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Women's Work #1
Women's Work
What would change if women ruled the world? "So, when most of the men were dead, women saw their chance to take over?" Kate searches her son's eyes as he asks this. "Not take over," she says. "Fix things." It wasn't hard to justify what the women had done since the end of the Last War. They rebuilt their bombed-out neighborhoods as best they could and worked to established peace and gender equality. But small groups of men roam the country, viciously indicating that the pendulum may have swung too far. When a bedraggled man shows up on Kate's doorstep one night, will she risk everything to save him? Does he deserve her help? Women's Work is a dystopian look at gender stereotypes, where women struggle to survive in a post-apocalyptic world through sustenance farming, clever engineering, and a deeply rooted sisterhood. In this suspenseful thriller, Kate is faced with a morally complex choice between what her heart believes and what society deems right. It is a compelling story that challenges all of us to question traditional gender roles, relationships, and the pursuit of power! This trailblazing science fiction novel is being heralded by critics as a timely and necessary look at the oversimplification of the issue of gender equality. It asks the question, "What would change if women ruled the world?" The answer in not as simple as you might think. Though this new society claims men and women are finally equals, when one group gains power over the other, it quickly becomes a slippery slope to the oppression of the "other" group. Follow Kate, her family and the powerful women of her neighborhood as they try to navigate a world where women have begun to claim both authority over and superiority over men. To what will the women in this suspenseful tale resort in order to keep the fragile peace they have established? Can Kate continue to justify the new rules to her young son and daughters? The survival of her family, her neighborhood and her new society depend upon the answer.
299 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 16, 2013
9 people are currently reading
1428 people want to read
About the author
Kari Aguila
2 books76 followersIn addition to writing award-winning dystopian fiction, Kari Aguila is a geologist, gardener, substitute teacher, singer and mom. She has numerous scientific publications, but took a strong bend into speculative fiction with her first novel, WOMEN'S WORK. Her second story, the stand-alone sequel, RUN RAGGED, asks what would change if women ruled the world. It is a timely, thought-provoking look at a country thrown out of balance that will leave you contemplating its themes and characters long after the last page.
Aguila participates in book clubs all over the country via Skype to talk about her thrilling stories. She lives with her family in Seattle, Washington, and is currently working on her third book.
Aguila participates in book clubs all over the country via Skype to talk about her thrilling stories. She lives with her family in Seattle, Washington, and is currently working on her third book.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 46 reviews
June 4, 2014
I knew my male to female author ratio was severely disproportionate with the scale undeniably tipping on the expected side. So I try, along with my many reading projects, to incorporate the ideal that such imbalance be rectified if not in an achievable and realistically acceptable equilibrium then at least the consolatory mindset that nobility exists in a task faithfully pursued such as this.
Then I thought, what better way to pursue this end, when by happenstance, I stumbled upon this book, which claims to present women’s struggles in a post-apocalyptic world, written no less by a female author.
Women's Work tells us the story of Kate and her family who struggles to survive in world ridden no less by male chauvinists who by all measures are extremist in their professed bigotry. In this world, the women have taken over all aspects, and when I say all, I meant everything. The men have not only been relegated but were also reeducated of their social roles. They stay in the house, are not allowed to speak in town or council meetings, they are, in all respects, abrogated of any capacity less the frivolous and mundane.
The concept was a fascinating one, the reversal of the socially constructed gender roles, the reaction of the male population to such extreme reversal, these were some of the things I was expecting in Women's Work, but what struck me more was that this was the quandary of a single mother finding love in a society where a Man is not defined by any new established social convention but by the acts of his predecessors of the same biological orientation. This too was a novel more for the parenting of a single mother. There is less of the expected grand narrative of the noble struggle of survival in a post-apocalyptic world but only the fear of imagined and anticipated horrors that sublimely define the characters’ psychologies.
There are a number of things you have to get around to appreciate this.
The world building premise is anchored on the arrangement that the male contemporaries have orchestrated the government to pass laws banning birth control without the husband’s consent, to the regulation of what they could and could not wear, leading to more pivotal and drastic actions like the banning and removal of women from politics and the military. The premise world is an extremely male chauvinistic society. If you get around that you can move on with the story, which leads us to the next point.
The novel presents a comprehensive and absolute dichotomy between the male and the female sexes, an instance which, even in fiction I might add, is highly improbable unless we discount the existence of certain radical, idealistic individuals, or group of individuals. This is the perfect embodiment of a class fighting for its own liberation from domination and believes itself to be fighting for human freedom and was able to appeal to an idea present in all who are oppressed which however in the long and virtually continuous battle for freedom, the classes who were fighting against oppression at one stage sided with the enemies of freedom when victory was won and new privileges were to be defended. Because it tries to take on this grand extremist scenario of men vs. women, the story failed on the microcosm, I was expecting a more immersed perspective in presenting the difficulties of a woman in a possible post-apocalyptic world, like that of raising a young boy in such well delineated social arrangement, or that of the greater need for security. I have to point out that the concern for security in relation to the man in this novel cannot be included, for even in the beginning, subtle sexual proclivities can be read between Kate and the man, no real concern for security exist there.
The children too are a tad unrealistic. They were perfect, much too perfect. They followed all commands, did not answer back, did not worry about their father lost in the war, they communicated with their parents. Because they were perfect, they were all the same and hence no reasonable character development existed. Because they were perfect, they were an anachronistic existence in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s just hard to imagine that these children whose life are peppered with bomb craters, raider threats, women armed with arrows and knives are presented in such a faultless existence.
To me, the characters fail because they are perfect. The power struggle fails because the conflict is grounded on the belief that the differences among genders are defined only by their biological orientations.
The writing style is admirable, with the occasional rough transitions and forced conversations, considering this to be the first work of the author. Still, much thanks, Kari, for my copy! I look forward to your growth as writer!
This review, along with my other reviews, has been cross-posted at imbookedindefinitely
Then I thought, what better way to pursue this end, when by happenstance, I stumbled upon this book, which claims to present women’s struggles in a post-apocalyptic world, written no less by a female author.
Women's Work tells us the story of Kate and her family who struggles to survive in world ridden no less by male chauvinists who by all measures are extremist in their professed bigotry. In this world, the women have taken over all aspects, and when I say all, I meant everything. The men have not only been relegated but were also reeducated of their social roles. They stay in the house, are not allowed to speak in town or council meetings, they are, in all respects, abrogated of any capacity less the frivolous and mundane.
The concept was a fascinating one, the reversal of the socially constructed gender roles, the reaction of the male population to such extreme reversal, these were some of the things I was expecting in Women's Work, but what struck me more was that this was the quandary of a single mother finding love in a society where a Man is not defined by any new established social convention but by the acts of his predecessors of the same biological orientation. This too was a novel more for the parenting of a single mother. There is less of the expected grand narrative of the noble struggle of survival in a post-apocalyptic world but only the fear of imagined and anticipated horrors that sublimely define the characters’ psychologies.
There are a number of things you have to get around to appreciate this.
The world building premise is anchored on the arrangement that the male contemporaries have orchestrated the government to pass laws banning birth control without the husband’s consent, to the regulation of what they could and could not wear, leading to more pivotal and drastic actions like the banning and removal of women from politics and the military. The premise world is an extremely male chauvinistic society. If you get around that you can move on with the story, which leads us to the next point.
The novel presents a comprehensive and absolute dichotomy between the male and the female sexes, an instance which, even in fiction I might add, is highly improbable unless we discount the existence of certain radical, idealistic individuals, or group of individuals. This is the perfect embodiment of a class fighting for its own liberation from domination and believes itself to be fighting for human freedom and was able to appeal to an idea present in all who are oppressed which however in the long and virtually continuous battle for freedom, the classes who were fighting against oppression at one stage sided with the enemies of freedom when victory was won and new privileges were to be defended. Because it tries to take on this grand extremist scenario of men vs. women, the story failed on the microcosm, I was expecting a more immersed perspective in presenting the difficulties of a woman in a possible post-apocalyptic world, like that of raising a young boy in such well delineated social arrangement, or that of the greater need for security. I have to point out that the concern for security in relation to the man in this novel cannot be included, for even in the beginning, subtle sexual proclivities can be read between Kate and the man, no real concern for security exist there.
