The theme of Red Clocks by Leni Zumas is women and the right to choose. This book is clear on which side of the question it stands on. I appreciate the premise of this book. The conversation is an important one. I also appreciate the surreal environment the book manages to create. However, for me, the book feels like it's trying too hard to be literary. I am left focusing on how the book is written rather than the story being told.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2018/04/red-clocks.html

Reviewed for NetGalley

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Red Clocks is a dystopian novel about what would happen if Roe vs. Wade were overturned and a Personhood Amendment was passed. The theme is: Women and the right to choose. I found it very hard to connect to any character as they are are referred to as; the biographer, the daughter, the wife and the mender. The style of short vignettes by each character was very disjointed and made the story very choppy. I also found the premise of the novel unrealistic as 2/3 of the Congress would be needed to overturn Roe vs. Wade and I doubt that many votes would be garnered. The one question I ask is: "Who looks out for the rights of the unborn?"

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Red Clocks is a dystopian novel about what would happen if Roe vs. Wade were overturned and a Personhood Amendment was passed. The theme is: Women and the right to choose.
I found it very hard to connect to any character as they are are referred to as; the 1800 explorer, a dead person mentioned in caption notes. A biographer, the teacher unable to get pregnant through IVF. The daughter, a 16yr old student eventually getting caught in Canada, seeking abortion. And the wife, a bitchy whining woman seeking escape from her degrading marriage by accusing the local herbal healer of providing abortion. And the mender. A self described witch having an affair with said womans husband.
A loaner but a skilled healer.
The writing style is of short chapters by each character.
Together its feels disjointed and very choppy. Margaret Artwood Handmaid's Tale it isn't... None of the characters are even remotely likable. They do not grow. They tell a story for the sake of making a political head bashing with a metal craw bar. It has the fines if a bulldozer. Zumas is choppy and disjointed writing about unlikable, unremarkable, full of I-just-want-to-complain-about-everything people, bringing us the lives of the people, no-one wants to spend more then 5seconds with. And i made it 2 whole nights reading this.
What a punishment. One last point i will make. Most 5* Amazon reviews are all Trump bashing while gloating that this is the new M. Artwood. If you lean that way... well suit your self. But to read this just to pat your self on the back to affirm how much you still hate Orange Man. A specially since he is not associated with this atrocity in any way. Well its your call. Dont let me stop you.

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