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A review by melreb8
When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
2.0
I have many problems with this book. The first part is really excellent. The premise is amazing, and the dystopian society is frighteningly believable, and well thought out. But then… it completely crashed and burned in the second half, as so many other readers have pointed out. I don’t want to list every problem I have with the book, but here are a few.
Melachroming is a very original concept (as punishment, people’s skin is changed to various colors, depending on their crimes), and I did like the tie-in to The Scarlet Letter. However, there was a huge opportunity missed to tie the concept also to racism. Racism is mentioned, but only in passing as something that still exists in America. So much more could have been done with it. In fact, towards the end of the book, there is a scene with a gas station attendant that I found to be quite racist and stereotypical. Disappointing.
Aidan is awful! Just a selfish, useless, pathetic excuse of a love interest. And Hannah goes back to him…. Grrr…. Actually, Hannah’s personality is just as bad; the two of them deserve each other, really. In my opinion the ending of the book destroys any message the book may have had.
The kidnapping rescue near the end of the story was a total cop-out. (Hannah is conveniently knocked out during the action, so all we get is the barest sketch of what could have been a very exciting part of the story.) Then, the lesbian romantic scene following was forced, rushed, awkward, and highly unlikely considering what the main character had just been through mere hours before.
Ok, that was just a short list of some issues I had with this book. I won’t even address the heavy religious tone of the book and the way I felt it was sneaky… Sigh. I beg you to read The Handmaid’s Tale instead. This is definitely no Mudbound; not even in the same league, unfortunately. Because of the last half (or maybe 1/3) I have to give the book two stars.
Melachroming is a very original concept (as punishment, people’s skin is changed to various colors, depending on their crimes), and I did like the tie-in to The Scarlet Letter. However, there was a huge opportunity missed to tie the concept also to racism. Racism is mentioned, but only in passing as something that still exists in America. So much more could have been done with it. In fact, towards the end of the book, there is a scene with a gas station attendant that I found to be quite racist and stereotypical. Disappointing.
Aidan is awful! Just a selfish, useless, pathetic excuse of a love interest. And Hannah goes back to him…. Grrr…. Actually, Hannah’s personality is just as bad; the two of them deserve each other, really. In my opinion the ending of the book destroys any message the book may have had.
The kidnapping rescue near the end of the story was a total cop-out. (Hannah is conveniently knocked out during the action, so all we get is the barest sketch of what could have been a very exciting part of the story.) Then, the lesbian romantic scene following was forced, rushed, awkward, and highly unlikely considering what the main character had just been through mere hours before.
Ok, that was just a short list of some issues I had with this book. I won’t even address the heavy religious tone of the book and the way I felt it was sneaky… Sigh. I beg you to read The Handmaid’s Tale instead. This is definitely no Mudbound; not even in the same league, unfortunately. Because of the last half (or maybe 1/3) I have to give the book two stars.