The children too are a tad unrealistic. They were perfect, much too perfect. They followed all commands, did not answer back, did not worry about their father lost in the war, they communicated with their parents. Because they were perfect, they were all the same and hence no reasonable character development existed. Because they were perfect, they were an anachronistic existence in a post-apocalyptic world. It’s just hard to imagine that these children whose life are peppered with bomb craters, raider threats, women armed with arrows and knives are presented in such a faultless existence.
To me, the characters fail because they are perfect. The power struggle fails because the conflict is grounded on the belief that the differences among genders are defined only by their biological orientations.
The writing style is admirable, with the occasional rough transitions and forced conversations, considering this to be the first work of the author. Still, much thanks, Kari, for my copy! I look forward to your growth as writer!
This review, along with my other reviews, has been cross-posted at imbookedindefinitely
November 24, 2013
I admit that I have read this book over 15 times. In fact, I wrote it! As an independent author, I would love to know what you thought of Women's Work. Please check it out and, if you like it, recommend it to your friends. It is available as Ebook or paperback. The story centers around Kate, a widowed mother of three, struggling to survive in a post-war world. The women in her neighborhood have learned to grow, hunt and preserve food. They have designed and built tools and machines to help them, and above all have developed a deep sisterhood. It is a story of survival in difficult times, and will lead to lively discussion within book clubs and among friends.Cold MountainThe Handmaid's TaleThe RoadShe's Come Undone
October 31, 2015
(I've edited this review from last year after noticing a few typos and phrases that made me roll my eyes at myself. It's actually for the epub version bought from Barnes & Noble, but I'm assuming all versions from the same publishing date are the same. I did a more comprehensive review in my blog, but I'll sum up points here.)
In Women’s Work, adult men have been pretty much wiped out. Husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers were literally dragged off to war or killed in resisting it. A few went into hiding or were too young, but it was pockets of women who emerged when it was all over. We never learn exactly what that particular war was about, but it doesn’t really matter. As it is with most victims of catastrophic wars, it really had nothing to do with them and their day-to-day lives other than to rob them of family and a hopeful future.
There are some males in the new civilization: babies and young boys mainly, as well as a few wounded soldiers or old men kept out of the public eye as well as the decision-making process. As rumors spread between the villages about gangs of unrepentant men raiding houses, raping and murdering inhabitants, and kidnapping children, young men coming of age are subjected to Jim Crow kinds of laws. These laws, and their social repercussions to women family members advocating for equality, make it unsafe for men to be out much. An unaccompanied adult male with no one to vouch for him is seen as dangerous and subject to vigilantism and mob violence (though the villagers don't see it as that). Surviving men are given kitchen and childrearing duties and discouraged from speaking in public.
This is the world where the book begins and it’s why Kate and her children are so terrified when a strange male shows up at her farm. Its location is far from the town and surrounded by woods. They’re very much alone and have reasons to fear if a raider comes by. But Kate has good memories of a beloved husband, who didn’t survive his military conscription, and she has a son who is already having to be restricted in what he can do. Kate is also wrestling with uneasy feelings whenever she passes the fresh grave of a stranger, whom friends in the village recently killed in presumed pre-emptive self-defense.
The heart of the book is not just how Kate must balance her fears for herself, her children, and the town at large against her remaining sense of compassion for her fellow man. And it’s not just a potential “love conquers all story” for those who have reason to give up on the notion of romantic love entirely. It’s about how the interplay of fear and trust in a culture shapes individuals, and how the courage to live out the forgotten catechetical virtues of individuals can shape their culture in return.
If I have one criticism of this book, it’s the too sudden shift to an ending from the crisis point that the book had so carefully taken us to. The author had done such a fine job of describing the codified fear and hysteria of the townswomen that it seemed a little implausible that they would simply disappear in the dénouement. Yes, we have the general idea why there was some tolerance and acceptance, but call me a cynic if you will: I’m not overly puzzled how people who love each other can surmount nearly impossible odds and forgive the seemingly unforgiveable. We’ve all seen, read, or experienced it. I want to know how villages do it, especially villages of victims of such horrors. That’s much rarer and involves more psychic risk to each of them. But the details and hard work of that, I’m afraid, the author has left to our imaginations. (Maybe there’s a sequel?)
In Women’s Work, adult men have been pretty much wiped out. Husbands, sons, brothers, and fathers were literally dragged off to war or killed in resisting it. A few went into hiding or were too young, but it was pockets of women who emerged when it was all over. We never learn exactly what that particular war was about, but it doesn’t really matter. As it is with most victims of catastrophic wars, it really had nothing to do with them and their day-to-day lives other than to rob them of family and a hopeful future.
There are some males in the new civilization: babies and young boys mainly, as well as a few wounded soldiers or old men kept out of the public eye as well as the decision-making process. As rumors spread between the villages about gangs of unrepentant men raiding houses, raping and murdering inhabitants, and kidnapping children, young men coming of age are subjected to Jim Crow kinds of laws. These laws, and their social repercussions to women family members advocating for equality, make it unsafe for men to be out much. An unaccompanied adult male with no one to vouch for him is seen as dangerous and subject to vigilantism and mob violence (though the villagers don't see it as that). Surviving men are given kitchen and childrearing duties and discouraged from speaking in public.
This is the world where the book begins and it’s why Kate and her children are so terrified when a strange male shows up at her farm. Its location is far from the town and surrounded by woods. They’re very much alone and have reasons to fear if a raider comes by. But Kate has good memories of a beloved husband, who didn’t survive his military conscription, and she has a son who is already having to be restricted in what he can do. Kate is also wrestling with uneasy feelings whenever she passes the fresh grave of a stranger, whom friends in the village recently killed in presumed pre-emptive self-defense.
The heart of the book is not just how Kate must balance her fears for herself, her children, and the town at large against her remaining sense of compassion for her fellow man. And it’s not just a potential “love conquers all story” for those who have reason to give up on the notion of romantic love entirely. It’s about how the interplay of fear and trust in a culture shapes individuals, and how the courage to live out the forgotten catechetical virtues of individuals can shape their culture in return.
If I have one criticism of this book, it’s the too sudden shift to an ending from the crisis point that the book had so carefully taken us to. The author had done such a fine job of describing the codified fear and hysteria of the townswomen that it seemed a little implausible that they would simply disappear in the dénouement. Yes, we have the general idea why there was some tolerance and acceptance, but call me a cynic if you will: I’m not overly puzzled how people who love each other can surmount nearly impossible odds and forgive the seemingly unforgiveable. We’ve all seen, read, or experienced it. I want to know how villages do it, especially villages of victims of such horrors. That’s much rarer and involves more psychic risk to each of them. But the details and hard work of that, I’m afraid, the author has left to our imaginations. (Maybe there’s a sequel?)
June 3, 2014
I must admit that I was a bit apprehensive about the subject matter of the book, especially given the title. The basic premise of the story is that in the not-too-distant future, the women of the world see an acceleration of oppression by males. In many ways, the author seems to envision an Islamist fundamentalist course here in America, with women being sequestered at home, with little to no voice, in the name of protecting them. Ultimately, this chauvinist attitude leads to a global war, and the vast majority of the male population is killed. With this turn of events, women across the nation (and assumedly worldwide) take over the reins of power and marginalize men into the role that women occupied in the antebellum period.
Kari’s story focuses primarily on a small family, led by war-widow Kate and their simple, pre-technology lifestyle. While simple and at times difficult, their life is at least peaceful. After all, women have rewritten the rules to preserve peace, and now everyone is equal. Or are they? This is where Kari’s debut piece surpassed my expectations. In a genre that is VERY cliché at times, she was able to not only keep the story interesting, but to make you regret having to put it down. It is amazing that an author could turn simple daily household chores and home life into something that held the reader’s attention page after page. Even in the final two chapters, when you think the story has been resolved, Kari keeps the suspense until literally the last two pages. Even then, you know that there are still issues that Kate’s family has to resolve, yet you don’t feel upset or cheated about the ending. The novel stands alone by itself, but left the potential, on many fronts, for a sequel, which I would gladly read.
In addition to her masterful handling of suspense and pacing, Kari did an excellent job with character development. In many novels in general, and dystopian and apocalyptic ones in particular, characters are too often one dimensional: the hero does nothing wrong or dishonest, the villain nothing redeeming. All of Kari’s characters are very multi-dimensional, as humans truly are. Just when you want to completely dislike a character, they do something decent. When you think that one of the neighborhood women has had a change of heart, she relapses to her paranoia. All of this is fed by a very believable story line and progression, so nothing seems forced….instead, you feel like you are genuinely watching these characters’ lives as they struggle with all of the challenges of a ruined life that they are forced to rebuild under unenviable circumstances.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and believe that most will as well…I highly recommend it.
