Skip to main content

Vox by Christina Dalcher

"The world has changed, so much so that women fall under the category of "seen and not heard. Every woman, regardless of age, is limited to 100 words a day. They cannot work, read, write or express themselves in anyway shape or form. Their only job is to stay at home and raise the children. But Jean McLellan, once a thriving Neurolinguist, is offered an opportunity to drastically change things when the President's brother suffers an accident and she may be the only person who can help."

3 Stars

Pros: This is a startlingly frightening possibility/I could see something like The Pure Movement happening at any time and it's horrifying. 

Cons: The ending was all rather convenient for everyone, I must say. 

Full Review: 

Jean McLellan, once a renowned Neurolinguist with a thriving career, promising research into Wernicke's Syndrome and the affects it has on language, and a future of possibly changing the world, watches as it all comes crashing down. It all starts when a new President is sworn in and he starts the "Pure Movement", a strict, moral and ethical order, wherein things should be as they once were, basically, men go out and make a living while women stay home, cook, clean and raise the children. 

It moves through the Country like wildfire and soon, everyone who is a woman, regardless of age, is limited to only 100 words a day, which are tracked by an unmovable bracelet strapped to their wrists. If you go over your 100 word limit you receive a slight shock, and every word over that limit, the shock becomes more and more intense. 

Jean never thought it could happen. Her room mate during Graduate School, Jackie, a no-nonsense, say it like it is proponent of women's rights, told Jean that she was being naïve, that it's all going to come crashing down and that little bubble that she lives in will eventually burst. And it does. But Jean can do nothing. Even when the Presidents men come and fit her and her six year old daughter with trackers. She cannot resist. All who resist, all who do not bend to the rules, are either killed or sent to work the land in prison camps and have a word quota of 0 a day.

It isn't until the President's brother suffers a head injury during a skiing trip and the Presidents men approach Jean for help, that she has an opportunity to make a difference. The reason the Presidents men approach her is because her husband, conveniently enough, is the President's Scientific Advisor. And since she is one of the few doctors in the field who had had promising results when researching Wernicke's Syndrome; that her whole life changes. She is offered the chance to work again, her bracelet is removed and if she can give results, then they will do what they can to make things easier for her. But it's not as simple as all that, things never are. 

Though at the end things seemed terribly convenient for everyone, overall this book was really engrossing. It had me hooked from the very start and it left me with an unsettled feeling in my stomach. Basically, stand up for yourself and fight your rights and equality because God only knows what kind of maniacal idea someone in power will get into their heads one of these days.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Philip K. Dick

“Rick Deckard is a Bounty Hunter who's on the trail of six "Andys" (Androids) who have come to Earth illegally. His job is to track them down and "retire" them. Something he found easy to do until he met her, Rachael Rosen. The Android that does the impossible, passes the "Voight-Kampff" test. The story quickly devolves into a slow, drawn out and frankly boring mystery that was putting me to sleep by the end."    ⭐⭐ Pros: I was more interested in comparing it to the film, "Bladerunner."/At first I kind of liked the drab, dreary atmostphere but it soon became soporific.  Cons: I had no real idea what was going on with Mercerism/The end there had me blinking in bewilderment, like with Herbert's 29th Dune Book/There was a lot of idle chit-chat while they were in murderous/intense situations, it just seemed odd.  Full Review:  Rick Deckard, a Bounty Hunter, contracted with the San Francisco Police Department hunts down and retires rogue ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Animal Farm by George Orwell

"A blithe and scathing commentary on equality, power, corruption and how everyone is created equal, but...some are more equal than others. Orwell hit the nail right on the head with this novel and it's no wonder it's a staple for most high school curriculums. " 3 Stars.  Pros:  Benjamin the Donkey is the smartest animal on the farm and it would have done all the others a world of good if they had listened to him in the first place.  Cons:  The fact that societies like this actually do exist is nauseating and terrible. It's not a con, per se, it's just a gut wrenching fact.  Full Review:  When the overworked and mistreated Animals on Manor Farm decide to rise up and overthrow their cruel master, they're successful. They rebel and now find themselves with an entire Farm to run. They rename it Animal Farm and are intent on creating a paradise, where work and play are equal, where productivity is key but relaxation is a must and all the lives of all the animal...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Glutton by A. K. Blakemore

"Though dark, disturbing and at times, truly disgusting, Blakemore has created an unforgettable character in Tarare and his sad, sordid tale. This is a book that will stay with me for a long time for many different reasons and to me, that's a sign of a great read."  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐ Pros: Tarare wasn't a monster, it just seemed that the world was against him/I liked Lozeau and his strange band of misfits/Dr. Dupuis seemed like a genuinely good person, or at least, he had his moments.  Cons: Some of the timeline/people of the French Revolution were just white noise to me/Courville was a despicable man.  Full Review:  The Bottomless man, the Glutton of Lyon, Tarare the Terrible. The man who has many titles but who's name is simply, Tarare, is dying in a hospital in Versailles. Citizen Doctor Tissier has written to his friend, Dupuis, in hopes that he'll be able to cure this mysterious illness that plagues Tarare. For now though, he lays, chained to his bed and waits for...
Post a Comment
Read more