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Unit
Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
25 posts | 46 read | 73 to read
One day in early spring, Dorrit Weger is checked into the Second Reserve Bank Unit for biological material. She is promised a nicely furnished apartment inside the Unit, where she will make new friends, enjoy the state of the art recreation facilities, and live the few remaining days of her life in comfort with people who are just like her. Here, women over the age of fifty and men over sixty-single, childless, and without jobs in progressive industries-are sequestered for their final few years; they are considered outsiders. In the Unit they are expected to contribute themselves for drug and psychological testing, and ultimately donate their organs, little by little, until the final donation. Despite the ruthless nature of this practice, the ethos of this near-future society and the Unit is to take care of others, and Dorrit finds herself living under very pleasant conditions: well-housed, well-fed, and well-attended. She is resigned to her fate and discovers her days there to be rather consoling and peaceful. But when she meets a man inside the Unit and falls in love, the extraordinary becomes a reality and life suddenly turns unbearable. Dorrit is faced with compliance or escape, and...well, then what? THE UNIT is a gripping exploration of a society in the throes of an experiment, in which the "dispensable" ones are convinced under gentle coercion of the importance of sacrificing for the "necessary" ones. Ninni Holmqvist has created a debut novel of humor, sorrow, and rage about love, the close bonds of friendship, and about a cynical, utilitarian way of thinking disguised as care.
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review
she.hearts.horror
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

😫

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Onioons
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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“But the relationship with an animal is so much more physical than a relationship with another person. You don‘t get to know a dog by asking how he‘s feeling or what he‘s thinking, but by observing him and getting to know his body language. And all the important things you want to say to him you have to show through actions, attitude, gestures and sounds.”

#alphabetgame #letterU @alwaysbeenaloverofbooks

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Thank you for playing 📚 2y
30 likes1 stack add1 comment
review
Lesliereadsalot
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
Pickpick

A futuristic story about a woman‘s life once she turns 50. A must read for all women.

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jessjess
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

This dystopian novel about middle-aged "dispensable people" both made me sad and also frustrated. It's not a happy book to read but I'm glad I did read it. I do recommend this one.

Reggie Ughhhh, I felt so bad for all of them. But I‘m glad she got to experience love one more time before the end. 4y
17 likes1 comment
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jessjess
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Gonna start The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist today. This blanket was made and given to me by my Great-Aunt Marion on my paternal grandfather's side. I remember her as being a very genteel, kind lady and I'll treasure this always. 💕 It's a beautiful day out, and I'm off work, and I'm definitely relaxing today 🥰

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MissYaremcio
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

A dystopian tale about age where once you turn 50, and if you are childless, you are put into a facility where your organs are harvested for 'useful' people. I loved this story as it combined my love of dystopian societies with medical misadventures. One of themes present is overcoming mental hurdles and self-doubt, as our main character struggles with the idea of losing her life to be finally useful in a busy society.

Sleepswithbooks Gaaaaaahhhhhh!!! I would have been put in there!!!! 😱 4y
Pruzy Sounds very interesting! 4y
13 likes2 comments
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Liz_M
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Mehso-so

#ReadingEurope2020, #Sweden, @BarbaraBB, @Librarybelle

Dorritt Weger always made the choices that allowed her more freedom, living with less stability and income rather than be bound by society. At 50, by law, she is required to move into a “retirement“ facility where residents are enrolled in scientific experiments and donate organs/tissue to “indispensable“ people. ⬇ ⬇ ⬇

Liz_M This had the potential to be a moving, thought-provoking book on social connection, ageism, self-sacrifice versus self-determination and so on. Instead it focused on the mundane details of a pleasant retirement facility and the narrator's bland acceptance of it all. I get it - the basic premise is not new and can no longer shock - but it is a unique talent that can render this story without suspense and without provoking an emotional response. (edited) 4y
BarbaraBB That is too bad, I had high expectations. 4y
Liz_M @BarbaraBB Maybe it's a translation issue and you'll have a better experience. 🤷 4y
Librarybelle Great review! 4y
13 likes4 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

I have so many mixed feelings about this.
I think she did well even better than most with bringing in nontraditional relationships which are often overlooked in this type of dystopian writing.
But I feel bewildered by the complacency of the characters.
Overall it was a solid read but not fantastic.

18 likes1 stack add
quote
ChaoticMissAdventures
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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"like two drowning souls who have clung to each other in a final fruitless attempt to save themselves - or simply to avoid dying alone."

Most of this book is very cold so this passage is a breath of fresh air.

17 likes1 stack add
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ChaoticMissAdventures
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Reading break.

Soubhiville That looks heavenly. 4y
Chelsea.Poole 😍😍😍 4y
17 likes2 comments
blurb
ChaoticMissAdventures
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Ran off to the beach for the weekend.

Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks Sounds awesome 🏖 4y
15 likes1 comment
review
Hooked_on_books
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

Women aged 50 and men aged 60 who are childless and not members of certain professions are “dispensable.” They are required to go to The Unit where experimentation and donations are performed. This is a harrowing dystopian read as well as social commentary. It bogged down in the middle a bit for me but otherwise I quite enjoyed it.

Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville I‘m perplexed as to why Dorrit returned after her walk and chose to give up the baby. Any thoughts on why she did this? Was it an expression of her grief over losing Johannes? Or the completion of her subjugation by her society? Or something else? 5y
Soubhiville I thought about this a lot, and I think maybe it‘s because she finally felt like she belonged at The Unit. She had friends she adored, and every material comfort. If she had completed her escape, life would have been a struggle, and how could she hide forever or re-enter the outside community? So I think maybe it‘s s combo of surrender and admission that she liked life in The Unit. 5y
Hooked_on_books @Soubhiville Good thoughts. I was so perplexed when she did that and I‘m still frustrated with her. After all, it means she‘s choosing death instead of life. I think this book is a great social commentary. I‘ve definitely had times where I‘ve been ostracized for not having/wanting kids. 5y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
review
Soubhiville
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

What if childless, unmarried people with jobs that aren‘t critical to the function of society were considered “dispensable“ at 50?

As I‘m nearing that period and almost could fall into that category, this was interesting to me. These folks are forced to live in a closed community that is essentially a luxury jail and undergo experiments and donate organs to “needed” people.

Similar to Handmaid‘s Tale and Never Let Me Go, a great read!

Chrissyreadit I keep reflecting that we live in the world that does not truly value humanity based on homelessness, income disparity and health. 5y
mreads I loved this too and I'm also close to that age and circumstances 😄 that I extra appreciated it. 5y
Hooked_on_books Interestingly, I had never heard of this book but saw it posted by someone on here recently so I requested it from the library and just got it this week! I‘m looking forward to starting it soon. 5y
Soubhiville @Hooked_on_books it‘s book kismet! I look forward to hearing what you think. 5y
62 likes8 stack adds5 comments
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mreads
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Turns out I've read a lot of #u books, here are a few I liked.
An Unkindness of Magicians - revenge thriller set in the world of magic
The Unihabitable Earth - what earth looks like if heated beyond the 2%
The Unit - Dispensables age 50/w 60/m single, childless and generally from low income/low status jobs are required to enter The Unit
A Useful woman - a Regency era cozy mystery

#30JuneBooks @howjessreads

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imyril
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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#RRSciFiMonth Day 22: Thank heavens for that! ...or rather, thank heavens the world doesn‘t work in the way it‘s described in unnerving dystopia The Unit

3 likes1 stack add
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Updrifting
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

I'm so not into dystopian because I figure real life is anxiety-inducing enough, but I try to stretch myself sometimes. I recommend this one with reservations. The writing and premise are solid, and I believe if you like the genre, it's a home run. Loses a little steam as it goes on. #dystopian #readyourselfintoanexistentialcrisis

blondie Creative photo 💜💜 7y
Updrifting @blondie Thanks! 7y
28 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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leesy1
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
Pickpick

Thought provoking and readable, if a little simplistic.

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Bundoolin
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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When people behind you in comp are being homophobic and rude!

TrishB 😔😔 7y
BookishMarginalia 😳😱😖 7y
DarcysMom Can the teacher hear them? Stuff like that doesn't fly in my classroom. 😲😡 7y
See All 10 Comments
Laura317 That's just plain mean and ugly. 7y
xicanti Awful. 7y
aa_guer2021 😳😱 7y
Buddys_Momma People can be such idiots--how rude 😡😡 7y
Jas16 😡 7y
minkyb 👎🏻 7y
TheCanuckReader I read homophobic and NUDE....must put my glasses on. Some people suck! 7y
45 likes10 comments
blurb
Bundoolin
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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New school year, new book 📚 #September

59 likes1 stack add
review
Reggie
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

This was The Golden Girls meets Cocoon meets The Handmaid's Tale, meets those episodes of Sex and the City where they talk about how married people and parents look down on single people. We meet Dorit, age 50, single and childless, has become dispensable. She checks into the unit where a great life awaits until the organ donation and the experiments. This was a great book about the possibilities when we stop thinking of each other as humans.

sprainedbrain Great review! 7y
batsy Love your review! This has been on the TBR for a long time 😬 7y
See All 8 Comments
Laalaleighh SMUG MARRIEDS!! 7y
minkyb That sounds original! 7y
Reggie @batsy you should move it up. There were a lot of cool art within art things happening in here. It's a quick read. @Laalaleighh idk, your pics look like it's gonna happen someday. Lol @minkyb I think you'd like it. Just have some tissue handy. 7y
Laalaleighh @Reggie 😹yes but we won't be SMUG MARRIEDS. 🙅🏼 7y
Mimi28 Sounds interesting... 🤔👍 7y
49 likes4 stack adds8 comments
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Rachael_reads
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I read this book a while ago, but I loved it and it fits today's theme #politicalfiction
In some ways it reminds me of A Handmaid's Tale.
#photoadaynov16 📚 📚 📚

Reagan I read this years ago and had forgotten the name. I stumbled across it this year when the new translation came out and was thrilled. What a great book! 8y
Rachael_reads @Rjanke A new translation?!?!? I might need to read that. I loved this book so much. 8y
Reagan This is the new one. I took it out from the library probably close to 10 years ago, must have been when it was first released. I'm so excited to finally see it getting some press. Curious, are you in the US? Maybe it was released in Canada first? 8y
Neverending_booklist I loved this book. Working as a nurse, I find myself thinking about The Unit a lot lately, 8y
62 likes11 stack adds4 comments
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LiteraryFeline
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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What better way to get in some reading time than at the hair salon. I just started The Unit.

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Chrys
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
Pickpick

The book grabbed me and I just kept reading. The ending was real for the main character, if not happy. But very few dystopian novels end with a total happily ever after.

10 likes4 stack adds
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Booksnob
The Unit | Ninni Holmqvist
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Just started and So intriguing. Dystopia by a Swedish author in translation.

Booksnob The Unit is really, really good adult dystopian. I can't stop thinking about it. Amaze balls. 9y
BellaBookNook This sounds interesting. 9y
5 likes2 stack adds2 comments