Kari’s story focuses primarily on a small family, led by war-widow Kate and their simple, pre-technology lifestyle. While simple and at times difficult, their life is at least peaceful. After all, women have rewritten the rules to preserve peace, and now everyone is equal. Or are they? This is where Kari’s debut piece surpassed my expectations. In a genre that is VERY cliché at times, she was able to not only keep the story interesting, but to make you regret having to put it down. It is amazing that an author could turn simple daily household chores and home life into something that held the reader’s attention page after page. Even in the final two chapters, when you think the story has been resolved, Kari keeps the suspense until literally the last two pages. Even then, you know that there are still issues that Kate’s family has to resolve, yet you don’t feel upset or cheated about the ending. The novel stands alone by itself, but left the potential, on many fronts, for a sequel, which I would gladly read.
In addition to her masterful handling of suspense and pacing, Kari did an excellent job with character development. In many novels in general, and dystopian and apocalyptic ones in particular, characters are too often one dimensional: the hero does nothing wrong or dishonest, the villain nothing redeeming. All of Kari’s characters are very multi-dimensional, as humans truly are. Just when you want to completely dislike a character, they do something decent. When you think that one of the neighborhood women has had a change of heart, she relapses to her paranoia. All of this is fed by a very believable story line and progression, so nothing seems forced….instead, you feel like you are genuinely watching these characters’ lives as they struggle with all of the challenges of a ruined life that they are forced to rebuild under unenviable circumstances.
I thoroughly enjoyed the book and believe that most will as well…I highly recommend it.
February 4, 2014
*This book was given to me by the author*
This book reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale, if things had taken a very different turn, if the women had found a way to fight back, and ultimately take over. Now the women are in charge and the role of men has drastically changed in this new society. Women's Work is really interesting and thought provoking. It has moments of fear, of excitement, and even a little romance. As it went on, I really didn't know what would happen next and how everyone's lives would turn out, which made it a really compelling read.
This book reminded me of The Handmaid's Tale, if things had taken a very different turn, if the women had found a way to fight back, and ultimately take over. Now the women are in charge and the role of men has drastically changed in this new society. Women's Work is really interesting and thought provoking. It has moments of fear, of excitement, and even a little romance. As it went on, I really didn't know what would happen next and how everyone's lives would turn out, which made it a really compelling read.
February 26, 2014
I won this book in a goodreads contest. I finished this book yesterday but waited until tonight to make sure my review is unbiased and not just higher because I won a free copy.
95% of what I read is YA paranormal/supernatural romance or thrillers. I read a fiction novel here and there and a dystopian in between with the rare memoir thrown in mostly to cleanse my supernatural reading palate. Because i rarely read fiction novels, it's harder for me to connect with the world, with the characters and even the story.
Though, Women's Work is a dystopian book, I was instantly connected with the world and soon the characters as well. What's scary about this book is the very plausible downfall of America. It's not hard to imagine it's really happening and its not THAT far fetched. For a female reader like myself, that made me connect to the story in a wholesome way.
There was proper pacing and development in characters and in emotions. I do think it kind of snowball ended and would of like a longer ending especially considering this is a novel. However, I think it was an appropriate ending, giving us just a spark of hope...the same as Kate and the neighbors begin to have as the story closes.
95% of what I read is YA paranormal/supernatural romance or thrillers. I read a fiction novel here and there and a dystopian in between with the rare memoir thrown in mostly to cleanse my supernatural reading palate. Because i rarely read fiction novels, it's harder for me to connect with the world, with the characters and even the story.
Though, Women's Work is a dystopian book, I was instantly connected with the world and soon the characters as well. What's scary about this book is the very plausible downfall of America. It's not hard to imagine it's really happening and its not THAT far fetched. For a female reader like myself, that made me connect to the story in a wholesome way.
There was proper pacing and development in characters and in emotions. I do think it kind of snowball ended and would of like a longer ending especially considering this is a novel. However, I think it was an appropriate ending, giving us just a spark of hope...the same as Kate and the neighbors begin to have as the story closes.
November 3, 2016
I won this book in a goodreads giveaway. (I will not be entering another for a while.)
After a nameless war kills off the majority of the men in the world (maybe? the story’s location is somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, but no news of the outside world is ever framed in the context of this story), the women who were left behind band together in small neighborhoods to take care of their children and each other. This is the story of one such family and how their relative domestic peace gets interrupted when a strange man arrives with a sick boy he claims is his son.
This is a story of a woman who stops being a scientist in order to raise her three children, written by a woman who stopped being a scientist in order to raise her three children. Is there anything wrong with that? Well, no, of course not. But if you expect suspension of disbelief from your readers, then a less transparently autobiographical approach is in order. There is a difference between writing what you know and writing only what you know.
I did not find this story to be compelling in the least. Near the beginning, I was distracted by the misuse of present tense in strictly descriptive passages. Rather than frame the novel with descriptive events, Aguila chooses to leave these events vague in favor of describing domestic chores. Surprisingly silent in this story in which the power structure is flipped are those voices who actually suffer the most from the current power structure that the characters in the story criticize.
Do you know whose stories I want to read? I want to know about the women of color who are suffering more socially, physically, and economically in reality than the interchangeable white women in this novel. I am concerned about the absence of transgender and LGBTQ voices in this world. Dying of breast cancer is a concern, but dying of AIDS in a world without protection is not? Are you telling me that in a community of women, there isn't even one lesbian couple? That in a society that is outwardly violent to male roles in romantic relationships is not at all accepting of lesbian relationships? Surely not all of these women have children. Because not all women are, or want to be, mothers. Rhia appears to be without children, but that appears to be a result of her circumstances (living on a boat) rather than of a conscious decision on her part. And, the one childfree character is depicted as migratory, not belonging to any one neighborhood. What is her story? Are there more like her? Are you trying to tell me that you can imagine a world where men are second-class citizens, but you cannot imagine more diverse voices than white women with children?
And if you weren’t yet convinced that this novel is for women with children, let’s talk about the children. The perfect, perfect children. They do their chores enthusiastically, helpful almost to a fault. They do not answer back, swear, or rebel in any way shape or form. They are communicative with their parents. And, like their mothers, are completely interchangeable. I saw no distinguishing personality traits that separate Maggie and Lauren. Or Jonah and Evan. No other women express any concern about raising problem children. Sarah, as a teacher, has no concerns about disciplining problem students. The adults don’t have to concern themselves with ADHD, dyslexia, learning or other developmental disorders; no physical disabilities; there are no children with cancer; there is no resurgence of diseases that modern medicine had eradicated within the last 200 years. A child gets a fever that lasts a couple days. What a truly dangerous world these people live in.
Speaking of danger, let’s talk about perceived danger versus real danger. Throughout the novel, Kate (and other women) perceive Michael as a danger. He is an unknown variable thrown into the (inexplicably) stable solution of their society. Except that Michael and Kate have no meaningful connection outside of their children. If neither of them had children, I’m not convinced they would like each other at all. Especially considering that Michael is a master manipulator and both are dishonest with each other at every turn. The characters are supposed to rediscover trust, but neither can trust the other without using their own and each other’s children as bargaining chips. I know that I don’t have children, but I do know it is not healthy to use children as currency in your domestic power struggles. But in the end, they trust each other (or they think they do, I wouldn’t call that trust), but that doesn’t change the fact that the raiders they were concerned about actually attacked them, actually burned down their house and stole their crops, and the women in the town were actually right about the danger all along. But those enemies get away with it because everyone is so busy being so stupid.
I won’t lie. I skipped the last chapter. After predicting how the novel will end (considering the praise of the perfection of children throughout the entire novel) I could not be less interested in the saccharine nightmare of childbirth.
The characters fail because they have no faults; the plot fails because it assumes the only differences between people and power are binary cis heteronormative genders; the ideas fail because they are outdated and mostly irrelevant; the fictional world fails because it has no grounding in reality; and the author fails at this blatantly transparent excuse for a self-insertion fantasy.
If you are interested in a feminist utopia, read Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s Sultana s Dream and Padmarag. "Sultana's Dream" is a fifteen page short story published in 1909 in which, the women in a fictional Muslim country called Ladyland, like Aguila's story, take over the power structure and force men into their previous submissive roles. Except they use education and social work, not perceived “natural” nurturer roles.
