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An Excess Male
An Excess Male: Under the One Child Policy, everyone plotted to have a son. Now 40 million of them can't find wives. | Maggie Shen King
From debut author Maggie Shen King, An Excess Male is the chilling dystopian tale of politics, inequality, marriage, love, and rebellion, set in a near-future China, that further explores the themes of the classic The Handmaid's Tale and When She Woke. Chinas One Child Policy and its cultural preference for male heirs have created a society overrun by 40 million unmarriageable men. An Excess Male is one such leftover mans quest for love and family under a State that seeks to glorify its past mistakes and impose order through authoritatian measures, reinvigorated Communist ideals, and social engineering. Wei-guo holds fast to the belief that as long as he continues to improve himself, his small business, and in turn, his country, his chance at love will come. He finally saves up the dowry required to enter matchmaking talks at the lowest rung as a third husbandthe maximum allowed by law. Only a single family--one harboring an illegal spouse--shows interest, yet with May-ling and her two husbands, Wei-guo feels seen, heard, and connected to like never before. But everyone and everythingwalls, streetlights, garbage cansare listening, and men, excess or not, are dispensable to the State. Wei-guo must reach a new understanding of patriotism and test the limits of his love and his resolve in order to save himself and this family he has come to hold dear.
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bookandbedandtea
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Mehso-so

This was very engaging, I could hardly put it down. The author has created horrific living conditions in a near future China and it's interesting to watch our MCs navigate their society. All four of the main characters are truly interesting and I was hoping they'd be successful in creating a strong family. I'll put the reason this isn't a pick for me in a comment as a spoiler.

bookandbedandtea Two of the MCs aren't ideal citizens (one is gay, the other on the autism spectrum), per the government, and neither of them get to be happy in the end while the straight couple end up in the best circumstances their society will allow for them. The end my be realistic given the constraints of their society but it left me frustrated and sad. Also, the child is HORRIBLE! 😠 4y
23 likes1 comment
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AshHisson
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Mehso-so

I'm not entirely sure what I think about this book. I found the story captivating and got through it quickly, but I found the characters and a number of the plot points difficult. I may have liked it better had I not been looking for some positive LGBTQ+ reading for the month. 3/5 #junereads #specfic

15 likes1 stack add
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mreads
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In this near future dystopian novel every China boy wants his #chinagirl, by 2030 China's one child policy and cultural preference for male heirs means 25% of the men in their late 30s will be unmarried resulting in a new policy of polyandry and three husbands now.
#underrated
#wanderingjune @Cinfhen @BarbaraBB
#30JuneBooks @howjessreads

BarbaraBB This sounds great! 5y
Cinfhen I bought this one, but haven‘t read it yet... I‘ll share with you @BarbaraBB 5y
BarbaraBB 💜 5y
51 likes1 stack add3 comments
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RealLifeReading
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An interesting article in the New York Times about feminist dystopian fiction
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/08/books/feminist-dystopian-fiction-margaret-atw...

Moray_Reads Interesting. Thanks for sharing (and adding a couple to my tbr!) 6y
Beachesnbooks Interesting article, thanks for posting! 6y
DimeryRene I just wrote down all the books on this to add to my TBR. 6y
See All 6 Comments
aeeklund Oooooooo, thank you!!! 6y
UnabridgedPod Vox and Res Clocks were both great! 6y
SealedWithInk A great read! Thank you for posting 😇 6y
114 likes1 stack add6 comments
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ElishaLovesBooks
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Pickpick

What will the results of China‘s one child policy be on it‘s future? How will so many extra unmarriageable men find love and family? This book creates a future that is complicated and shows a rigid life under communism, but has well-developed characters that inject humor and personality. You can‘t help but become invested in them and their story. Extremely well done and very interesting to think about.

