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A review by marybells
The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist
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.