Two stars for now. It starts off very, very slowly. Agonizingly slow. I love dystopia novels so I will give it another read in a few months. The idea of women escaping a dystopian, post-apocalyptic world to create a conclave is intriguing.[return][return]--I re-read the entire novel in May of 2010 and my opinion changed slightly. The beginning of the novel is indeed slow, and in fact that entire novel is slow and filled with lavish descriptions of landscapes and mindscapes. Then, the ending is summarized in two paragraphs, which is infuriating. I also found the character of Jackie to be unbelievably hyperbolized. It was an interesting concept to have an isolated band of women existing on the fringes of society, but I felt the author could have done *so much more* with the idea. Ultimately a disappointment. This is one of the best books I have ever read. It is raw, gritty, scary, moving and I could not put it down. If you like dystopia, then you will love this story. set in a post-apocalyptic England, now a state of the USA, we follow one woman's journey to step outside the confines of the state and join an sell women's community only to discover that it isn't as idyllic as she dreamed. I've read it again 3 times and found something new each time. Unforgettable.
Do You like book Carhullan Army (2008)?
I felt like this book took a long time to get to the point but the dystopian aspect was interesting.
—Ldedison
It had promise, but too much of my copy was missing. Made it hard to enjoy.
—Summer
A gem of dystopian fiction in the spirit of Margaret Atwood
—Ali