Men did not break the system. It was built wrong.
After a nameless war kills off the majority of the men in the world (maybe? the story’s location is somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, but no news of the outside world is ever framed in the context of this story), the women who were left behind band together in small neighborhoods to take care of their children and each other. This is the story of one such family and how their relative domestic peace gets interrupted when a strange man arrives with a sick boy he claims is his son.
This is a story of a woman who stops being a scientist in order to raise her three children, written by a woman who stopped being a scientist in order to raise her three children. Is there anything wrong with that? Well, no, of course not. But if you expect suspension of disbelief from your readers, then a less transparently autobiographical approach is in order. There is a difference between writing what you know and writing only what you know.
I did not find this story to be compelling in the least. Near the beginning, I was distracted by the misuse of present tense in strictly descriptive passages. Rather than frame the novel with descriptive events, Aguila chooses to leave these events vague in favor of describing domestic chores. Surprisingly silent in this story in which the power structure is flipped are those voices who actually suffer the most from the current power structure that the characters in the story criticize.
Do you know whose stories I want to read? I want to know about the women of color who are suffering more socially, physically, and economically in reality than the interchangeable white women in this novel. I am concerned about the absence of transgender and LGBTQ voices in this world. Dying of breast cancer is a concern, but dying of AIDS in a world without protection is not? Are you telling me that in a community of women, there isn't even one lesbian couple? That in a society that is outwardly violent to male roles in romantic relationships is not at all accepting of lesbian relationships? Surely not all of these women have children. Because not all women are, or want to be, mothers. Rhia appears to be without children, but that appears to be a result of her circumstances (living on a boat) rather than of a conscious decision on her part. And, the one childfree character is depicted as migratory, not belonging to any one neighborhood. What is her story? Are there more like her? Are you trying to tell me that you can imagine a world where men are second-class citizens, but you cannot imagine more diverse voices than white women with children?
And if you weren’t yet convinced that this novel is for women with children, let’s talk about the children. The perfect, perfect children. They do their chores enthusiastically, helpful almost to a fault. They do not answer back, swear, or rebel in any way shape or form. They are communicative with their parents. And, like their mothers, are completely interchangeable. I saw no distinguishing personality traits that separate Maggie and Lauren. Or Jonah and Evan. No other women express any concern about raising problem children. Sarah, as a teacher, has no concerns about disciplining problem students. The adults don’t have to concern themselves with ADHD, dyslexia, learning or other developmental disorders; no physical disabilities; there are no children with cancer; there is no resurgence of diseases that modern medicine had eradicated within the last 200 years. A child gets a fever that lasts a couple days. What a truly dangerous world these people live in.
Speaking of danger, let’s talk about perceived danger versus real danger. Throughout the novel, Kate (and other women) perceive Michael as a danger. He is an unknown variable thrown into the (inexplicably) stable solution of their society. Except that Michael and Kate have no meaningful connection outside of their children. If neither of them had children, I’m not convinced they would like each other at all. Especially considering that Michael is a master manipulator and both are dishonest with each other at every turn. The characters are supposed to rediscover trust, but neither can trust the other without using their own and each other’s children as bargaining chips. I know that I don’t have children, but I do know it is not healthy to use children as currency in your domestic power struggles. But in the end, they trust each other (or they think they do, I wouldn’t call that trust), but that doesn’t change the fact that the raiders they were concerned about actually attacked them, actually burned down their house and stole their crops, and the women in the town were actually right about the danger all along. But those enemies get away with it because everyone is so busy being so stupid.
I won’t lie. I skipped the last chapter. After predicting how the novel will end (considering the praise of the perfection of children throughout the entire novel) I could not be less interested in the saccharine nightmare of childbirth.
The characters fail because they have no faults; the plot fails because it assumes the only differences between people and power are binary cis heteronormative genders; the ideas fail because they are outdated and mostly irrelevant; the fictional world fails because it has no grounding in reality; and the author fails at this blatantly transparent excuse for a self-insertion fantasy.
If you are interested in a feminist utopia, read Rokeya Sakhawat Hossain’s Sultana s Dream and Padmarag. "Sultana's Dream" is a fifteen page short story published in 1909 in which, the women in a fictional Muslim country called Ladyland, like Aguila's story, take over the power structure and force men into their previous submissive roles. Except they use education and social work, not perceived “natural” nurturer roles.
Men did not break the system. It was built wrong.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 11, 2018
Full disclosure: I am a friend of the author's, and, while I know Kari to be a fine actress, writer and director among her many other accomplishments, this is the first piece of her fiction that I've read.
This is the second of the two books by friends that I've read and, like Donn Christianson's "Savior", Kari is taking on how love does and can work between two people who have seen and been through much more than they ever wanted to.
The world of "Women's Work" is one that has been completely turned over: it takes place in the aftermath of an actual shooting war that erupted between men and women as a result of men continually attempting to assert power over women, either physically, emotionally, or legally. Reading the early chapters where exactly how that happened is laid out in detail put the idea that this was unrealistic in any way out of my mind. A quote:
"When the Traditionalist Party swept the elections in 2034, the new rules were implemented quickly. Laws with deceptive names, like the Family Focus Act and the Beauty of Motherhood Act, were passed to keep women at home. Videos of smiling families saturated their screens, the women in heavy clothing with children around, all of them looking up to the strong and handsome husbands." - pg. 18. THAT got my attention, as the legislative agenda described is happening right now, and with the same Orwellian names.
The central question then, isn't "Who should have power?" because it's made clear in the book: the women do. They won. Women now control all positions of political power, and men now abide under a series of clear legal restrictions on their movements and behaviors. That much is settled.
The real questions become, "What do we do with our power?", and "How can we rebuild a world? Is there any room left for love, or trust, between the two genders after all of this?" This is a post-traumatic world, a world in which men who were looked to as partners, lovers, and friends became the enemy in a literal shooting war that left only devastation behind it. Kari's in perfect tune with the current social climate here.
Kari writes with great clarity, honesty and gentleness while also refusing to duck any of the implications of the questions that she's asking. The immediacy of the prose of the novel helps clarify the stakes as her two central characters, Kate and Michael, have to find their way as they try to build, maintain, and rebuild the trust between them that it's going to take to sustain the love that they find is growing between them. I appreciated that Kari's willing to have her main characters engage in a relationship that reads and feels honest. They struggle. They trust slowly. But they do it.
I became so invested in this book that, by the time of the ending, I was literally praying for Michael (no spoilers here - go and read this for yourself; you'll enjoy it, I think) and Kate to make it - not to merely survive to the sequel, but to find a way to keep this love of theirs kindled and alight.
This is the second of the two books by friends that I've read and, like Donn Christianson's "Savior", Kari is taking on how love does and can work between two people who have seen and been through much more than they ever wanted to.
The world of "Women's Work" is one that has been completely turned over: it takes place in the aftermath of an actual shooting war that erupted between men and women as a result of men continually attempting to assert power over women, either physically, emotionally, or legally. Reading the early chapters where exactly how that happened is laid out in detail put the idea that this was unrealistic in any way out of my mind. A quote:
"When the Traditionalist Party swept the elections in 2034, the new rules were implemented quickly. Laws with deceptive names, like the Family Focus Act and the Beauty of Motherhood Act, were passed to keep women at home. Videos of smiling families saturated their screens, the women in heavy clothing with children around, all of them looking up to the strong and handsome husbands." - pg. 18. THAT got my attention, as the legislative agenda described is happening right now, and with the same Orwellian names.
The central question then, isn't "Who should have power?" because it's made clear in the book: the women do. They won. Women now control all positions of political power, and men now abide under a series of clear legal restrictions on their movements and behaviors. That much is settled.
The real questions become, "What do we do with our power?", and "How can we rebuild a world? Is there any room left for love, or trust, between the two genders after all of this?" This is a post-traumatic world, a world in which men who were looked to as partners, lovers, and friends became the enemy in a literal shooting war that left only devastation behind it. Kari's in perfect tune with the current social climate here.
Kari writes with great clarity, honesty and gentleness while also refusing to duck any of the implications of the questions that she's asking. The immediacy of the prose of the novel helps clarify the stakes as her two central characters, Kate and Michael, have to find their way as they try to build, maintain, and rebuild the trust between them that it's going to take to sustain the love that they find is growing between them. I appreciated that Kari's willing to have her main characters engage in a relationship that reads and feels honest. They struggle. They trust slowly. But they do it.
