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brooke_review's review against another edition
3.0
I had high expectations for this novel. Its dystopian setting revolves around something so taboo - labeling people as essentially unworthy of life after a certain age and failure at reaching certain life milestones. These individuals' organs are eventually "donated" to people who are "making something of their lives." I felt that a lot could have been done with this idea, but the author kept the novel in the land of "safe" most of the time. Additionally, so much of the novel was spent discussing the meaningless actions and excursions of the characters - again, this was wasted space in the story. I don't know if there was a disconnect because this novel is supposed to take place in Sweden, and perhaps we are used to a bit more drama in the US, but something was off.
marybells's review against another edition
2.0
In comparison to other Dystopian novels that I love, The Unit was a far cry from my favorite. I understand that sometimes its necessary to read stories that don't have happy endings or hope but just the fact that the main character, Dorrit, spends the entire novel without any fight in her to change things was just pathetic.
I know thats harsh but it was just so depressing. The endless dreams about the dog she left behind, all of her best friends dying around her, a dead lover, not getting to keep her lovechild, living in luxury but knowing at any moment you were going to give up your life because someone "more important" can have your pancreas was just too much. I mean if they have the funding to build a huge complex with every type of luxury for these "prisoners" and everything is free, how come they didn't have the funding to research artificial organs? Or other treatment options for those in need? Why run constant experiments at the Unit involving sleep patterns, excercise and "the ability for people to interact"? That's not solving the main issue of this society with its complete disregard for the importance of the older generations!
They keep us "younglings" from making uninformed decisions and rushing off into war. Thye remind us of our history as a people because history books are only written by the victors. They are important. I just completely disagree that you should have a child to be considered important in society. Especially if you do not have the ability to do so.
Overall, besides my rant from above, the novel had an eery ring of truth from where society stands today. There is a constant issue that health care costs is rising and if you cannot pay for it (because insurance companies deny you) you have to ask taxpayers for help. I'm not saying what I believe in this issue because its too complex, but what I am saying, locking away people for scientific experiments is completely inhumane. Did not like.
I know thats harsh but it was just so depressing. The endless dreams about the dog she left behind, all of her best friends dying around her, a dead lover, not getting to keep her lovechild, living in luxury but knowing at any moment you were going to give up your life because someone "more important" can have your pancreas was just too much. I mean if they have the funding to build a huge complex with every type of luxury for these "prisoners" and everything is free, how come they didn't have the funding to research artificial organs? Or other treatment options for those in need? Why run constant experiments at the Unit involving sleep patterns, excercise and "the ability for people to interact"? That's not solving the main issue of this society with its complete disregard for the importance of the older generations!
They keep us "younglings" from making uninformed decisions and rushing off into war. Thye remind us of our history as a people because history books are only written by the victors. They are important. I just completely disagree that you should have a child to be considered important in society. Especially if you do not have the ability to do so.
Overall, besides my rant from above, the novel had an eery ring of truth from where society stands today. There is a constant issue that health care costs is rising and if you cannot pay for it (because insurance companies deny you) you have to ask taxpayers for help. I'm not saying what I believe in this issue because its too complex, but what I am saying, locking away people for scientific experiments is completely inhumane. Did not like.
amayajones's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
xtinee's review against another edition
5.0
Really enjoyed this. I thought the premise was so interesting and the questions it brought up about the meaning of life and what’s important were tackled in a way that I’ve never read about before in other books.
buffyb's review against another edition
4.0
This book affected me. Intensely.
Nutshell blurb: 50 year old Dorritt has just been admitted to the 2nd Federal Reserve Bank for Biological Material where she will spend the rest of her days in relative comfort, undergoing "humane" medical tests and donating organs to more important people in society until the day she makes her "final donation".
This book scored high for me on the creep-out meter. I've been reading a lot of dystopia lately that has been deliciously scary but there is something about donating organs before one dies that freaks me right out. I mean, we will probably never experience a zombie apocalypse, an alien invasion or any of the many scenarios authors of dystopia have dreamed up. But this...this really feels like something that could happen one day. At least it does to me. I've never been the same since reading that email that did the rounds way back in the early 2000s about people being drugged in hotel bars and waking up in a bathtub full of ice with a note saying that their kidneys had been removed.
Anyway, back to the book. The fact that it weirded me out has no bearing on whether or not I liked it because I really really did.
As a strong, independent woman, there were things that were difficult for me to read without wincing such as the quote above. The important members of society were the ones in important jobs which served society such as being a doctor, teacher, police officer, etc... Being a parent left you home free as well. Women who didn't jump into relationships and who made it to the age of 50 without having children or an important job were sent to the Unit. The same went for men who made it to 60. These people are considered dispensable.
The main character wrote novels and read a lot. She mentions that people who read a lot tend to be dispensable. These are the type of people I tend to befriend. Strong, independent, smart.
