The Power by Naomi Alderman

I bought The Power way back in September with my birthday money, because the blurb sounded interesting. But when I posted a photo on Instagram, someone told me they’d heard mixed reviews about it. Then I remembered that it was a book my friend had really disliked.

What had I done?! It took me several months to pluck up the courage to read it.

In The Power women and teenage girls all over the world are suddenly discovering they have a special power. They can use their power to inflict terrible pain or even death. Suddenly, men are no longer in control.

The story follows the lives of London gangland daughter Roxy, American runaway Allie, US senator Margot and her daughter, Jocelyn, and Tunde, a young man who turns journalist and follows the story of the power from its earliest days.

Will a world in which women have the power be a better one than a world in which men have the power?

It’s not long before the power starts to corrupt. Women across the world are using their power for their own gain. A war breaks out and a new religion starts. Men are sexually abused and no longer able to walk the streets safely.

How far will the power take these women? Could it destroy the world?

This is a really thought-provoking book. It flips society as we know it completely on its head. Men are portrayed as weak and ineffective. They are there to look pretty and to serve women.

But it’s not just thought-provoking, it is really well written too. But I can see why it had ‘mixed reviews’. It is, without a doubt, a brilliant piece of literature, but it’s not an easy read and took me several weeks to plough through. It’s a book that will stick with me for a long time, but I wouldn’t describe it as a favourite book.

I’ll be honest, I haven’t read many feminist books, so I can’t claim to be an expert. But it feels like The Power is the ultimate feminist read. If you like to be a bit challenged with your reading, I would definitely recommend it.

The Power, The Power by Naomi Alderman, Book review, Naomi Alderman

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Author: Sarah Mummy

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15 Comments

  1. I enjoyed this, but I didn’t think it was amazing compared to some of the other feminist dystopias I’ve read and loved. Lmk if you’d like me to curate a list of recommendations for you when you next fancy a break from psychological thrillers 😉

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    • I’m not sure that feminist dystopian novels are the way forward for me! I think one a year is probably enough. I binge read a psychological thriller after this one to give my brain a rest.

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      • Fair enough – it’s a bit of a niche genre, but I love it!

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        • It is so niche that I’d never even thought of it as a genre! I think I’ve read one more – a YA novel called Only Ever Yours, which was very good. I want my daughter to read it one day, but I don’t think she’s ready for it just yet.

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          • Wait, you’ve never read The Handmaid’s Tale?! It’s the absolute classic of the genre. I found it in our school library when we were 14 or 15, and I’ve probably read it at least 8 times since.

            When you next need a feminist dystopia (which I appreciate may be some time away ) that’s the one you should go for!

          • I have never read The Handmaid’s Tale! Which is strange as I’ve actually read a lot of Margaret Atwood. I know it’s one I should read, but I’ve just never got round to it.

  2. I really enjoyed this one! I felt it was very clever commentary on the position of women and not simply a veiled discussion – it was far more in depth than that! #readwithme

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    • It’s good to hear that you enjoyed it. It definitely has had very mixed reviews! I kind of liked it, but it just wasn’t really my cup of tea.

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    • It wasn’t really one for me either! But at least I tried it because I can’t read psychological thrillers all of the time!

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  3. I like the sound of it and at first, I thought I might try it, but reading all of your review, I don’t think it’s for me.s

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    • It’s definitely not one for everyone! I’m kind of glad I read it, but I won’t be rushing to read another book like this in a hurry. It did feel like quite hard work to me.

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  4. Reading your review I wonder why so many didn’t like the book, it sounds really interesting! Thanks for sharing with #readwithme

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    • It is a very interesting idea. It’s just one of those books that really seem to divide opinion.

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  5. I really enjoyed this book, such a different idea and very well written. #Readwithme

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