I became so invested in this book that, by the time of the ending, I was literally praying for Michael (no spoilers here - go and read this for yourself; you'll enjoy it, I think) and Kate to make it - not to merely survive to the sequel, but to find a way to keep this love of theirs kindled and alight.
December 1, 2015
I think I heard about this through First-Reads on GoodReads. Usually, the books offered on First-Reads are hard, often signed copies. I managed to pick up the Kindle version for $3.99. It seemed like it would be a marvelous book.
It was. This is a book I think everyone should read. There is a lot of depth of characters and possible histories. Yes, it is dystopian in nature: what if womyn had their fill of the way men treated them? Is there a point where it all might break into, say, even war? I don't know. I've met and even been angry with the male of our species. I don't know if I would want to kill anyone, though.
But let's suppose that happened and the womyn took over? Here is possibly an extreme case of what could happen when the world settled down again. What would happen with families? Could they even exist if this happened? So many questions are answered in this wonderfully written fiction.
As I mentioned before, this is a cautionary tale that we all need to look at. Not just for what good could finally happen for 'the weaker sex' but how ages of resentment could result in far more trust issues than any of us have now. Do we want to bring the males down to where they've put us? Wouldn't it be better to start accepting people as people with no classifications of lower, weaker, etc. Because if we can't get males to join in the fight against inequalities they are as likely to fail as the lessors.
This review presents mostly questions because, though the book is fiction, it makes the reader think. Could this happen? How can we prevent it and still make a better society for everyone in the world?
Please, if you get the chance, pick up a copy.
Oh, and quickly, before I forget: I loved the characters and the way the story is told. If the scene was now it was present tense, if past the author used past tense. At first I found that a little hard to get used to, yet as I read it made perfect sense for all that happens in this book. Thank you, Kari Aguila, for a wonderful read!
It was. This is a book I think everyone should read. There is a lot of depth of characters and possible histories. Yes, it is dystopian in nature: what if womyn had their fill of the way men treated them? Is there a point where it all might break into, say, even war? I don't know. I've met and even been angry with the male of our species. I don't know if I would want to kill anyone, though.
But let's suppose that happened and the womyn took over? Here is possibly an extreme case of what could happen when the world settled down again. What would happen with families? Could they even exist if this happened? So many questions are answered in this wonderfully written fiction.
As I mentioned before, this is a cautionary tale that we all need to look at. Not just for what good could finally happen for 'the weaker sex' but how ages of resentment could result in far more trust issues than any of us have now. Do we want to bring the males down to where they've put us? Wouldn't it be better to start accepting people as people with no classifications of lower, weaker, etc. Because if we can't get males to join in the fight against inequalities they are as likely to fail as the lessors.
This review presents mostly questions because, though the book is fiction, it makes the reader think. Could this happen? How can we prevent it and still make a better society for everyone in the world?
Please, if you get the chance, pick up a copy.
Oh, and quickly, before I forget: I loved the characters and the way the story is told. If the scene was now it was present tense, if past the author used past tense. At first I found that a little hard to get used to, yet as I read it made perfect sense for all that happens in this book. Thank you, Kari Aguila, for a wonderful read!
February 21, 2014
In Women's Work, Kari Aguila, examines what would happen if women were compelled to redesign society after most of the men in the world are killed in a cataclysmic war. She shows how women rebuild community, neighborhood by neighborhood. The society they create depends on cooperation and collaboration among women. But it also depends on making sure that men never gain power and control again. Exploring this shift in power propels the plot.
Aguila is a skilled writer and for that I gave this book 5 stars. Her world-building is convincing. The portrayal of a future without any of the conveniences that most of us take for granted is vivid, believable, and cautionary. Her characters are well-written and show a variety of personalities. The plot of the story builds gradually to a dramatic scene (which I won't ruin by revealing it) and the denouement is touching and hopeful. This is a book worth reading. It will make you think not just about gender roles and stereotypes, but also about what kind of future we will have if we continue to use war as a means to resolve conflict.
Unfortunately, for me the reversal of roles, in which men stayed home to do housework and were not allowed to speak at community meetings, was too pat. It reminded me of what kids call "opposite day" instead of something more deeply conceived. Of course, this may have been the point Aguila wanted to make - that given the opportunity or the necessity women will use power and control no better than men have. However, I would have found it more compelling if this aspect of the plot had been more creatively and richly imagined. Nevertheless, the book is a very good read and well worth your time.
Aguila is a skilled writer and for that I gave this book 5 stars. Her world-building is convincing. The portrayal of a future without any of the conveniences that most of us take for granted is vivid, believable, and cautionary. Her characters are well-written and show a variety of personalities. The plot of the story builds gradually to a dramatic scene (which I won't ruin by revealing it) and the denouement is touching and hopeful. This is a book worth reading. It will make you think not just about gender roles and stereotypes, but also about what kind of future we will have if we continue to use war as a means to resolve conflict.
Unfortunately, for me the reversal of roles, in which men stayed home to do housework and were not allowed to speak at community meetings, was too pat. It reminded me of what kids call "opposite day" instead of something more deeply conceived. Of course, this may have been the point Aguila wanted to make - that given the opportunity or the necessity women will use power and control no better than men have. However, I would have found it more compelling if this aspect of the plot had been more creatively and richly imagined. Nevertheless, the book is a very good read and well worth your time.
August 25, 2016
This book has a very disturbing premise, a dystopian future where men are nearly extinct and women are responsible for all of the community building, agriculture and sustenance. The psychological effects of this are intriguing, and seeing how the author depicted strength of the women's skills and resilience was very quite an interesting picture. I have a gruesome fascination with post-apocalyptic societies and the survival skills needed to overcome the disaster, and this story fit into the catagory perfectly. I found myself pondering over the premise during spare moments while I was reading it, and now that I'm finished I still can't stop thinking of it.
That said, the writing was the weaker element in the whole. The characters were strong and compelling, but the narrative was a little forced and the handling overall just felt a little rough. The writer has a lot of talent, and I would definitely pick up her next novel because I'd love to watch how she develops.
It is a good read overall, and definitely provided a lot of food for thought. I don't know what I'd do in a scenario like that - I could definitely survive, but I would miss the balance, the yin and yang of men and women. It made me appreciate my friends and family of both genders immensely!
I received this book as part of the GoodReads First Reads giveaway program. Thank you!
That said, the writing was the weaker element in the whole. The characters were strong and compelling, but the narrative was a little forced and the handling overall just felt a little rough. The writer has a lot of talent, and I would definitely pick up her next novel because I'd love to watch how she develops.
It is a good read overall, and definitely provided a lot of food for thought. I don't know what I'd do in a scenario like that - I could definitely survive, but I would miss the balance, the yin and yang of men and women. It made me appreciate my friends and family of both genders immensely!
I received this book as part of the GoodReads First Reads giveaway program. Thank you!
January 30, 2014
I won this book in a Goodreads giveaway.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story. Today, there are so many differences between men and women. Married people don't always seem happy; 50% of marriages end in divorce. Both genders "joke" about being superior to the other. Kari Aguila's story is set in the future after a kind of Civil War between men and women has occurred. The women are in charge, and the men are looked down upon and heavily feared still. Kate, the main character in the story, is a single mother, a woman set out to raise her three children in a safe society where there are no men to destroy all that she has accomplished. That is, until a man shows up at her door holding a sick young child. While Kate feels obligated to help the child, she remains wary of the man. As the story progresses, the reader is constantly wondering if this strange man is one of the few good men still out there, or a raider out to take her children. The end is not exactly what I hoped for, but the story is well written and makes the reader think about who we are as a society and how we treat others.
I really enjoyed the concept of this story. Today, there are so many differences between men and women. Married people don't always seem happy; 50% of marriages end in divorce. Both genders "joke" about being superior to the other. Kari Aguila's story is set in the future after a kind of Civil War between men and women has occurred. The women are in charge, and the men are looked down upon and heavily feared still. Kate, the main character in the story, is a single mother, a woman set out to raise her three children in a safe society where there are no men to destroy all that she has accomplished. That is, until a man shows up at her door holding a sick young child. While Kate feels obligated to help the child, she remains wary of the man. As the story progresses, the reader is constantly wondering if this strange man is one of the few good men still out there, or a raider out to take her children. The end is not exactly what I hoped for, but the story is well written and makes the reader think about who we are as a society and how we treat others.
