Christina Dalcher

In a world where women have been silenced, their speech limited to 100 words in a day, one woman is given an opportunity to change things.

I read this book in a day. The world she describes is terrifying. I had a visceral reaction to it. The main character is interesting, so I got on board with the whole thing. I wanted to see what happens with her.

However, there is one major problem that perpetuates this novel: it is not believable. Sorry, even for a dystopia, you can't just shut down your logic muscles and go along with whatever the writer comes up with. The background story of how this world came to be is very weak. I cannot imagine this happening under any conditions in a world which is deliberately very much like our own.

There are inevitable similarities with Atwood's Handmaid's Tale, the TV show even more than the novel. This is not a bad thing. This novel is fresh enough in its own way and it is a good, quick read. At least if you're not digging into it too deep.

But, I wonder, why did Christina Dalcher picked such an important, difficult topic and decided to give it such a superficial treatment? This is not a breezy summer read. I just can't judge it as such.

Although for me this was more a 2 than a 3, I enjoyed parts of this book. It makes for a good book club discussion, despite being so flawed.

SPOILER
The resolution was so unbelievable to me, almost fairy-tale-like. All the characters just manage to conveniently show up in one place? It was laughable.
And the hero of the story of female subjugation is - a man! A man that the main character is cheating on. He even gives her his blessing to go live with her lover.

Also, I wanted to see what exactly happened when Patrick came to that meeting, the reaction of the public, the aftermath... We are given crumbs about the changes that happen after, but it is all very weak and unsatisfying. … (meer)

Vox is set in America where it has been decreed by the government that women are limited to 100 words per day, must only be homemakers and girls are not taught to read.

I enjoyed this book but wanted more. I feel like this could have been truly heartbreaking and terrifying if the story delved a little deeper. I was sad but I could have been sobbing my eyes out. I was reading to see what would happen next but it could have been nerve wracking. There were some interesting points on feminism but it could have been a strong social commentary on the perception of women.

This isn't to say I didn't like the book, because I did. It was sad and tense and thought provoking, I just wouldn't add it to my 4 star reviews.… (meer)

I wish I hadn't wasted my time reading this book. It's an immensely frustrating read that falsely prides itself on thinking about well-being for every child and family (not just white, skinny, straight people) all while being told by the most bland, white, skinniest, straightest character possible and totally ignoring other ethnic groups, races, sexualities, etc. It pays brief lip service to these communities without actually bringing them up.
It's incredibly fatphobic - like, SO fatphobic. The only fat characters are "evil" ones, and the main character has such an obvious aversion/disgust to even the idea of having a roll on her belly.
The characters are little more than stereotypes. The writing is poor and leans heavily on tired tropes and ideas, offering nothing fresh to think about. Also, the writing/plot is messy, dragging on for 150 pages and then careening all over with little rhyme or reason.
This whole book just left a bad taste in my mouth.

Edit: another reviewer (link to their review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3160913135?book_show_action=false&from... said this and it accurately sums up how I felt about how I felt about that first aspect I mentioned:

"It is mentioned that the LGBTQIA community, people with disabilities and those that suffer with mental health issues are specifically targeted groups of society under this new and oppressive mandate. But, not giving them any voice or representation past a single token lesbian character, who has no role within the context of the story, I found to be shameful.
Instead we again see what a hard time the straight, middle-class, highly educated, white woman (who somehow caused these systems to be rolled out in the first place) had when dealing with the repercussions. If an author "cares" enough to acknowledge the struggle these groups face, why not do something to accommodate for them in their own story? It comes across as "fake-woke" to mention it and then to leave it alone. Instead they'd sooner write from inside their own little bubble of understanding. Only giving voice to those they can relate to personally."… (meer)