The Power by Naomi Alderman

Imagine this: young girls all around the world suddenly gain the power to inflict pain upon men. The balance in the world shifts and no longer are girls afraid to go home at night - men are.

This is a fascinating premise to write a story within, especially considering how our reality looks today with the inequality between men and women, and Naomi Alderman did a fantastic job of giving me a great story.  She made me question and think about how society could look different, and how no one really should hold ALL the power - to much power never ends well.

Told through a large cast of characters the different backgrounds and perspectives made this story rich and interesting, even though it did lack a bit of warmth. But every story can't be warm and this ice cold alternative of a world really hit home with me.

It's a great book to discuss and if there is something this book has taught me, it's to never abuse power and always talk to each other.

Title: The Power
Author: Naomi Alderman
Pages: 288
Series: Stand alone
Source: Purchased
Published: October 27th 2016

Plot

In The Power the world is a recognisable place: there's a rich Nigerian kid who larks around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power - they can cause agonising pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly.

This extraordinary novel by Naomi Alderman, a Sunday Times Young Writer of the Year and Granta Best of British writer, is not only a gripping story of how the world would change if power was in the hands of women but also exposes, with breath-taking daring, our contemporary world.