February 23, 2015
Women's Work by Kari Aguila is an ambitious work that depicts a dystopic world in which all the modern conveniences are gone, women rule the neighborhoods and government, and men are now seen as either raiders praying on the women or are kept housebound by their female partners. The first 37 pages are rough going as she establishes this new world order. This must be a difficulty all dystopic, fantasy, and science fiction writers must face. This is not a genre I normally read but Women's Work is an intriguing read.
Aquila's characters are compelling and well illustrated. The reader truly feels for them and their plight. But, the world order established seems far fetched. I almost think the work needs to be longer and the history of the characters better established. The ending is too abrupt. I think the characters need more time and scenarios to establish relationships. We are learning everything about these characters through second hand narration.
Once the characters and the setting is established the novel flows very well. The reader becomes truly vested in Aguila's characters. I recommend it and look forward to reading more novels by Kari Aguila.
Aquila's characters are compelling and well illustrated. The reader truly feels for them and their plight. But, the world order established seems far fetched. I almost think the work needs to be longer and the history of the characters better established. The ending is too abrupt. I think the characters need more time and scenarios to establish relationships. We are learning everything about these characters through second hand narration.
Once the characters and the setting is established the novel flows very well. The reader becomes truly vested in Aguila's characters. I recommend it and look forward to reading more novels by Kari Aguila.
February 18, 2014
Review posted on my blog!
May 9, 2016
Even when women have taken over the world, fear lingers.
It is a deep-rooted fear of men. Not of the men they know, who they keep in their houses and make decisions for. But the fear of strange men; those without a controlling, subduing factor in their lives, prone to anger and violence. Because the sisterhood cannot conceive of any one man on his own who is good, and kind, and loving. They teach nonviolence as one of the main tenets of the Habits of Humanity, but when it comes down to it, these women are as capable of violence as the next man.
When a strange man appears on her doorstep with a very sick boy in tow, Kate must decide whether to give in to her fear and chase them away, or to help them. But her decisions, as slowly, as carefully, as distrustfully, as she makes them has repercussions on everyone: herself, her family, the man and his son, her community, the policies and laws that guide their new lives.
Women's Work starts off a little choppily, giving a glimpse through the main protagonist's eyes of the changed world that she lives in; it's not until the middle of the chapter, when she reaches the market, that names are assigned and identities established. Kari Aguila guides you gently into this strange, inconceivable world, where women finally have the upper hand. She's not all complimentary - Patrice and some of the women hold very extreme positions; Iris has her issues and has single-handedly built this community to where it is, but she is sympathetic enough to listen; Rhia and Sarah bring thoughtful, careful balance.
But at the core of it, as all our lives must be, it is Kate's own decisions and Kate's own heart that must guide her. She is wary, distrustful, and so is the stranger at her doorstep - him more so, because he has much more to lose. The need to value people as people is as urgent and important as ever, whether they are male or female. And though Kate is comfortable with the new society she lives in now, she also wonders - what's in store for her son? Will Jonah be able to be the doctor he wants to be? What's the terrifying age when he suddenly changes from an innocent child into a dangerous man? No one knows yet. They are the pioneers.
Aguila writes in third person, present tense, forming a very dream-like story; here, but not here, happening, but happened. It slows you down in your reading, helping you to savour the thoughts that are being thrown up. It's not entirely to my preference, but it works, for this story at least. It centres you on Kate's fears, the way she mistrusts people, even herself, the way she gradually opens up, the betrayal she feels over and over again.
If there's anything that doesn't work, it's the way that the ending feels rushed. I would have liked to see a little of what happens in between chapter 20 and the epilogue-like chapter 21, instead of a few summarising paragraphs.
* Note: I received a review copy via Edelweiss.
It is a deep-rooted fear of men. Not of the men they know, who they keep in their houses and make decisions for. But the fear of strange men; those without a controlling, subduing factor in their lives, prone to anger and violence. Because the sisterhood cannot conceive of any one man on his own who is good, and kind, and loving. They teach nonviolence as one of the main tenets of the Habits of Humanity, but when it comes down to it, these women are as capable of violence as the next man.
When a strange man appears on her doorstep with a very sick boy in tow, Kate must decide whether to give in to her fear and chase them away, or to help them. But her decisions, as slowly, as carefully, as distrustfully, as she makes them has repercussions on everyone: herself, her family, the man and his son, her community, the policies and laws that guide their new lives.
Women's Work starts off a little choppily, giving a glimpse through the main protagonist's eyes of the changed world that she lives in; it's not until the middle of the chapter, when she reaches the market, that names are assigned and identities established. Kari Aguila guides you gently into this strange, inconceivable world, where women finally have the upper hand. She's not all complimentary - Patrice and some of the women hold very extreme positions; Iris has her issues and has single-handedly built this community to where it is, but she is sympathetic enough to listen; Rhia and Sarah bring thoughtful, careful balance.
But at the core of it, as all our lives must be, it is Kate's own decisions and Kate's own heart that must guide her. She is wary, distrustful, and so is the stranger at her doorstep - him more so, because he has much more to lose. The need to value people as people is as urgent and important as ever, whether they are male or female. And though Kate is comfortable with the new society she lives in now, she also wonders - what's in store for her son? Will Jonah be able to be the doctor he wants to be? What's the terrifying age when he suddenly changes from an innocent child into a dangerous man? No one knows yet. They are the pioneers.
Aguila writes in third person, present tense, forming a very dream-like story; here, but not here, happening, but happened. It slows you down in your reading, helping you to savour the thoughts that are being thrown up. It's not entirely to my preference, but it works, for this story at least. It centres you on Kate's fears, the way she mistrusts people, even herself, the way she gradually opens up, the betrayal she feels over and over again.
If there's anything that doesn't work, it's the way that the ending feels rushed. I would have liked to see a little of what happens in between chapter 20 and the epilogue-like chapter 21, instead of a few summarising paragraphs.
* Note: I received a review copy via Edelweiss.
May 29, 2014
I initially wanted to read this book because the synopsis brought to mind The Handmaids Tale by Margaret Atwood, and the twist on this type of dystopian theme intrigued me as I had thoroughly enjoyed the aforementioned book. Unfortunately, this one lost its way somewhere in the pages, and I’m still trying to figure out where this happened.
The characters in this book are, for the main part, all women and given the theme of the book I fully expected them to be strong and capable with none of the insecurities felt by their gender prior to the events that heralded this story. I found them to be full of paranoia and the usual backstabbing insecurities that are rife in many of my gender today, and this was a total let down. I enjoyed the main protagonist immensely, up to a point, but then even she let me down. I felt so much more could have been done to develop the characters encountered whilst reading this book but, as they are I am sure that if this is chosen for a read of the month by a book club they will be the starting off point for many interesting discussions.
For me, the redeeming part of the book was how the characters managed to adapt to a world without any of the conveniences we know in our lives, it was almost as if the book were written from an historical point of view with people from the future populating it. I enjoyed reading about the various ways they adapted things to make what they needed to survive, and also how their lives were very much dictated by the length of the days and the seasons.
Everything this book covers could have led to an outstanding novel if padded out more, and imagination where allowed to raise its head occasionally; however, instead of this happening the book comes across as being very black and white and reads rather more like a dissertation on gender dynamics than the book I was expecting. Despite my misgivings about this book, the Author is certainly a skilled writer and I felt that I would have enjoyed this more if she had not tried to pack so much into such a small number of pages, 298 to be exact.
Although I would recommend this book to book clubs that are looking for a read that will spark a lively discussion, I doubt very much if I will be reading anything else by this author.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/14...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
The characters in this book are, for the main part, all women and given the theme of the book I fully expected them to be strong and capable with none of the insecurities felt by their gender prior to the events that heralded this story. I found them to be full of paranoia and the usual backstabbing insecurities that are rife in many of my gender today, and this was a total let down. I enjoyed the main protagonist immensely, up to a point, but then even she let me down. I felt so much more could have been done to develop the characters encountered whilst reading this book but, as they are I am sure that if this is chosen for a read of the month by a book club they will be the starting off point for many interesting discussions.
For me, the redeeming part of the book was how the characters managed to adapt to a world without any of the conveniences we know in our lives, it was almost as if the book were written from an historical point of view with people from the future populating it. I enjoyed reading about the various ways they adapted things to make what they needed to survive, and also how their lives were very much dictated by the length of the days and the seasons.