The reason that I get so affected by stories is that I have a very strong sense of empathy. When I read a book or watch a film, I usually put myself in the place of the characters. I don't mean that I imagine myself actually in the film or book; I mean that I try to imagine what I'd do in that particular situation. What would my role be in the society?
Well, let's see...I love to read and write. I have no children and am not sure whether or not I will. I don't have a job that's important to society. OH MY GOD, I'VE GOT TWELVE YEARS UNTIL THEY SEND ME TO THE UNIT!!!
Ahem.
This book put me through some heavy emotions. I was terrified, heart-broken, tense, over-joyed...All of these things. I was reading it on the way to work one day and I got to a certain point which made my eyes tear up. I almost started crying right there on the Underground. I absolutely love it when a book can trigger such strong emotions. (I'm sure my fellow commuters thought that I was a bit unhinged, though.)
I gave this book 4 stars. It missed out on 1 star because I was unclear about why the author ended it the way she did. (Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it.) It was a pretty powerful ending but there was no explanation about why the main character made the choices that she made. I don't feel that every story has to be perfectly wrapped up, but I do want to understand the motivation behind the choices.
Nutshell blurb: 50 year old Dorritt has just been admitted to the 2nd Federal Reserve Bank for Biological Material where she will spend the rest of her days in relative comfort, undergoing "humane" medical tests and donating organs to more important people in society until the day she makes her "final donation".
This book scored high for me on the creep-out meter. I've been reading a lot of dystopia lately that has been deliciously scary but there is something about donating organs before one dies that freaks me right out. I mean, we will probably never experience a zombie apocalypse, an alien invasion or any of the many scenarios authors of dystopia have dreamed up. But this...this really feels like something that could happen one day. At least it does to me. I've never been the same since reading that email that did the rounds way back in the early 2000s about people being drugged in hotel bars and waking up in a bathtub full of ice with a note saying that their kidneys had been removed.
Anyway, back to the book. The fact that it weirded me out has no bearing on whether or not I liked it because I really really did.
As a strong, independent woman, there were things that were difficult for me to read without wincing such as the quote above. The important members of society were the ones in important jobs which served society such as being a doctor, teacher, police officer, etc... Being a parent left you home free as well. Women who didn't jump into relationships and who made it to the age of 50 without having children or an important job were sent to the Unit. The same went for men who made it to 60. These people are considered dispensable.
The main character wrote novels and read a lot. She mentions that people who read a lot tend to be dispensable. These are the type of people I tend to befriend. Strong, independent, smart.
The reason that I get so affected by stories is that I have a very strong sense of empathy. When I read a book or watch a film, I usually put myself in the place of the characters. I don't mean that I imagine myself actually in the film or book; I mean that I try to imagine what I'd do in that particular situation. What would my role be in the society?
Well, let's see...I love to read and write. I have no children and am not sure whether or not I will. I don't have a job that's important to society. OH MY GOD, I'VE GOT TWELVE YEARS UNTIL THEY SEND ME TO THE UNIT!!!
Ahem.
This book put me through some heavy emotions. I was terrified, heart-broken, tense, over-joyed...All of these things. I was reading it on the way to work one day and I got to a certain point which made my eyes tear up. I almost started crying right there on the Underground. I absolutely love it when a book can trigger such strong emotions. (I'm sure my fellow commuters thought that I was a bit unhinged, though.)
I gave this book 4 stars. It missed out on 1 star because I was unclear about why the author ended it the way she did. (Don't worry, I'm not going to spoil it.) It was a pretty powerful ending but there was no explanation about why the main character made the choices that she made. I don't feel that every story has to be perfectly wrapped up, but I do want to understand the motivation behind the choices.
tawnsolo's review against another edition
5.0
This book was so sad and sweet and lovely. All I can think to do is to scream to keep from crying. Brb I gotta go hug my cat.
lindy_b's review against another edition
1.0
Shorter The Unit:
I really need to stop reading things Margaret Atwood promotes.
Spoiler
Feminists killed romance!! Life was so much better back in the good old days when men could be men and women could be women!! How DARE any woman think it's possible to 'have it all'!!I really need to stop reading things Margaret Atwood promotes.
readitwithred's review against another edition
5.0
This book for me started off slow and I wasn't sure if I would finish it. But it picked up in the second half and I found myself enjoying it more and more.
A great representation of why we should take care of the older generations and not deem them dispensable.
And the ending was hauntingly beautiful, her decision to give her child up and not flee, shows how strong a mothers love can be. And to find out all of the characters we grew to love are essentially dead by the end of the novel made me cry.
I also wept for Johannes, to find out he is finally a father the day before he is to die. A very poignant and beautiful story.
A great representation of why we should take care of the older generations and not deem them dispensable.
And the ending was hauntingly beautiful, her decision to give her child up and not flee, shows how strong a mothers love can be. And to find out all of the characters we grew to love are essentially dead by the end of the novel made me cry.
I also wept for Johannes, to find out he is finally a father the day before he is to die. A very poignant and beautiful story.
pelargonia's review against another edition
dark
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25
nbotshka's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-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
4.0