The Power
Registered by BookBirds of Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on 12/9/2017
1 journaler for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by BookBirds from Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Saturday, December 9, 2017
tbr
Journal Entry 2 by BookBirds at Somewhere in the USA, -- Wild Released somewhere in USA -- USA on Sunday, May 13, 2018
"The shape of power is always the same; it is the shape of a tree. Root to tip, central trunk branching and re-branching, spreading wider in ever-thinner, searching fingers. The shape of power is the outline of a living thing straining outward, sending its fine tendrils a little further, and a little further yet." - page 3
Originally, the premise for this book seemed a bit outlandish. BUT page three immediately had be nodding along with the set up. I saw Alderman comparing power to the branches and roots of trees, and rivers leading to the ocean, and lightning, and was really rooting for her to make the connection to the nervous system...and she did. I've always thought that trees are like the blood vessels of the world. Trees do create oxygen, after all. The world is a beautiful coincidence (or a system of perfection). I appreciate that Alderman noticed that too.
The book is set up as historical fiction, as if the writer is basing the plot from recently discovered history. Alderman speculates on what might happen if the power in the world was in the hands of women rather than men. Suddenly, young girls have the power of electricity emanating from their body at will. It causes quite a rabbit hole of a plot. The book's setup mainly follows four characters: Allie, passed through the foster system as an orphan who hears a voice called 'Mother Eve' from a young age and becomes much more than an orphan. Margot, a mayor who is rising up the ranks of government and a mom of a teenager with the power. Tunde, a college boy from Nigeria who starts traveling the world to become the chronicler of the revolution. Roxy, a young girl who first uses her power when her mom is killed because of her family's penchant for crime. All of the characters start to intertwine and I'm amazed at Alderman's skill at representing all four characters equally. And all four are equally essential to this story. The newfound power the women have quite changes their thinking, a bit too riotously. The power shifts too much and of course the men are scared. The characters are a little too man hating. I was thinking this book was just alright, but there were a couple more things I appreciated: Allie has a grand realization that should have been a Hail Mary (pun intended) for saving the world, which might have been too easy for the narrative. So I appreciated the book for that realization AND that it wasn't enough for redemption. This made the book for me.
Originally, the premise for this book seemed a bit outlandish. BUT page three immediately had be nodding along with the set up. I saw Alderman comparing power to the branches and roots of trees, and rivers leading to the ocean, and lightning, and was really rooting for her to make the connection to the nervous system...and she did. I've always thought that trees are like the blood vessels of the world. Trees do create oxygen, after all. The world is a beautiful coincidence (or a system of perfection). I appreciate that Alderman noticed that too.
The book is set up as historical fiction, as if the writer is basing the plot from recently discovered history. Alderman speculates on what might happen if the power in the world was in the hands of women rather than men. Suddenly, young girls have the power of electricity emanating from their body at will. It causes quite a rabbit hole of a plot. The book's setup mainly follows four characters: Allie, passed through the foster system as an orphan who hears a voice called 'Mother Eve' from a young age and becomes much more than an orphan. Margot, a mayor who is rising up the ranks of government and a mom of a teenager with the power. Tunde, a college boy from Nigeria who starts traveling the world to become the chronicler of the revolution. Roxy, a young girl who first uses her power when her mom is killed because of her family's penchant for crime. All of the characters start to intertwine and I'm amazed at Alderman's skill at representing all four characters equally. And all four are equally essential to this story. The newfound power the women have quite changes their thinking, a bit too riotously. The power shifts too much and of course the men are scared. The characters are a little too man hating. I was thinking this book was just alright, but there were a couple more things I appreciated: Allie has a grand realization that should have been a Hail Mary (pun intended) for saving the world, which might have been too easy for the narrative. So I appreciated the book for that realization AND that it wasn't enough for redemption. This made the book for me.
