Imagine a world in which women wield all the power, well Naomi Alderman has done just that – and it only went and won her the Bailey’s Prize (AKA the women’s prize). Having now read this extraordinary novel I question how – given the novel’s subject – the judges could possibly have awarded the prize anywhere else.
“One of them says, ‘Why did they do it?’
And the other answers, ‘Because they could.’
That is the only answer there ever is.”
The Power was chosen by my very small book group as our August read, and we met on Wednesday evening to discuss it – it was an unqualified success – everyone loved it – and having all got so much from the book we had lots to talk about.
The novel begins with a framing story – Neil Adam Armon (spot the anagram) sends his historical novel to Naomi for consideration. The story which follows is supposedly Neil’s novel – after which we have Naomi’s letter of response – with its absolutely cracking final line.
The story of The Power is set in the reasonably near future – when suddenly a few teenage girls begin to discover they are possessed of a strange power – a kind of electrical force which runs through a skein in their bodies – and is capable of inflicting great pain or even death on others. To begin with the new power is only revealed in a few girls, though as news of it begins to spread – more and more girls start to discover this new power within themselves. As the girls’ practise with this disturbing and exciting new power -it becomes evident they can unleash the power which has lain dormant for generations in older women. Soon girls are passing the power along, girl to girl, to mother to aunt etc.
“It doesn’t matter that she shouldn’t, that she never would. What matters is that she could, if she wanted. The power to hurt is a kind of wealth.”
We follow the fortunes of several fascinating characters; Allie, an American teenager in an abusive foster home, Roxy the daughter of a renowned London crime family, Tunde – the one male perspective – an aspiring young journalist from Nigeria, and Margot a US mayor with a teenage daughter Jocelyn. There is also Tatiana Moskalev the wife of the deposed president of Moldova, (who we see through the eyes of others) who forms a new state. The stories of these characters slowly intertwine, compelling and fast moving these stories cross continents giving this novel a truly global feel.
Soon society starts to see things differently – everything is turned on its head. Girls are instructed to try not to use their power, take care not to hurt boys – parents no longer want their teenage boys out alone – fearful of what could happen to them.
“She throws her head back and pushes her chest forward and lets go a huge blast right into the centre of his body. The rivulets and streams of red scarring run across his chest and up around his throat. She’d put her hand on his heart and stopped him dead.”
We see the beginning of the subtle shift in how the sexes are viewed with two mildly annoying morning news anchors. Before, what becomes known as the Day of the Girls, Kristen plays second fiddle to her male colleague – but soon, following her colleagues break down live on air – not only is she now permitted to wear her glasses on screen, but she now takes the lead – her new male colleague is clearly just eye candy.
What is most interesting in this novel is how Naomi Alderman shows us what might happen should the balance of power undergo a seismic shift. Perhaps some of us like to believe that if women really did wield all the power in the world then the world would be a nicer, saner, less violent place. Well as someone who went to an all-girls school and who frequently has to witness what happens when 7/8-year-old girls fall out – I think the author has it spot on. Power corrupts – and there are many women who feel they have a score to settle – and now they can.
“The world is the way it is now because of five thousand years of ingrained structures of power based on darker times when things were much more violent… But we don’t have to act that way now. We can think and imagine ourselves differently once we understand what we’ve based our ideas on.”
Men are suddenly less important – their strength is as nothing compared to this terrifying new power that women have. Men want to find a cure for it – take things back to how it was before – increasingly nervous as they watch their place in the world disappear. There are several very disturbing scenes – and things become increasingly ugly as many women get carried away with what they can do. Men, soon have good reason to be afraid.
This is an extraordinarily thought-provoking novel, which has a lot to say about the power balance between the sexes, addressing quite unflinchingly the worst things that can happen across nations as well as between men and women when there is a transference of power.
I’m glad to hear that this was an unqualified success with your book group. A friend is thinking of choosing it for ours — a mixed group of 4 women and 3 men — in the next month or so. I can imagine it giving rise to a fascinating discussion, especially around the positive vs negative aspects of power.