Andrew65 That is going to be quite a conundrum! 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @Andrew65 It really is! And the author does such a good job creating a realistic, yet futuristic take on it! 6y
ReadingEnvy I can highly recommend this book for a deep study of the topic.... 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @ReadingEnvy Thank you for suggesting this! It looks fascinating! Stacked!! 6y
76 likes4 comments
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arubabookwoman
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Pickpick

I wasn‘t expecting much from this dystopian novel, which has been compared to The Handmaid‘s Tale, set in near future China where there are 40 million more men than women. Females are valuable commodities, command huge dowries, and usually have more than one husband. Having saved for years for a dowry, 40-something Wei-guo seeks to become a 3rd husband in a seemingly happy family. Complications, including the “willfully sterile” (cont‘d below)

arubabookwoman (Homosexual) and a “lost boy” (on the autism spectrum), both illegal under the plausible surveillance state in which our characters conduct their courtship ensue. Great plot, believable and sympathetic characters, and important issues of sexuality, intimacy, privacy and what it means to be a family. I really liked this . Highly recommended. (edited) 6y
Laura317 I‘ve heard that women have been kidnapped in some rural areas as wives. I hope that that‘s a rumor. 6y
Suet624 Great review! 6y
RaimeyGallant Intriguing. 6y
batsy I've stacked this, and your thoughtful review has made me even more interested! 6y
31 likes3 stack adds5 comments
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ElishaLovesBooks
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Fist leg of our trip is done! Only 3 more to go! 😂😂 I just started this book on the flight andI‘m only a few pages in but it already seems awesome!

I‘m not a great flyer so I‘m trying really hard to take deep breaths and not be nauseous! This trip has been 20 years in the making! #20thweddinganniversary #nokids #london #israel

CouronneDhiver I‘m not a happy flier either, but I promise, it‘s always worth it in the end 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @CouronneDhiver You are right! That‘s what I keep trying to remind myself! 6y
mabell Awesome!! Have a great time! (You'll be there before you know it!) ❤️ 6y
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MicheleinPhilly A good book or romantic comedy always seems to cure my flying anxiety. 6y
ElishaLovesBooks @mabell Thanks!💕 @MicheleinPhilly I‘m hoping a movie does the trick!! 🤞😘 (edited) 6y
minkyb Enjoy! 6y
76 likes6 comments
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CSeydel
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Pickpick

Started the #ATBweekendreadathon early since I‘m away this weekend and I had a good amount of time Thursday to read. I finished this one and I am having trouble reviewing it. It kept me turning pages, that‘s for sure. I enjoyed it. I love, love, loved the concept, as well as her treatment of the characters, and her philosophical messages. Unfortunately the plot went a little off the rails in the 2nd half. 3.5/5

Erin7 I hope it‘s fun times planned this weekend. 6y
Jess_Read_This Nice!! I got started late and am catching up w everyone‘s posts now 6y
CSeydel @Erin7 Yeah fun times. Middle had 2nd competition in the solo ice dance series, up in Redwood City, so we went early and spent a day in Sacramento since the kids had never been. Hot but fun. 6y
81 likes4 comments
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GivenLemons
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Pickpick

Stayed up late to finish this one! A really interesting novel imagining the effects of China‘s One Child policy and preference for sons. #speculativefiction

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Smrloomis
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Pickpick

A science fiction thriller set in a future China where women are encouraged to marry multiple husbands. I enjoyed this a lot. Highly recommended. #litsyatoz2018

alanacristin Oh! Definitely sounds like one I'd like! 6y
Smrloomis @alanacristin I loved it. If you give it a try, let me know what you think! 6y
alanacristin @Smrloomis will do! Fingers crossed my library has the ebook 🍀 6y
74 likes6 stack adds3 comments
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Smrloomis
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Just started this and so far it is really, really good!

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Sue
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Pickpick

Set in the near future, China‘s women are commodities as the result of the one child policy. Women can have up to three husbands, with each husband contracted to produce a child. Homosexuality is a problem, and those who are ‘Wilfully Sterile‘ are. It allowed to have families or produce children. This follows the story of a family looking to expand to take on a third husband. Will he be able to look after them and their secrets?

Lcsmcat Sounds interesting. 7y
RaimeyGallant Interesting. 7y
SandyW This had been on my TBR for awhile. I'll have to move it back up the list! 7y
ladym30 Beautiful picture! 7y
87 likes6 stack adds4 comments
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Aleida
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Please help!

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MaggieShenKing
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Book Photo Contest: Post Photo of An Excess Male with short message to win $50 bookstore credit + one hour Skype book club discussion with me.

Contest rules here: http://maggieshenking.com/photo-contest/

This photo from Book Shop Santa Cruz is one of my favorites ever of my book. It is part of their Book Blind Date recommendations.

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2BR02B
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#kindledeal alert! I really enjoyed this futuristic tale in which China's one child policy has led to a huge disparity in gender ratio, and most women must take multiple husbands. If you like character-focused speculative fiction, this might be right up your alley.

