Reviews

The Power by Naomi Alderman

robbiewardhaugh's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

I hated this book, then I loved this book, then I hated it, then I loved it??? Idk I’m confused by if I liked it or not - it I’ll think about it for a long time I think. 

meggles's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

bekibae's review against another edition

adventurous dark fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

Very fast paced- grips you from the start. Can be very violent. I can see why people have a strong negative reaction to this book and think it's man-hating. 
While the characters are not very fleshed out, we understand their motivations and actions. I quite liked the ending. It felt realistic for what it is.

threegoodrats's review against another edition

5.0

My review is here.

juultjewis123's review against another edition

reflective medium-paced

• Loveable characters? No

2.75

ellax227's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

ngoody315's review against another edition

4.0

What an amazing book that explores how society would act if women suddenly were given the upper hand. I thought the way each character and supporting character acted was very true actual reactions if this really happened.

My only dislike was how quick and jumpy the last chapters were leading up to the Cataclysm. The letters at the end from Neil to Naomi were brilliant and, again, a great reversal of what women currently go through. I just feel like more effort and time could have been put into the Cataclysm. It seemed rushed and out of place with the other chapters.

cicelyv's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

swaye's review against another edition

1.0

bookook's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

A dark and gripping read. Teenage girls manifest the ability to generate electricity with their hands, and to awaken the ability in older women. In the initial chapters, this is empowering and used "for good" - women and girls use the power to stop men who are sex abusers or murderers. The tables quickly turn however, and within a few years the world descends into chaos and women become more and more violent.

There are many fantastic moments of "show not tell" here. My favorite is probably the recurring bit of the two newscaster. At the beginning, Tom and Kristen are presenters on a morning show, familiar archetypes to us now. Tom is reassuring and knowledgeable, and Kristen is bubbly and ditsy ("gee Tom, I didn't know you could do that!") Within a few years of the power manifesting, Tom is replaced with Matt, and the script is flipped. Now Kristen is walking us through quarterly finance models, and Matt is perkily talking about baking. Absolutely love that.

I have a lot of sympathy for the main characters, but ultimately the speed of their heel turns stretches credulity. Take Allie, who

becomes a cult religious leader and ultimately orchestrates the end of the world. The end comes as a bang, not a whimper - within ten or so years from the first spark, the world bombs itself literally back to the Stone Age. 

 

This is a very dark and pessimistic book. An exciting, thought-provoking read, but a heavy one.