Reviews

The Power, by Naomi Alderman

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juliawren's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

cameronjester's review against another edition

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mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

kanksuu's review against another edition

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4.0

"The shape of power is always the same; it is the shape of a tree. Root to tip, central trunk branching and re-branching, spreading wider in ever-thinner, searching fingers."

This book is brilliantly written, and for that reason, extremely chilling to read, especially in the latter half. What Alderman is trying to do here is not to tell a story so much as use it as a mirror to reflect the darkest, most despicable parts of the world in which we live.

I liked the concept of the book a lot. All girls around the age of fifteen or fourteen, owing to the presence of a striated band of muscle near their collarbone known as a 'skein', can now conduct and discharge electricity. It is discovered that younger girls can awaken this power in older women, and slowly but surely, it spreads. It spreads until only five in thousand women are incapable of wielding this power.

Alderman shuffles her story between four narrators - Roxy, daughter of the head of one of Britain's largest crime syndicates; Tunde, a Nigerian man who sets about making documenting this new era of revolution his mission; Allie, a mixed race girl who has seen unspeakable things in her past; and Margot, an older woman with lofty political ambitions. My favourites by far were Margot and Roxy. They're both ambitious, sharp edged and know very well what power is, what it can do.

I know people had problems with the pacing and execution of this book, but I did not. Perhaps it's because I find sociology immensely fascinating, but it did not bore to read about the more mundane interactions which led to the creation of a grim world skewed unfairly in favour of the women. To me, it felt like Alderman was adding pieces to a larger puzzle, tiny bit by tiny bit. And when it all comes together, it feels seamless, leaving you horrified by the turn events have taken.

The Power is bold and unflinching in its ideas. The parallels to today's world, cleverly disguised, are bone-chilling. There is a lot to think about and take home from this book, a lot of them being questions to which there are no right or wrong answers.

I think everyone needs to read this book, if only to understand the horrors of our world.

ktshpd's review against another edition

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adventurous tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

secret5679's review against another edition

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dark inspiring reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

jacquevb's review against another edition

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challenging dark tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

all women are suddenly able to access a new organ that gives them the power to deliver electric shocks, and the whole world changes. Patriarchy turns to matriarchy - not completely overnight, but quickly - and we follow 5 women as they navigate and take power in this new world order.

I know what the message of this book was - absolute power corrupts absolutely - but that didn’t stop me from wanting to take the power for myself!