fidoe's review against another edition
4.0
Week 51 Book 50
Halfway to free by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 4/5
It's 2060 and humans have almost destroyed the earth so all governments have come together and imposed restrictions that all citizens must follow, about population control. But obviously, not everyone does. Brilliant sci-fi dystopian short story, must read.
Halfway to free by Emma Donoghue
Rating: 4/5
It's 2060 and humans have almost destroyed the earth so all governments have come together and imposed restrictions that all citizens must follow, about population control. But obviously, not everyone does. Brilliant sci-fi dystopian short story, must read.
kathryn14's review against another edition
5.0
I only wish that this was a great, big, fat novel of a story!
10/10
Favourite of the Out Of Line series (so far ...)
10/10
Favourite of the Out Of Line series (so far ...)
anjadevries's review against another edition
3.0
Really good and intriguing but it ended a bit abruptly like there would be a follow up so would be interesting to read it if there will be. But the story line and writing was great and the characters really likeable
kandicez's review against another edition
3.0
I am a huge fan of Donoghue's style and nothing I have read by her prepared me for this little dys/utopian short. Set 40 years in the future, the residents of Earth have decided to do their part to make sure our population gets back to a manageable level. 3 billion souls or so. Think about how many people have to die for us to get there. And how many can't be born in the meantime.
This was very short, but very impactful. We aren't given enough to really grow attached to these characters, but being a mother myself I can sympathize and that was enough to let me really enjoy the read.
Donoghue's description of pregnancy and it's after effects was priceless!
This was very short, but very impactful. We aren't given enough to really grow attached to these characters, but being a mother myself I can sympathize and that was enough to let me really enjoy the read.
Donoghue's description of pregnancy and it's after effects was priceless!
readingistravel's review against another edition
5.0
An interesting read.
Loved the futuristic setting. The story was fantastic, and showed what could or might be. Though I doubt if it would actually happen
Loved the futuristic setting. The story was fantastic, and showed what could or might be. Though I doubt if it would actually happen
chrstnareads's review against another edition
5.0
I really loved this. I wanted it to keep going when I got to the end. That's a short story for you, I guess. This one was another speculative fiction in the "Out of Line" series on Amazon. In a world where having children is reserved only for the rich and the very stupid/crazy (because who in their right mind would give up comfort of living in the city, your job, and your government payments just to have a kid?) in order to keep the population low so as not to deplete resources... what if you found that you just really still wanted to have a baby? I really like the clandestine conversations between the characters, where they found companionship with an otherwise stranger. These conversations turned into pros and cons, into hypothetical logistics. It is a fun thought experiment as it takes place not too far in the future, and I really enjoyed it.
noodlesniebauer's review against another edition
dark
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
anotherbritinthewall's review against another edition
4.0
It's doing a lot for such a short story; exploring classism and climate change and the concept of freedom within a, finally, quite equal society. It's funny because, yeah, it's a dystopia including brainwashing and suppression but also it has elements of utopia to it - frankly it's a shame it's only a short story, I'd really like to know more about the world Donoghue has built here.
olivialucy's review against another edition
5.0
Such a great short story that illuminates some of the issues faced by women. I love how the author used the backdrop of the future to show how women really get the raw end of the deal with contraception and child birth. Truly a great, very short, read.