Episode 14: The Power by Naomi Alderman

Type of book: Feminist in nature. Explores power dynamics.

Synopsis: Teenage girls develop a power that allows them to harness electricity in the palm of their hands. They can then pass this power on to older women. Women around the world are now able to defend themselves and others and free themselves from unjust circumstances. The book explores how this power changes and influences the world, culture and society around them, and what happens when power dynamics are switched.  

Verdict: I liked it because it made me think, because it is extremely relevant to our current political climate and because it gave a balanced perspective of power and how it has the ability to corrupt. I will admit to feeling a bit bored in the middle but concede that stories sometimes lose my attention there anyway. It wasn’t a book that I couldn’t put down, but then again, it was a book that I kept thinking about when I did.

Goodreads score: (out of 5): 3.9

My Score: 4 stars

Themes: power, feminism, role reversal, culture, religion, politics, patriarchy

Memorable quote from the podcast: That’s “why it’s called the power, not the love, not the evolution, but the power. And what do we do, how do we use that power responsibly? Because yes we can hurt people with a force that we might have, but should we? And how do we act humanly toward one another? Because we can be cruel but how can we use our power for good and not for abuse or evil?”

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