Christina Dalcher

I liked Dalcher's previous book Vox, even though it sort of devolved toward the end, because it had some really insightful, well written scenes. Femlandia is clearly reactionary (the author says as much in the afterward) but in my view, that wasn't what made it a weak story. There was one main character, who drove a lot of the plot, about whom the book has no background or description. The character had no backstory and the reader knows absolutely nothing about her. Weird that this obvious flaw should survive the editorial process.… (mer)

In a world where women have been silenced, their speech limited to 100 words in a day, one woman is given an opportunity to change things.

I read this book in a day. The world she describes is terrifying. I had a visceral reaction to it. The main character is interesting, so I got on board with the whole thing. I wanted to see what happens with her.

However, there is one major problem that perpetuates this novel: it is not believable. Sorry, even for a dystopia, you can't just shut down your logic muscles and go along with whatever the writer comes up with. The background story of how this world came to be is very weak. I cannot imagine this happening under any conditions in a world which is deliberately very much like our own.

There are inevitable similarities with Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, the TV show even more than the novel. This is not a bad thing. This novel is fresh enough in its own way and it is a good, quick read. At least if you're not digging into it too deep.

But, I wonder, why did Christina Dalcher picked such an important, difficult topic and decided to give it such a superficial treatment? This is not a breezy summer read. I just can't judge it as such.

Although for me this was more a 2 than a 3, I enjoyed parts of this book. It makes for a good book club discussion, despite being so flawed.

SPOILER
The resolution was so unbelievable to me, almost fairy-tale-like. All the characters just manage to conveniently show up in one place? It was laughable.
And the hero of the story of female subjugation is - a man! A man that the main character is cheating on. He even gives her his blessing to go live with her lover.

Also, I wanted to see what exactly happened when Patrick came to that meeting, the reaction of the public, the aftermath... We are given crumbs about the changes that happen after, but it is all very weak and unsatisfying. … (mer)

Vox is set in America where it has been decreed by the government that women are limited to 100 words per day, must only be homemakers and girls are not taught to read.

I enjoyed this book but wanted more. I feel like this could have been truly heartbreaking and terrifying if the story delved a little deeper. I was sad but I could have been sobbing my eyes out. I was reading to see what would happen next but it could have been nerve wracking. There were some interesting points on feminism but it could have been a strong social commentary on the perception of women.

This isn't to say I didn't like the book, because I did. It was sad and tense and thought provoking, I just wouldn't add it to my 4 star reviews.… (mer)