I read a book again!

[chase_acow]

The Power by Naomi Alderman

So I thought about reading this and then when I saw it was on Obama's 2017 read list I knew I'd give it a shot. The first ten pages did not make me optimistic. I'm not a fan of multiple POV characters, and the opening letter confused the shit out of me. My friend at work goaded me into continuing and it got drastically better when we finally got deeper into Allie's chapter. Then it was a page turner and easy to read.

I admit, I got a bit revengy when women first stated collectively taking back their agency and making the slave traders and despots pay. Then it continues and I got so uncomfortable with where I went. There is so much rape, rape language, rape metaphor. That was hard to read.

While it has an ending, (which I require in books and yet am often disappointed by a plot just withering away without conclusion) I refuse to get on that bandwagon. The point is that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, but I can't believe it has to be that way. And I am discomforted by the thought that of course, 5000 years of rebuilding society leads up back to exactly here with the men leading a #metoo movement.

Like The Handmaid's Tale this hits a little too close to home in the current environment. This wasn't enjoyment, it was just more of the same reason of why we can't have nice things.