BOOK REVIEW - Woman on the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy - Audiobook - 3*

 

BOOK REVIEW

Woman on the Edge of Time - Marge Piercy

I like to start my book reviews with a little story about how and why I chose that particular book to read. This time, I'm finding it hard to give a reason, as I don't have a clear answer. I'll give it my best shot. From the simple standpoint, the title sounded interesting, I've been on a bit of a time-travel kick recently (as you can see from my recent reviews for The Time Traveler's Wife and In Any Lifetime, because parallel universes count as time travel, kind of!). 

On a slightly deeper level the college course I completed in May covered sociology and British history

and included modules on Women's Rights and the history of Feminism. As a woman, I'd say that while I am an advocate for equity, the history of feminism, gender roles, and different roles that societies can have women play were all very new to me. The idea of a feminist narrative, exploring the idea of a futuristic "Utopia" where these issues are non-existent was interesting, I wanted to see how that was presented and how barriers were addressed within the realms of science fiction, particularly as it was written in 1976. 

BLURB

Often compared to Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale and Naomi Alderman's The Power - Woman on the Edge of Time has been hailed as a classic of speculative science fiction. Disturbing and forward thinking, Marge Piercy's remarkable novel will speak to a new generation. 

Connie Ramos has been unjustly incarcerated in a mental institution with no hope of release. The authorities view her as a danger to herself and to others. Her family has given up on her. But Connie has a secret - a way to escape the confines of her cell. She can see the future. 

MY REVIEW

I had high expectations for this book, so was disappointed that it ended up being a three-star rating. That being said, there were certainly elements that I found enjoyable and engaging, and the story really came together towards the end. The narrator did a good job, especially with the nuances of language that were included in the dialogue of the characters from the future. The pacing was great and she did help the story to move along. 

The book follows Connie Ramos, a 37-year-old Mexican woman, living in New York City. She's involved in an altercation with her niece's boyfriend/pimp and as a result is moved to and held in a mental institution, due to her alleged aggression and mental health issues.

This story covers the period that she's receiving "treatment" for her mental disorders. Very early on, a character called Luciente is introduced. Luciente is from the future. Connie then spends a lot of her time in the mental institution visiting Luciente in their time, seeing how society has changed, and learning of the utopian future that awaits. 

The concept here is to explore the possibilities for society, when gender is no longer a factor, where everyone has complete equity, equality, and parity. Decisions are made harmoniously, parenthood is a shared responsibility, careers are based on passion rather than necessity, and everyone is on the same level. It's a great concept, but something was lacking and it didn't quite hit the mark for me. 

Connie, as a protagonist, is difficult to like. Actually, scratch that, she feels like two different people, between her own timeline and her visits to the future. Her reactions to discovering that she can astral project hundreds of years into the future are plain weird. She asks no questions about how or why this is happening to her, just accepts it, and goes on a tour of the utopian town she's become part of. No fear, no curiosity, no explanation. 

The present and future were so disconnected from each other, that it was like reading two books. 

The plot within the present-day story is solid, dealing with Connie's treatment, experiences, friendships, and trauma while being locked away. I thoroughly enjoyed those parts and was keen to see what happened next. Similarly, when visiting the future, Connie learns how life has changed for people, how things operate politically, how families are set up, and how they deal with grief and conflict. It was interesting to see how things could pan out, but there didn't seem to be any REASON for Connie being there and her knowledge didn't influence her decisions or actions when she was back in her own time. 

An interesting concept that was clearly well thought out and considered was the changes in the language used in the future. Gender-based language for example was entirely different and felt very relevant now, as a society becoming more accepting of binary/non-binary pronouns. It was very forward-thinking and incredibly accurate to how society is already beginning to change and adjust. Exceptional foreshadowing of real-life societal adaptations. These changes did make the dialogue hard to follow at times, especially at the beginning, while I was also still learning, along with Connie, the subtleties of the language. 

The final few chapters were engaging, and thought-provoking, especially relating to mental health. The ending helped the rest of the book fall into place. It leaves the outcome open to interpretation which is usually frustrating for me, but felt like the right thing for this book. 

Overall I wasn't thrilled by this book, as much as I wanted to be! I'm not likely to jump at the chance to read it again. Some elements were delightful, but I wish there was more to it. More of a plot, a goal, a reason. I was unsatisfied and couldn't shake the feeling that too much was left unsaid. 

Three stars from me. A readable, thought-provoking story with a really interesting concept and outcome. 

Have you read Woman on the Edge of Time? What did you think? Do you have any suggestions for books with an interesting take on society?

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