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ellemnope 's review for:
Maternal Instinct
by Rebecca Bowyer
* Disclaimer: I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. *
Maternal Instinct is a fantastic dystopian read centered on reproductive rights and parenting abilities. Using the difficulties of balancing work and family as well as the statistics for child abuse, the Australian government has developed a program that requires older teens to submit to at least 2 years of "reproductive service". Females are required to have two births and males volunteer their time serving in Birth Houses where pregnant and newly delivered mothers live during their service. At the age of 6 months, the children are then taken from their mothers and placed in the care of a Mater and Pater in a child's home. Being a Mater or a Pater is an occupation that requires skilled training and they are responsible for raising the children in a video supervised environment. Birth parents are allowed relationships with their children, but only via visitation on Sundays.
This is honestly a semi-creepy read when you begin to consider the possible ramifications. The idea does seem to have some merits as you read through the story, but the system is emotionally horrific. It all feels quite Stepford and, when the darker side of the system becomes evident, things start taking a gripping turn.
Something of a blend of The Handmaid's Tale and 1984, this is a fantastic book. I was hooked early on and didn't want to put this one down. I read it over the course of a family vacation and stayed up far too late at night because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen.
The development of the dystopian government is fantastic and well-constructed. The presentation of the system in a semi-balanced manner, giving the pros and cons from the direct voices of the characters, was brilliantly done and made it have a realistic feel. I was reminded of Margaret Atwood's saying that “Nothing makes me more nervous than people who say, ‘It can’t happen here.’ Anything can happen anywhere, given the right circumstances.” The slow slip from policies based on idealism and happiness into a culture of oppression and manipulation can be so stealthily done. Bowyer uses that approach to her advantage and creates a world that is both believable and horrific. It's this approach that makes Maternal Instinct both intriguing and frightening.
Maternal Instinct is a fantastic dystopian read centered on reproductive rights and parenting abilities. Using the difficulties of balancing work and family as well as the statistics for child abuse, the Australian government has developed a program that requires older teens to submit to at least 2 years of "reproductive service". Females are required to have two births and males volunteer their time serving in Birth Houses where pregnant and newly delivered mothers live during their service. At the age of 6 months, the children are then taken from their mothers and placed in the care of a Mater and Pater in a child's home. Being a Mater or a Pater is an occupation that requires skilled training and they are responsible for raising the children in a video supervised environment. Birth parents are allowed relationships with their children, but only via visitation on Sundays.
This is honestly a semi-creepy read when you begin to consider the possible ramifications. The idea does seem to have some merits as you read through the story, but the system is emotionally horrific. It all feels quite Stepford and, when the darker side of the system becomes evident, things start taking a gripping turn.
Something of a blend of The Handmaid's Tale and 1984, this is a fantastic book. I was hooked early on and didn't want to put this one down. I read it over the course of a family vacation and stayed up far too late at night because I NEEDED to know what was going to happen.
The development of the dystopian government is fantastic and well-constructed. The presentation of the system in a semi-balanced manner, giving the pros and cons from the direct voices of the characters, was brilliantly done and made it have a realistic feel. I was reminded of Margaret Atwood's saying that “Nothing makes me more nervous than people who say, ‘It can’t happen here.’ Anything can happen anywhere, given the right circumstances.” The slow slip from policies based on idealism and happiness into a culture of oppression and manipulation can be so stealthily done. Bowyer uses that approach to her advantage and creates a world that is both believable and horrific. It's this approach that makes Maternal Instinct both intriguing and frightening.