Leni Zumas

"What is a woman for?" asks Red Clocks. And while the novel doesn't contain any definitive answers, it does a great job of playing the Devil's Advocate while exploring issues of pregnancy, abortion, motherhood, work and relationships, while asking us to consider the expectations that society places on women.

These issues are given a sharp focus by placing the novel's four protagonists in a worryingly plausible near future USA where abortion and IVF are banned, and where only married couples can adopt - a classic science fiction setup. (And make no mistake, this is a science fiction novel.)

The book's chapters are each told from the point of view of one of the four protagonists, and while this constant shifting of perspective is perhaps a little confusing at first, it quickly becomes clear how the four characters' lives relate to one another, and the unfolding of their personal dilemmas and how they affect each other is immensely satisfying. It's also incredibly stressful - I was terrified for the four women, scared throughout that they were going to do, or have done to them, something awful. The book does, however, avoid the trap that too many dystopian futures fall into, of portraying an utterly bleak hopelessness - things are very bad, but there's the sense in the end that it doesn't necessarily have to be this way forever.

So what is a woman for? Red Clocks won't tell you, but it will demand that you give it some serious thought. It's a great book - sad, funny, despairing and hopeful all at once - and I can't recommend it highly enough.… (more)

Synopsis: The tale of 5 women struggling with different aspects of womanhood. This story is set in a world where laws are much more right leaning than present day America. It follows a woman in a historical setting who is an explorer, a woman going through fertility treatments, a unconventional healer, a teenager, and a struggling mother.

Rating
3 out of 5 stars

I expected to really love this book but unfortunately I didn't.

I thought the message of the book was interesting and the ideas presented were valuable but it is a very literary novel which made it semi inaccessible. The main character in each chapter is denoted by their role rather than a name. We only learn their names when other characters interact with them.

My favorite character was the one who was struggling with her fertility. I didn't really connect with the rest. I wasn't entirely sure what we were supposed to be learning from the explorer or the struggling mom. The healer was very odd. I assume she is meant to be neurodivergent but a few things about her character were really off putting to me. The teenager was the only other character I cared about.

I felt like the author had a lot to say about womanhood but I just felt like I wasn't getting a lot of her messaging.

I think this book could really work for people who are more used to literary works. This book could also create awesome discussions in a book group or class room. I just didn't enjoy it in my personal reading experience.… (more)