The Power, by Naomi Alderman

This week I read The Power, which won the Baileys Women's Prize for Fiction in 2017, and was listed as one of Barack Obama’s favorite books of 2017. I found it while sorting my bookshelf and was thoroughly puzzled as to how it got there. I don’t remember buying it, and once I read it I was sorry it took me so long to find it.

This is a gender-bending dystopia (but a utopia, too?) where women develop a power so great it allows them to rule the world. My only complaint about this novel is that it isn’t real and I don’t have this power with which to completely destroy the patriarchy. A gal can dream, and I am still dreaming about it. Last night I dreamt I was in an Amazing Race-type situation and only the women could solve all the complex problems. The men were there for moving heavy things and just doing what they’re told. I loved it, although I fell way behind in the race because I didn’t feel as smart as the other women. Self-esteem issues coming through.
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Back to the Power. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy anthropology, femininity, science, dystopias, and wildly intriguing world-building. I still don’t know where I got my copy from, but I’m glad I found it on my shelf. 

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