Review of Severed Roots
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Emily Astillberry
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Review of Severed Roots
[Following is a volunteer review of "Severed Roots" by Nego Huzcotoq.]
Severed Roots is a dystopian novel set in a future where the idea of the family unit has been largely eradicated, having been long considered a patriarchal construct, damaging to women, children and humanity as a whole. The 'age of oppression' of women by men is in the past, and men, now commonly known as 'mankeys,' are chemically castrated during adolescence and encouraged to opt for gender reassignment surgeries to prevent sexual urges and violent tendencies. Women have all the power, men are subjugated, and violent crime has been almost eliminated. People no longer have sons and daughters, and children no longer have parents. Babies are born to surrogates or 'manufacturers' and brought up in children's homes by facilitators and netbots.
Nick Wong is a Canadian 'mankey' who earns money performing at low key events as a magician. He is shy, gentle and severely lacking in confidence and self esteem. His upbringing in a children's home and subsequent life as one of the oppressed has left him with little in the way of possessions and next to no friends. His only meaningful relationships are with his old facilitator, Angelina and his friends Karla, a Ministry of Tomorrow employee and Beatrice, a 29 year old woman struggling with her emotional and physical desire to have a baby, a condition pejoratively diagnosed as Motherhood Syndrome. Beatrice is planning suicide by self-immolation on her 30th birthday.
Predictably, the world's population is not entirely convinced by this new world order or the promise that 'the future is near.' Rallies and revolts are becoming common and Nick, spurred by Beatrice's suffering and a chance meeting with Morrie, a different kind of man, also begins to question the status quo.
Nick is not a typical protagonist or hero. In fact, Nick is not entirely likeable. He fails to support his friends and comes across as rather weak willed. Although I wasn't sure at first, I actually think that it's rather refreshing for a reader to follow an uninspiring human who is questioning his life and the world in which he lives.
Severed Roots is a gripping, thought provoking book, and I devoured it in two sittings. The editing is excellent and the dialogue is realistic and relatable. At times, it is an uncomfortable, tense read. Huzcotoq tackles various big questions and his fiction crosses numerous ethical and political lines. I sometimes felt as if it were designed as a life lesson, a warning or advice rather than entertainment, but I must have gotten over that feeling as the story progressed because, in the end, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to have their social ideals challenged, and warn prospective readers that they will be faced with difficult subjects and gritty and tragic scenes. I have given it 4 stars out of 5 but remind readers of this review that this book will not be suitable or comfortable for everyone.
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Severed Roots
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Severed Roots is a dystopian novel set in a future where the idea of the family unit has been largely eradicated, having been long considered a patriarchal construct, damaging to women, children and humanity as a whole. The 'age of oppression' of women by men is in the past, and men, now commonly known as 'mankeys,' are chemically castrated during adolescence and encouraged to opt for gender reassignment surgeries to prevent sexual urges and violent tendencies. Women have all the power, men are subjugated, and violent crime has been almost eliminated. People no longer have sons and daughters, and children no longer have parents. Babies are born to surrogates or 'manufacturers' and brought up in children's homes by facilitators and netbots.
Nick Wong is a Canadian 'mankey' who earns money performing at low key events as a magician. He is shy, gentle and severely lacking in confidence and self esteem. His upbringing in a children's home and subsequent life as one of the oppressed has left him with little in the way of possessions and next to no friends. His only meaningful relationships are with his old facilitator, Angelina and his friends Karla, a Ministry of Tomorrow employee and Beatrice, a 29 year old woman struggling with her emotional and physical desire to have a baby, a condition pejoratively diagnosed as Motherhood Syndrome. Beatrice is planning suicide by self-immolation on her 30th birthday.
Predictably, the world's population is not entirely convinced by this new world order or the promise that 'the future is near.' Rallies and revolts are becoming common and Nick, spurred by Beatrice's suffering and a chance meeting with Morrie, a different kind of man, also begins to question the status quo.
Nick is not a typical protagonist or hero. In fact, Nick is not entirely likeable. He fails to support his friends and comes across as rather weak willed. Although I wasn't sure at first, I actually think that it's rather refreshing for a reader to follow an uninspiring human who is questioning his life and the world in which he lives.
Severed Roots is a gripping, thought provoking book, and I devoured it in two sittings. The editing is excellent and the dialogue is realistic and relatable. At times, it is an uncomfortable, tense read. Huzcotoq tackles various big questions and his fiction crosses numerous ethical and political lines. I sometimes felt as if it were designed as a life lesson, a warning or advice rather than entertainment, but I must have gotten over that feeling as the story progressed because, in the end, I couldn't put it down. I would recommend this book to anyone who is willing to have their social ideals challenged, and warn prospective readers that they will be faced with difficult subjects and gritty and tragic scenes. I have given it 4 stars out of 5 but remind readers of this review that this book will not be suitable or comfortable for everyone.
******
Severed Roots
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon
Latest Review: Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper
