"In The Power the world is a recognisable place: there's a rich Nigerian kid who lounges around the family pool; a foster girl whose religious parents hide their true nature; a local American politician; a tough London girl from a tricky family. But something vital has changed, causing their lives to converge with devastating effect. Teenage girls now have immense physical power - they can cause agonising pain and even death. And, with this small twist of nature, the world changes utterly."
That summary from the publisher is easier to use than to try to summarize this book myself (and it's shorter).
This story basically explores what the world would be like if the power balance changed, where women had all of the power in their hands (quite literally) and in doing so, exposes and engages with our contemporary world. The fact that women and girls have this power, which can actually kill a person, flips a lot of what our culture experiences, and in doing so, makes you really think about cultural dynamics in a new way. Some of these girls and women in the story become quite ruthless and I could totally understand that. After generations of being repressed, held down, abused, etc etc etc, when the power dynamic shifts, there's bound to be some violence.
The book begins with some letters between a man and a woman, then the story begins, and that the end, we return to the letters. There are also references sprinkled throughout the book that refer to archaeological discoveries. It is clear that this story is being written after the Cataclysm (as it's called when girls and women discover they have this power). There are several instances in the story when things happen and you think, wow, that's so violent. Those women are so violent. And then you think about that fact that in our world, right now, it's men who are violent. Who are perpetrating violence.
It's fascinating to have this story turn things around in such a way. The author intelligently pulls apart common social custom and assumption and then twists them in a way that you see them anew (kind of like twisting someone's head around so they can see behind them). Yes, a violent kind of analogy, but in keeping with some of the feel of this story.
I found this book difficult to put down and now plan to add it to my personal collection (yes, already starting that birthday wish list).
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