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I love a feminist dystopian book full of trigger warnings.

Cor, that's a lot to consider.
I don't appreciate the comparisons that are used to Handmaid's Tale, either with this or any similar themed book.
It's a story which could become reality. It's got so many current trends and scary ideas. It makes you think about how societies work.

My daughter recommended this, she's really into feminist dystopia books.
So far it's a little different, hints at uncertain times ahead...

Although it lost some steam in the middle, this was still a beautifully written novel set in a dystopian future where a group of ten families settle on an island and adhere to a strict set of rules which include the way their daughters are treated by the fathers. While not explicit, the abuse might be triggering to some readers, but I found it a thoughtful examination of power, love, & hope, although it doesn‘t answer all the questions.

Next up for audio. The premise feels like a combination of A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World and The Grace Year.

Ok so I‘m torn with this one. It was difficult, i won‘t say why, but there were too many uncomfortable parts. It‘s a combo of M. Night (the village) meets handmaids tale…….i didn‘t dislike it.

#2021Book82
Because I read so much, I find that few books genuinely surprise me anymore, but this one did. I had a slightly unsettled feeling throughout the beginning, but figured it was just an average utopian-turned-dystopian world. Then I figured out what exactly was going on and I had to close the book and walk away from it for a while. This isn't technically a horror novel, but many of the events that take place in it are absolutely horrific.

Thank you @Enchanted_Bibliophile , #wondrouswednesday... on a Thursday 😉

Ayoola from my sister the serial killer

The tagged book , gather the daughters ... still want answers 😂

Quite often , I am usually very inspired by others thoughts 🥰

Happy Thursday ❤️

@Eggs

This book was excellent. Reminded me of a mature/adult reader version of The Grace Year. Subtly disturbing. A culty Handmaid's Tale.

Thank you @Mitch
This book sounds so intriguing! You always pick such good books! Thank you and merry christmas 🎄

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️I really enjoyed this audiobook.
It is scary to think of this taking place. A group of people have secluded themselves on an island and follow the rules of their “ancestors”.

2.5 stars Hard to follow and plot never stayed the course. Too many characters with too much odd detail.

I wanted to like this book, but I was honestly bored to tears. Just slow as heck.

Very sad and emotional book at times. A terrible ordeal the girls went through. Wasn‘t sure on the erupt ending really.

Follows the lives of 4 young girls living on an isolated island where woman pray they have sons & men make the rules.Girls either dread& try to hold off their summer of fruition or welcome it to escape their homes of hell.
Tough reading at times but sucks you in to loving each&every one of these brainwashed girls. I devoured the end needing answers and sharing emotions of joy&tears.
Ended with a halt & unanswered questions but loved the writing.

Dark and chilling but I‘m hooked!!

‘The vortex of summer fruition , sucking in girls and spitting out wives‘

“ I was told I wasn‘t supposed to say anything about - about - back there, you know. I mean the wanderers know , of course. But nobody else does” ........ “ Why can‘t you say anything?” ...... “They said it would poison everything “

The upside of being sick is that it took me just over two days to finish this very good novel. The horror of this society is keenly drawn, and I almost cried several times. It is shocking but believable the extent that the men will go to in order to protect their power. I did find the ending disappointing, however; none of the girls really find their own agency.

I have company. #catsoflitsy

Sick day reading

Highly disturbing, dystopian novel about a group of “cultish” folks that decide to live on their own island so they can live by their own rules, which happens to be super creepy.

Not real sure what I‘m reading, but this Island is creepy as hell.

Gonna try this one today 😊

Spooky

Arrived home after a stressful day to find a surprise birthday package from @Soubhiville with this lovely selection from my litsy TBR! Thank you dear! You‘re a gem! And you‘ve cheered me up immensely - can‘t wait to get started on this :-)

Because it was told by girls 13 and under the story is a little thin. I felt frustrated and the ending did nothing for me. ⭐️⭐️

This is a novel about a strict patriachal society living on an island by it's own rules. Reading about the daughters' lives in this comunity was really disturbing and it would often have been hard to cotinue, if it hadn't been for the wonderful style of writing.
🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 5/5

#RemarkableWomen

A slow starter but from the middle to the end I was completely hooked. A great dystopian novel. Finished reading 6th January 2019

Winter has finally come and I don't like it, so I'm going to lock myself in and read all weekend ☃️

“Father once gave her [a book] he said was good for girls, but it was all about people who wouldn‘t call each other by their first names and never thought about anything except getting married (the process of which seemed alarmingly complicated).”
💗I am happy whenever I find my beloved Pride and Prejudice mentioned in a book.

