of the book, but felt it beginning to wane toward the last third. I did think the idea of 100 words per day (and the punishment for over speaking) very creative and unsettling...this author is just getting her feet wet and I am anxious to read her next book.
Judi R. (Jericho, NY)
Dystopian
I received an ARC for an honest review of this novel. I don't usually prefer dystopic novels but I found this topic intriguing. What if I, as a female, was limited to only 100 words a day. First I needed to allow my mind to accept the possibility that in the not too distant future, the government of the United States would accept an administration that wanted to revert back to a time when women had no role in business, education or rearing children. I also had to believe that men in this society would prefer these changes. This means no voice, no books, no technology. But what if the president now needs your
…more help? Even being female would allow you to work the system. The one thing I have to say for this novel is, I couldn't put it down. I never knew where the author was going to end up. Many questions are raised. Among them, How far would you go to protect your family? Who can you trust? This book is intriguing, scary, timely, and layered. Could it happen. I hope not. History proves anything is possible. (less)
Becky H
Vox --- a thrilller
The United States has been taken over in an election by seriously ultra conservative politicians. Laws have been passed restricting females to just 100 words per day and enforce this directive with punishing electric shocks for every word beyond the allotment. The novel starts with this interesting premise and then has a rather boring first 100 pages as we learn about the wife who is quite an acclaimed scientist and feminist but is married to a go-along, get-along politician husband high up in the conservative government.
The plot finally gets going when she is coerced by the government to restart her science
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Overall, readers who are looking for another “Handmaids Tale” will be disappointed. Readers looking for a thriller and make it through the first third will be pleased. The characters are clearly defined and remain in character for the entire book. The premise and resulting government action is full of holes but with a suspension of reality, the novel as a whole is satisfying.
3 of 5 stars (less)Vox by Christina Dalcher poses the question, "If you had only one hundred words a day,what would you do to be heard? Promoted as a re-imagining of The Handmaid's Tale, I found the premise intriguing, but the execution disappointing. There is no doubt that the book was intended as Dalcher writes in "A note from the author," as "a cautionary tale, a warning call about gender politics and backlash and cultural shift." The heavy-handed writing left little room to doubt that. Lacking subtlety and nuance, both character and plot lacked believability.
Jenna
Vox
I found this book strange to say the least.. not necessarily in a bad way. The book is a warning of what can happen in a society that discriminates and is prejudiced against the female gender. This is an important novel.. although, it just wasn't for me. On a positive note, the writing was very advanced for a debut novel.
Colleen F. (Carrollton, TX)
VOX
This book was a hard read for me because I'm not really into the women's movement. I would recommend this book to book clubs, but not young people. I feel like people who are about women's rights and women empowerment this would make a great book selection for them. I haven't read anything like this before.
Catharine L. (Petoskey, MI)
Lots of potential
The concept was intriguing - females can speak only 100 words a day. But the characters were one dimensional, too many medical/technical descriptions, and the conclusion was too abrupt.
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