@MaggieShenKing

Weyrwoman This looks really interesting! 7y
MaggieShenKing Thank you for the recommendation! 7y
34 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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MaggieShenKing
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Come talk to me about my novel, An Excess Male, the One Child Policy that inspired it, and my road to publishing. #reddit ama

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BookishFeminist
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It‘s our first snow of the year in DC! ❄️☃️

I‘m spending it inside reading, baking Christmas cookies, watching way too much Great British Baking Show, and drinking hot chocolate. I may have spiked it. 🍾🙊 #booksnbucks

dylanisreading I love the Great British Baking Show. ❤️ 7y
Nat_Reads Perfect day! 7y
Owlizabeth Perfect day for GBBS - great minds think alike! 😉 7y
See All 8 Comments
UrsulaMonarch Love this!!!! 7y
Daisey Sounds like an amazing day! 7y
saresmoore Yep, that‘s my dream day. 7y
Young i stay home, so bored 7y
RealLifeReading GBBO!! ❤️❤️ 7y
121 likes8 comments
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TracyReadsBooks
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Pickpick

In the not too distant future, China‘s 1 child policy, along with a preference for male children, has resulted in a significant population imbalance & there are 40 million unmarriageable men. Enter Wei-guo who has finally saved enough money to enter matchmaking talks to become a third husband. (Yep, women can have up to 3 husbands.) Family, love, computer hacking, war games, conspiracies...this book has it all. A good, thought-provoking read.

SandyW This one's been on my TBR for awhile now. Out sounds quite intriguing. 7y
9 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
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Having read three of the four MG/YA books I wanted to preview this weekend, I‘m going to take a break. Really intrigued by the cover blurb which describes this as “The Handmaid‘s Tale of a new generation.” Premise is quite promising—China‘s one child policy and a preference for boys has resulted in too many men. 40 million unmarriageable men to be exact. This is the story of one such man. I‘m anticipating a very interesting story.

SandyW Thanks for posting this...added to TBR 7y
8 likes1 stack add1 comment
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TracyReadsBooks
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Family book haul from today‘s visit to our local indy favorite. Now to make the pot of tea and get reading.

ElishaLovesBooks The Bear and the Nightingale is great! 7y
8 likes1 comment
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2BR02B
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1. Madison, WI
2. I just started the tagged book last night, and I'm looking forward to more time in that world.
3. The southwestern veggie burrito I've got lined up for lunch.
4. The highlight of my week was seeing a baby barred owl outside my office yesterday.
5. Looking forward to reading in a bunch of different locations- work > the library > the park > who knows?

#readathon @DeweysReadathon

Smrloomis Tell me how it is when you finish this. I‘m very curious since I think the premise is pretty good. 7y
Mollyanna Greetings fellow Wisconsinite! Happy reading 😀 7y
25 likes2 comments
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2BR02B
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This is a drag. A year ago, I tore through Joe Hill's The Fireman in three days, only stopping when necessity demanded it. I picked up #SleepingBeauties eagerly anticipating a similar degree of breathless intensity, never expecting what a snooze (pun intended) I was in for. I'm almost halfway through, and I just can't get excited about this. I'm reluctantly putting it aside in favor of a different King, for now.

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Audrey
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Pickpick

This was a great premise but slightly unevenly. China has an over abundance of men and not enough women. Told from multiple povs about a man who wishes to enter a family with two husbands, it also focuses on the consequences if one is gay or mentally ill. It also shows how families keep secrets and the lengths they will go to to keep the family intact. The book did digress a bit (dogs & toddler's bratty behavior) but the ending was engrossing.

16 likes2 stack adds
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2BR02B
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Another lovely #libraryhaul. I need to get my holds list under control.

mrozzz Definitely a good haul! 👌🏻🤓☺️ 7y
TheBookStacker Ahhh I want to read An Excess Male soooooo bad! 7y
Cinfhen Niiiice!!! 7y
56 likes1 stack add3 comments
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MaggieShenKing
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MaggieShenKing
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3 likes1 stack add
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Smrloomis
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I might have to get this... It sounds really interesting.

Laura317 I agree. Stacked. 7y
Smrloomis @Laura317 yes! I love being a good influence 😆 7y
50 likes6 stack adds2 comments
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BooksAtNight
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Gahhh! I just got approved for these lovely #ARC books and can't wait to read them. They have been some of my most anticipated books for ages.