The Power: Alderman, Naomi: 9780316547611: Amazon.com: Books

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In this stunning bestseller praised as "our era's Handmaid's Tale," a fierce new power has emerged—and only women have it (Washington Post).

In The Power, the world is a recognizable place: there's a rich Nigerian boy who lounges around the family pool; a foster kid whose religious parents hide their true nature; an ambitious American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family.

But then a vital new force takes root and flourishes, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power: they can cause agonizing pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world drastically resets. From award-winning author Naomi Alderman, The Power is speculative fiction at its most ambitious and provocative, at once taking us on a thrilling journey to an alternate reality, and exposing our own world in bold and surprising ways.

"Captivating, fierce, and unsettling...I was riveted by every page. Alderman's prose is immersive and, well, electric." —New York Times Book Review

Print length

400 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Little, Brown and Company
Publication date

October 10, 2017
Dimensions

6 x 1.25 x 8.5 inches
ISBN-10

0316547611
ISBN-13

978-0316547611
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Customer reviews

27,456 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story interesting and engrossing. They describe the book as an entertaining, compelling read. Readers also find the concepts interesting and thought-provoking. They mention it's a fascinating look at gender roles and power structures. Opinions are mixed on the writing style, disturbing content, and character development.

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Idea Readability Thought provoking Gender perspective Writing style Disturbing content Character development Pacing

329 customers mention "Idea"245 positive84 negative

Customers find the story interesting, with a powerful scene. They also appreciate the multiple storylines and the novel ideas.

"The plot of this book is great and I loved the comment on society but it is also a tough read...." Read more

"...There is this particularly powerful scene in the book where a governmental official realizes during a meeting that she is the most powerful person..." Read more

"...intelligent and well written overall though, and I do appreciate the novelty of the ideas, I just felt like the book wasn't quite sure what it..." Read more

"...perspectives on this tale, but all genders should read this excellent story...." Read more

284 customers mention "Readability"280 positive4 negative

Customers find the book engrossing, entertaining, and compelling. They describe it as an exciting page-turner with plenty of plot and multiple characters. Readers also mention the first half of the book is wonderful and extraordinary.

"The Power was really good, and really thought provoking and uncomfortable and made me shamefully pleased and horrified and really mad at once...." Read more

"...of telling the story from multiple angles as well, and it was a very engaging and fast paced read...." Read more

"...It's powerful and compelling and yet so familiar in an unfamiliar way...." Read more

"...It's a great read and made me think differently about the phrase girl power." Read more

135 customers mention "Thought provoking"135 positive0 negative

Customers find the book thought-provoking and uncomfortable. They say it provides lots of discussion, interesting concepts, and an interesting outlook on the world. Readers also mention the book is engrossing, intelligent, and well-written.

"The Power was really good, and really thought provoking and uncomfortable and made me shamefully pleased and horrified and really mad at once...." Read more

"The plot of this book is great and I loved the comment on society but it is also a tough read...." Read more

"...of science-fiction before and it was strangely liberating and incredibly insightful...." Read more

"...It was intelligent and well written overall though, and I do appreciate the novelty of the ideas, I just felt like the book wasn't quite sure what..." Read more

44 customers mention "Gender perspective"37 positive7 negative

Customers find the book fascinating, saying it probes deep into feminism, gender, and human nature. They also describe it as an important work in feminist fiction that highlights the need for true equality. Readers mention the book makes them confront the ugliness of ego when it's attached to power.

"...It was an interesting concept, and I appreciated how it played with gender...." Read more

"...is a bit choppy, and the writing could be better, it's an interesting take on gender roles, power, and corruption of values...." Read more

"...What Alderman does so brilliantly is to avoid exaggerating...." Read more

"...This is a book that makes you confront the ugliness of ego when it's attached to power and the entitled mentality that groups who have been held..." Read more

188 customers mention "Writing style"96 positive92 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the writing style. Some find it well-written, easy to read, and believable. However, others say the plot is straightforward and not creative. They also mention the book could get confusing at some points because of slight wording issues.

"...Let's break it down:It was good because it was well written and original...." Read more

"...book is great and I loved the comment on society but it is also a tough read...." Read more

"...It was intelligent and well written overall though, and I do appreciate the novelty of the ideas, I just felt like the book wasn't quite sure what..." Read more

"...The author is too lazy to spend 3-5 pages to connect the dots to give you a thread to follow as to how we ended up here; just some vague references..." Read more

96 customers mention "Disturbing content"45 positive51 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the disturbing content of the book. Some find it provocative, deeply disturbing, and thought-provoking. However, others say that there are graphic descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

"...And it's gross and tragic. But some part of me, some part that maybe I didn't want to admit was there, felt so satisfied by that violence...." Read more

"...I have never read this sort of science-fiction before and it was strangely liberating and incredibly insightful...." Read more

"...Lots of violence and SA and at some point I was just trying to finish so it would be over 😅 still recommend though, just go in prepared...." Read more

"...and an absolute joy to read, and, as the cover says, absolutely electrifying." Read more

74 customers mention "Character development"40 positive34 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the character development in the book. Some mention that the characters are relatable and interesting, while others say they're underdeveloped and cardboard cutouts.