I think I have to pull the plug and put the book aside for now. It's due back at the library tomorrow, and I can't renew it. I'm invested in the plot, but it's slow going because of some of the subject matter. I don't have a lot of triggers, but this one seems to be testing my thresholds. I'll come back to it later. I still need to know where it's going. #NotRightNow #triggerwarnings

😭 The baby fell asleep on me, Then he kicked my book out of my hand, and now I can't reach it. #BookwormSOS #WhatDoIDoNow

Yay! Look at this awesome book mail — thanks to @booksugar and @littlebrown ! #GathertheDaughters, #Less, #Calypso, #GiveMeYourHand, and #WhatWeWerePromised. Have you read any of these?

Blurb about GATHER THE DAUGHTERS: “...NEVER LET ME GO meets THE GIVER in this haunting debut about a cult on an isolated island, where nothing is as it seems...This is a haunting work in the spirit of #TheHandmaidsTale but Melamed more than holds her own...” #TBR

Reading at the laundromat. This book is fascinating and terrifying.

“Thoughts become words. Words become actions, actions become habits. Tend to your thoughts, lest you find yourself fighting for something you never really believed in.”

Very slow and atmospheric dystopian novel. The twist sneaks up on you but when you finally realize what is happening it is unsettling. Even though there was a real lack of action I couldn‘t put this down and was loving the descriptions of wild girls playing outside and being free on hot summer nights.

A very anticipated read for me: #Dystopian for #ReadingWomenMonth I've seen @Kalalalatja gush about this one multiple times on Litsy and I have to say it's high up on my TBR. I LOVE this cover with the roses 🌹

@thereadingwomen @Andrew65 @Weaponxgirl

This was such a great story! Shocking, sad, powerful!! I really enjoyed the different girls‘ perspectives. It seemed hopeful then not then hopeful again. I would definitely read more from this author!

Eating good chocolate biscuits and cramming in a few pages of this on my lunch break at work. It‘s our June reading group choice and I‘ve been really keen to read it. Anything that sounds a bit Handmaid‘s Tale-ish has a good chance of being a great story!!

This book is seriously disturbing. I rated it "pick" but I have to warn you it's extremely triggering. It deals with rape culture, and a cult mentality so deeply ingrained that members go insane before questioning it. The girls oppressed by this dystopian world are brave. They're so real that you can't help wishing they'll be saved, but saving isn't really what the book is about. It will make you think, make you angry, and super uncomfortable.

I love this novel! If I didn't have to take it back to the library soon, then I would read it again. It's so haunting yet also beautiful! I created my own hype for the book, and I am very fortunate it exceeded my expectations! If Jennie Melamed decides to write another book, I will definitely run to my bookstore to grab a copy. #GatherTheDaughters is a new favorite!

A deeply disturbing tale of the young women living on a secluded island in a radical cult where women are subjugated & valued for sexual gratification & procreation. The narrators, a few of the girls coming of age, are beginning to question the authority of the men. The writing is both subtle & impactful. Regretfully, this is just shy of a pick for me due to the unresolved ending. After all the abuse of these girls, I needed more resolution. ⬇️

UP NEXT! "An heir to the creations of Margaret Atwood and Shirley Jackson." If that isn't a promotional blurb destined to win my attention, I don't know what is! And with an ethereal, melancholy vibe from this cover, I feel this book was written specifically for me! Okay, I need to get to reading this before I hype it up so much that no book in this reality (including this one) could begin to meet my expectations. See you on the other side!

Holy moly this book is DISTURBING! The women and girls of this strange island cult are abused and taught to fear The Wasteland (anything that's not their completely cut-off island). Jennie Melamed has created a tension and foreboding, a palpable sense of fear and shame, that turned my stomach a couple times so far, without anything graphic at all. I'm not enjoying this book, but I am entranced.

Well I couldn‘t put the book down, but damn was it dark & disturbing!!!! Not necessarily graphic but the uncomfortable, dirty feeling was ever present. On a remote island inhabited by a select few, daughters are raised to be breeders & sons to be workers and rulers. Part Handmaid‘s Tale, part Lord of The Flies with a side of Hester Prynne this novel is ominous and sinister. BEWARE plenty of TW. 3.5 stars and a soft pick.

Uh huh! I‘m getting bad feels from this book😖Something sinister and yucky is definitely going on😢 Thank God my breakfast burritos aren‘t disappointing me💛

THANK YOU!!!!! @Kalalalatja You‘re the sweetest and MOST generous friend 😘😘😘I literally squealed when the coated almonds slid out 🤗💜🤗Im super excited for BOTH books~ cover of Why God is gorgeous ❣️❣️❣️❣️and postcard and bookmark is 🙌🏻 #LittensAreTheBest #SoGrateful 🙏🏻💋😄

#4NewFavesin4Days day 2/4 ❤️

I immediately get a library book as soon as I start a 560 pager. Ahh, book problems! I am a slow reader.🙁

Old house + collapsed pipe = time to read at the laundromat. Our plumber can't install the bypass pipes until Wednesday & I'll spend the weekend listening to audio books as I clean out the basement to make room. St least I don't have to do laundry by hand like the women in this book. This world is very disturbing and abusive to women & children. I have a theory about their island. We'll just have to see if I'm right.