Everything this book covers could have led to an outstanding novel if padded out more, and imagination where allowed to raise its head occasionally; however, instead of this happening the book comes across as being very black and white and reads rather more like a dissertation on gender dynamics than the book I was expecting. Despite my misgivings about this book, the Author is certainly a skilled writer and I felt that I would have enjoyed this more if she had not tried to pack so much into such a small number of pages, 298 to be exact.
Although I would recommend this book to book clubs that are looking for a read that will spark a lively discussion, I doubt very much if I will be reading anything else by this author.
Originally reviewed on: http://catesbooknuthut.com/2014/05/14...
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
September 3, 2015
What would the world be like if women ran it? Would it be peace, love, and sunshine? Would there be equality for all? Kari Aguila takes us on a journey of that possibility of what could happen.
In the past men ran everything, government, religion, and women. They controlled everything a women could and could not do, until she was just a object to be used for breeding. When the women finally had enough they stood up and stopped it all, by branding all men as bad. All they want to do is repress them, take back control, and start wars all over again. Is this true? Surely not all men are bad? Or are they?
Kate and her three children live outside the neighborhood, a community run by women, for women, for the greater good of the world. She has a farm and is fine on her own. One day she observes a man at the edge of her field and like the good girl that she is she runs away. For days she is on edge wondering about the man, is he going to hurt her or the children? Is he a spy for the raiders? Then the man shows up at her door, with his sick child. Kate does what any good mom would do and cares for the son, but will not let the man in her house. Days pass the son gets better. Rather than leave Kate and Michael, the man, they fall into an easy friendship of helping each other out. His son plays with Kate’s children and they are all okay.
You get to see the day to day life for the people in the neighborhood, they have a market on Saturday where they trade goods. You are introduced to some of the women of the community. Iris who is like a leader, Patrice who is a loud mouth trouble maker, Rhia a fisher woman, Sarah a kindly and sweet school teacher/mother. All these women have important rolls within the book and within the neighborhood. Without them the story would be okay, but these ladies add fear, passion, love, hatred, determination, and so many other important elements to the story.
What if the neighborhood women found out Kate had a man in her house? A man who is not a raider or a mean person. What would they do? Would they still kill him because he is a man? This book puts the twist on how things are in our society, how people should be treated as equal. Kate says it best when she says, there is light and dark in us all. She is spot on!!
The end of this book has me holding my breath, I was freaking out!! How can those women be so callous and so blind? It was like a witch hunt for Michael. I understand why Kate freaked out, I understand why she did what she did, but holy crap. Can Michael ever learn to trust Kate or the women again? Or is it all lost? Will the hope for the future be enough to earn his trust again?
In the past men ran everything, government, religion, and women. They controlled everything a women could and could not do, until she was just a object to be used for breeding. When the women finally had enough they stood up and stopped it all, by branding all men as bad. All they want to do is repress them, take back control, and start wars all over again. Is this true? Surely not all men are bad? Or are they?
Kate and her three children live outside the neighborhood, a community run by women, for women, for the greater good of the world. She has a farm and is fine on her own. One day she observes a man at the edge of her field and like the good girl that she is she runs away. For days she is on edge wondering about the man, is he going to hurt her or the children? Is he a spy for the raiders? Then the man shows up at her door, with his sick child. Kate does what any good mom would do and cares for the son, but will not let the man in her house. Days pass the son gets better. Rather than leave Kate and Michael, the man, they fall into an easy friendship of helping each other out. His son plays with Kate’s children and they are all okay.
You get to see the day to day life for the people in the neighborhood, they have a market on Saturday where they trade goods. You are introduced to some of the women of the community. Iris who is like a leader, Patrice who is a loud mouth trouble maker, Rhia a fisher woman, Sarah a kindly and sweet school teacher/mother. All these women have important rolls within the book and within the neighborhood. Without them the story would be okay, but these ladies add fear, passion, love, hatred, determination, and so many other important elements to the story.
What if the neighborhood women found out Kate had a man in her house? A man who is not a raider or a mean person. What would they do? Would they still kill him because he is a man? This book puts the twist on how things are in our society, how people should be treated as equal. Kate says it best when she says, there is light and dark in us all. She is spot on!!
The end of this book has me holding my breath, I was freaking out!! How can those women be so callous and so blind? It was like a witch hunt for Michael. I understand why Kate freaked out, I understand why she did what she did, but holy crap. Can Michael ever learn to trust Kate or the women again? Or is it all lost? Will the hope for the future be enough to earn his trust again?
March 3, 2014
I received this book through Goodreads' first reads via the author (who was incredibly kind and attached a signed note). It was a good story. The premise of the book was interesting and the characters likable. Nevertheless, I think it could have used more development in world building and the dynamics of the main conflict. The author seems to have wanted to write a commentary on gender dynamics. However, it reads very black and white. What was considered masculine and feminine, even when supposedly reversed in this world, were typical of social norms. There was no discussion of the things and people that exist outside of what is socially considered male and female. Not all women are mothers and wives and not all men are fathers and husbands. What would have happened to those who did not fit into these roles or had yet to take on these roles? I kept hoping for more development of the background of the story. Because this did not happen, the book read more like a simple and traditional romance. I will say that the bit of drama at the end was a great addition. More of the book needed this. The author talked around the conflict for much of the book, focusing instead on a rather abrupt romance between the main characters. This developed a bit too quickly, in my opinion, in a world where a gender war had occurred in the recent past.
Nevertheless, for a romance novel, it was an interesting read. This book was not right for me as a women who is on a career path and does not have a family. However, those who do have a family or are interested in how a woman with children would react in the situation of a post-gender war world would likely find this book interesting. I think Kari Aguila is a skilled writer and her book is certainly worth a read if you enjoy the genre.
Nevertheless, for a romance novel, it was an interesting read. This book was not right for me as a women who is on a career path and does not have a family. However, those who do have a family or are interested in how a woman with children would react in the situation of a post-gender war world would likely find this book interesting. I think Kari Aguila is a skilled writer and her book is certainly worth a read if you enjoy the genre.
February 21, 2014
I was definitely drawn into the post war world created in this novel. I was left wondering how I would survive if it was me, because I certainly couldn't see myself killing fluffy little animals. It's a totally different scenario when your meat comes with a face and fur. The innovative ideas for tools and gardening were very interesting as well.
It was like time was reversed, and women were being repressed, their freedoms and privileges taken away, while men fought a world war. The women finally revolted against the men when there were too few left to be able to stop them. Women negotiated peace, and because they felt hostility and aggression were tendencies more ingrained in men, they took over the power and limited the men's freedoms. It was done all in the name of keeping peace and for survival, but, it was interesting to see the situation flip flopped and how men reacted, how women reasoned their decisions and the way they treated the men.
The paranoia, any man wandering alone was considered dangerous, and the women's fear of raiders, in relation to Michael's entrance in the story didn't get as intense as I expected it would. The end became suspenseful. I don't want to give too many details. I thought it would go one of two dramatic ways, hoped for one more than the other, but it kind of meandered in between those two paths.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
I was given a free copy of this book in order to write an honest review.
It was like time was reversed, and women were being repressed, their freedoms and privileges taken away, while men fought a world war. The women finally revolted against the men when there were too few left to be able to stop them. Women negotiated peace, and because they felt hostility and aggression were tendencies more ingrained in men, they took over the power and limited the men's freedoms. It was done all in the name of keeping peace and for survival, but, it was interesting to see the situation flip flopped and how men reacted, how women reasoned their decisions and the way they treated the men.
The paranoia, any man wandering alone was considered dangerous, and the women's fear of raiders, in relation to Michael's entrance in the story didn't get as intense as I expected it would. The end became suspenseful. I don't want to give too many details. I thought it would go one of two dramatic ways, hoped for one more than the other, but it kind of meandered in between those two paths.
Overall, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.
I was given a free copy of this book in order to write an honest review.
July 2, 2014
Women's Work
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It is a very interesting read.
I like it because I am a survival minded individual and I really got into some of the ideas Kari had for survival once the grid has fallen. I also enjoyed the story's flow and pace. It didn't leave you bored reading for days with no point but then again I love the survival information and could always find entertainment there.
This book was also very interesting because it challenges our traditional views of sexism and racism. These themes are challenged in a delicate way, always with the goal of peace and unity as the primary driver for decisions. Curious how sometimes trying to do the "right" thing can take our society down all the wrong roads.