"...As far as book elements go, suspense and plot and character are all very strong. Roxy, Jocelyn, and Tunde’s POVs were the most interesting to me...." Read more

"...No matter how much she writes about her, Allie is still a fairly boring character...." Read more

"...Interesting and cool characters that make you fond of them no matter how weird. Give it a try - nothing to lose!" Read more

"...I also found that the inflection of the speaker colored the characters in a way I did not experience in print, which if I were Alderman I might be..." Read more

53 customers mention "Pacing"26 positive27 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the pacing of the book. Some mention it's quick, while others say it becomes rushed and incoherent. They also mention the first half is very choppy.

"...from multiple angles as well, and it was a very engaging and fast paced read...." Read more

"...And it's gross and tragic. But some part of me, some part that maybe I didn't want to admit was there, felt so satisfied by that violence...." Read more

"...Anyway, the book is well written and an interesting conversion starter." Read more

"...The language is rough: a great deal of cursing, but nothing that I haven't read before...." Read more

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myra

The Power: Powerful, uncomfortable, and Thought-provoking

Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2018

Verified Purchase

The Power was really good, and really thought provoking and uncomfortable and made me shamefully pleased and horrified and really mad at once.

Let's break it down:

It was good because it was well written and original. I loved the interplay between the main text and the correspondence that took place at the beginning and the end of the book. It was thought-provoking in presenting a different idea for consideration and doing so in a way I hadn't seen before. The role reversal between men and women was fascinating and infuriating. I loved all the details and nuances that the author included that I just got because I live them every single day as a woman.

The Power made me uncomfortable in itself and uncomfortable in the things it made me feel. There's some really cruel scenes in here, abuse and assult and rape. And it's gross and tragic. But some part of me, some part that maybe I didn't want to admit was there, felt so satisfied by that violence. Like finally, we are in control. Women don't have to bow to the power of men. Men have to feel the fear and the insecurity and the discomfort of being scared, insecure, unsure for a large majority of seemingly mundane circumstances (like walking alone, walking at night, being approaching by groups of people of the opposite gender, being approached by a single individual of the opposite gender, having to be constantly "protected" and validated by the opposite gender), and part of me loved that and totally rejoiced in imagining a world where I wasn't powerless in the way that I am. But that's awful and really I don't want anyone to feel powerless and fearful because it sucks.

It also made me really mad because it was SO RELATABLE. The dialog between the man and the women at the beginning and the end of the story made me clench my teeth because the power/dominance relationships that it presented in business/work/professional settings was so true and so infuriating. But I don't want to give too much away...

Definitely worth the read!

21 people found this helpful

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Ms. Davis

interesting read

Reviewed in the United States on May 14, 2024

Verified Purchase

The plot of this book is great and I loved the comment on society but it is also a tough read. Lots of violence and SA and at some point I was just trying to finish so it would be over 😅 still recommend though, just go in prepared.

2 people found this helpful

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LaBouquinisteImpertinente

What if women had the power?

Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018

Verified Purchase

This was a timely book to have happened upon during this era of #MeToo. Definitely a one of a kind book. I have never read this sort of science-fiction before and it was strangely liberating and incredibly insightful.

It is amazing how it takes such a simple exercise of role reversal to make you rethink some of the things you've long accepted as "normal".

There is one main character in the book that really shows you the progression of change that is occurring in this fictitious society. He goes from living in a world where he ALWAYS feels safe, to living in a world where he is likely to get violently attacked at any moment (and does). Having that sort of mental exercise put into context the violence that we, as women, have to face on a nearly daily basis. And if we are not directly facing it, we are living in constant fear of violence against us.

The UN recently released a report titled a Global Study on Homicide: Gender-related killing of women and girls. One of the key findings of this study was that of the 87,000 intentionally killed women in 2017, more than half of them (58%) were killed by intimate partners or family members. This study made headlines because it was stated that in the four regions of the world with the highest share of murdered women, the home was the most likely place for a woman to be killed. To put this into context, women and girls account for only 20% of total homicides. And only one out of every five homicides at the global level is perpetuated by an intimate partner or family member. However, women and girls make up the vast majority of those deaths (64%).

The Power gives the reader the opportunity to imagine what the world would look like if women no longer had to fear for their lives. If women no longer had to fear for their lives in their own homes. If women no longer had to fear their significant other or their family members.

There is this particularly powerful scene in the book where a governmental official realizes during a meeting that she is the most powerful person in the room. That if she wanted to she could do anything she wanted to anyone she wanted. The internal discussion she has with herself is incredible because she thinks to herself, "Is this how men have always felt?".

All in all, a great read and highly recommended.

Additionally, I highly recommend checking out these two French films that do a similar mind experiment: Oppressed Majority and I Am Not An Easy Man.

42 people found this helpful

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SUSAN M.

Excellent read!

Reviewed in Canada on June 11, 2024

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Hope you enjoy it as much as I did!

Stomiidae

Excelente libro

Reviewed in Mexico on April 4, 2023

Verified Purchase

Este libro es BUENÍSIMO me tuvo enganchada de principio a fin, y me hizo reflexionar mucho acerca de las mujeres, el poder, y el sexismo.
Se lo recomendaría a quien sea que le guste la ciencia ficción, pero más aún si eres mujer y MÁS si eres feminista. Excelente entretenimiento 5/5

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Alianna

Great story

Reviewed in France on August 25, 2024

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Riveting and original plot. I loved it.

Elisabetta

Mindblowing

Reviewed in Italy on March 12, 2024

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