Out of interest, how did you find it compared to The Handmaid’s Tale? I think I read somewhere that Margaret Atwood has been acting as a mentor to Naomi Alderman, so I’m sure would be interesting to compare and contrast the two novels.
It’s interesting to consider it alongside The Handmaid’s Tale, although the societies depicted are very different. During our group discussion we inevitably mentioned The Handmaid’s Tale, and how in that book everything that happened to women had happened to women somewhere in the world and how in this novel those things,were happening to men by the end, that sort of highlights all the things women have had happen over time across the world.
I’ve been skirting around this one and, as I respect your reviews and opinion, I think I’m going to go for it. Thanks.
Oh good, I hope you like it.
It’s an ambitious topic to take on, and good to hear she pulls it off. I have this in the TBR, I’ll move it up the pile!
It was a very ambitious topic and I was unsure how I would react to it. I certainly think she pulls it off.
I’ve not quite known whether to read this one or not but your measured review has persuaded me to think again. I’m glad to hear that a world where women hold the power is not idealised in the novel: I’m sure we can all think of at least one woman leader who hasn’t transformed her country into a paradise of peace and equality.
The world in the novel is definitely not idealised, in fact at times it gets rather disturbing.
I think this was a very clear demonstration of the ‘Power corrupts. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.’ statement. Quite realistic. I loved the premise, but found the multitude of characters, especially at the beginning, confusing.
I know what you mean about the characters, but I settled into them quite quickly as I was able to read it in quite big chunks – which sometimes helps with that I find. School holiday reading time!
I must read this book! It’s being recommended to me by so many people! Sounds fantastic!
I hope you do, I can understand why so many people are recommending it, and it is quite a quick read.
I keep shying away from this novel but now basically everyone I know has read it. It sounds so interesting, and I know she’s a good writer as I very much enjoyed her first novel. I might get Matthew to read it first …
Definitely get Matthew to read it – there are some bits that you mightn’t like. (Knowing you as I do).
I did read somewhere that it was violent/dark/graphic at times, so I’ve been putting it off ’til I was in the right frame of mind to tackle such topics and issues. However you didn’t mention this as a concern at all – are some readers being too sensitive or where you in the right zone for the topic?
Well as I said, there are some disturbing scenes. They are a little graphic, though not gratuitously so. I was probably in the right frame of mind for it as I had known I was going to be reading it for book group and had just finished watching The Handmaid’s Tale. Power corrupts, I think is a major theme so things do get quite dark.
I’m definitely going to buy this now based on your review! I can’t hold off any more!!!
Oh excellent, 😆 let me know how you get on with it.
I keep seeing this book get positive reviews. It would make a good companion to The Handmaids Tale as you mention so will save it up until I finish watching that. Just the last episode to watch.
Oh yes certainly a good companion to that. Enjoy that final episode. 😀
not sure enjoy is the right word but I know what you mean
Great review Ali and this does sound like one worth reading. And I take on board completely what you say about groups of females and how they can behave – I’ve experienced that myself and so have my daughters, so the way things develop in this book sound totally credible.
Yes, it’s certainly believable from the aspect of how power corrupts anyone.
I have read the book but did not quite love it. I liked the book though. I found the premise to be fascinating and Alderman has written in such a way that there are lots of topics to discuss both about the book and the dystopian world
Oh yes it is certainly a book that leaves readers with plenty to talk about.
[…] Heavenali reviewed ‘The Power’ (my own review is up and coming) […]
I have to keep this one in mind for my book group. Sounds like it could provide a great conversation. I looked on Amazon and it looks like it won’t be published in the US till October.
Oh no! But it is certainly worth waiting for and a good choice for a book group.
[…] The Power by Naomi Alderman was my very small book group’s August read, proving hugely popular with the whole group, it gave us a lot to talk about. The novel packs a punch – imaging a world turned on its head – where women have all power. […]
[…] Heavenali […]
Completely agreed that Alderman has it spot on. No matter what, power corrupts. I wrote my first review on The Power for my new (first) blog. Let me know what you think if you check it out!