As far as writing style as I mentioned it flows very nicely. I found some of the character descriptions may have lacked a little but not at the detriment of the story. As a reader you are just more free to fill in the blanks.
In the end I really enjoyed it!
I won this book in a Goodreads Giveaway. It is a very interesting read.
I like it because I am a survival minded individual and I really got into some of the ideas Kari had for survival once the grid has fallen. I also enjoyed the story's flow and pace. It didn't leave you bored reading for days with no point but then again I love the survival information and could always find entertainment there.
This book was also very interesting because it challenges our traditional views of sexism and racism. These themes are challenged in a delicate way, always with the goal of peace and unity as the primary driver for decisions. Curious how sometimes trying to do the "right" thing can take our society down all the wrong roads.
As far as writing style as I mentioned it flows very nicely. I found some of the character descriptions may have lacked a little but not at the detriment of the story. As a reader you are just more free to fill in the blanks.
In the end I really enjoyed it!
March 11, 2014
I won this book in a 'first-reads' giveaway.
When I read the synopsis of this book I was instantly intrigued. What if the women in the world did manage some how to take control and make men submit to them. It was an interesting idea about gender equality (well about equality in general really). I can see how hard it is keeping things in balance and what could happen if there were a complete reversal. With that being said I don't think that something like that would happen on as large of a scale as described but I did enjoy the story. It did make me think about things. Any book that actually gets me thinking about possibilities is generally a good book to me. However, I felt like I was being rushed the whole time while reading this book. Like there was too much being crammed in such a small space. I wanted to hear more. And the ending didn't really have enough closure to me, I would have liked to have read more about what happened. Yes I could draw some conclusions but I just felt like there could have been more.
When I read the synopsis of this book I was instantly intrigued. What if the women in the world did manage some how to take control and make men submit to them. It was an interesting idea about gender equality (well about equality in general really). I can see how hard it is keeping things in balance and what could happen if there were a complete reversal. With that being said I don't think that something like that would happen on as large of a scale as described but I did enjoy the story. It did make me think about things. Any book that actually gets me thinking about possibilities is generally a good book to me. However, I felt like I was being rushed the whole time while reading this book. Like there was too much being crammed in such a small space. I wanted to hear more. And the ending didn't really have enough closure to me, I would have liked to have read more about what happened. Yes I could draw some conclusions but I just felt like there could have been more.
January 24, 2015
Although this book is basically a love story between two people who learn to trust each other after surviving a terrible ordeal, I really liked the author's treatment of the setting and the circumstances in which the couple meets and grows together.
The setting is a time in the not too distant future when the US has gone through a terrible war. Small communities of people are left to survive in a world without modern conveniences. The women now run the country and men are viewed with much suspicion.
When a strange man appears in her yard asking for help for his son one way, Kate, the main character is drawn into his life. But is he truly who he says he is or someone who is going to harm her?
I really liked the twist at the end. The author kept me guessing how it would turn out until the last chapter. It is one of those books that I kept thinking about even after I finished it. I will definitely recommend it - especially to women!
The setting is a time in the not too distant future when the US has gone through a terrible war. Small communities of people are left to survive in a world without modern conveniences. The women now run the country and men are viewed with much suspicion.
When a strange man appears in her yard asking for help for his son one way, Kate, the main character is drawn into his life. But is he truly who he says he is or someone who is going to harm her?
I really liked the twist at the end. The author kept me guessing how it would turn out until the last chapter. It is one of those books that I kept thinking about even after I finished it. I will definitely recommend it - especially to women!
September 14, 2014
I won this book from Goodreads First Reads.
This story looks at what society would be like in the future if women became the dominant gender. Most of the men were killed in a massive war, and the women try to begin rebuilding communities and society as a whole. The story makes you question gender roles and equality, and really kept me thinking, long after I finished the last page. I really enjoyed this book. It was different from any other dystopian story I've ever read. It was really interesting to see how the women in the community react when men come into the community. I really enjoyed reading how the women taught themselves how to be self-sufficient, and how everyone in the community worked together to help each other plant and harvest crops, educate their children, trade goods etc. This was a really interesting read overall.
This story looks at what society would be like in the future if women became the dominant gender. Most of the men were killed in a massive war, and the women try to begin rebuilding communities and society as a whole. The story makes you question gender roles and equality, and really kept me thinking, long after I finished the last page. I really enjoyed this book. It was different from any other dystopian story I've ever read. It was really interesting to see how the women in the community react when men come into the community. I really enjoyed reading how the women taught themselves how to be self-sufficient, and how everyone in the community worked together to help each other plant and harvest crops, educate their children, trade goods etc. This was a really interesting read overall.
September 6, 2014
This had me engrossed and read through fairly quickly. This is a different what if after a war where they restricted women from being part of society it was turned where women ruled. This is a very good book on how fear can turn people even those who were the oppressed might behave after they get the power.
Kate and her family are living in the outskirts of a town where women all are raising food and trading goods so all can share the goods that they have all learned to grow and make. Her son and two daughters help around the house with everything.
Their world is challenged when a man approaches her to help his 8 year old son because he is severely sick. Since men have basically been wiped out except for a few, they are all scared because he might be a raider.
Will they trust each other or will the women of the town come and take his son and kill the father?
Kate and her family are living in the outskirts of a town where women all are raising food and trading goods so all can share the goods that they have all learned to grow and make. Her son and two daughters help around the house with everything.
Their world is challenged when a man approaches her to help his 8 year old son because he is severely sick. Since men have basically been wiped out except for a few, they are all scared because he might be a raider.
Will they trust each other or will the women of the town come and take his son and kill the father?
February 22, 2014
Regardless of the fact that I know this author very well, this was a great read that I will recommend to all of my reading friends. The characters were well developed, and I felt like I was there with them every step of the way. I found the suspense throughout the story could have taken any or all of the characters in any of several different directions. As I just about to give up and assume that this supposedly "dystopic" book was really just another "utopian-happy-ending", the author takes you down a quick paced road that I personally didn't see coming. I would have been happy with any ending at that point, and I think that any of those potential endings could have been pulled off successfully. A must read!!!
February 6, 2014
I wanted to read this book because of the description and idea of the story. The concept is a very intriguing idea which is really what kept me reading. The story was also a pretty good one as well, but I was a little disappointed with, but I think that could be because it definitely feels more like a YA book (Except for the sexy scenes). I wasn't disappointed in the end with a little twist I wasn't quite expecting and I think I'd recommend it to friends who find the description interesting.
September 30, 2014
I won this terrific book from goodreads.com.
This is the first book I have read that is a dystopian novel and I was concerned that I wouldn't enjoy it. Happily, I was engrossed in it as soon as I started to read it. What would happen if women ruled and the men left after the Last War were feared? How would peace and equality return? This is a very thought provoking novel and a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the "what ifs" of life. I hope that that the author Kari Aguila will be writing more novels...very soon.
This is the first book I have read that is a dystopian novel and I was concerned that I wouldn't enjoy it. Happily, I was engrossed in it as soon as I started to read it. What would happen if women ruled and the men left after the Last War were feared? How would peace and equality return? This is a very thought provoking novel and a book I would recommend to anyone who enjoys the "what ifs" of life. I hope that that the author Kari Aguila will be writing more novels...very soon.
April 5, 2014
I thought to myself throughout this book that the rules its society placed on men are the same rules placed on many segments of women around the world today, just to remind myself that this kind of oppression and repression are entirely possible. I admired the characters and didn't always like them. The pace of the story had me flying through the pages. In the end I was left more heartbroken than hopeful, and I will certainly recommend this novel. Sequel, Ms. Aguila?
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March 24, 2014"'Women’s Work' is almost immediately engaging, with a story that moves at a clip. It’s easily readable while at the same time raising questions and issues that are bound to linger with the reader well after the book’s final period."
Read more here.
Read more here.
March 24, 2019
Received through Goodreads Book Giveaway Program
This type of book is right up my alley. A world where women rule. Hummm....that gets my interest.
I really liked this book but felt it was lacking in a few areas. At times it felt a little rushed and I would have questions in my mind that just went unanswered. I also wasn't a big fan of the ending. All in all a very thought provoking book.
This type of book is right up my alley. A world where women rule. Hummm....that gets my interest.
I really liked this book but felt it was lacking in a few areas. At times it felt a little rushed and I would have questions in my mind that just went unanswered. I also wasn't a big fan of the ending. All in all a very thought provoking book.
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