This book has a stellar premise. When a coworker loaned this book to me, I was excited. "Yes," I thought, "I should definitely read that!" I was so excited to read it that rather than give it back to her, I kept it on the passenger seat as I fled the state. (Don't worry, reader - I shipped it back to her using the return address of the library in a ghost town I passed through. I included a note tucked between pages 2 and 3 that says "I am so sorry for accidentally stealing your terrible book. Please do not ever recommend it to anyone else.")
Here's the problem, reader - a stellar premise is not the same thing as a stellar novel. I have several exciting premises written in my dream journal - for instance, what if all of the cement in the world turned into moss? Or, what if wall-to-wall carpeting was sentient? But I have not written these premises into books, because I know that the books would not be good (and because publishing houses ask invasive questions which I am not prepared to answer).
When She Woke has a spectacular premise. "What if, instead of sending people to prison for a long time, we dyed their skin to indicate what crime they committed?" Delightful. Building on this, the author further supposes "what might happen if this system was in place in a right-wing theocratic America?"
Such potential.
When She Woke by the arid Hillary Jordan
The book is miserably overextended. It is clear that the author had a great idea for a novel, and that once she got going, she felt a need to apply layer after layer of exploration. The American prison system and shame dynamics, abortion politics, the Christian religious right, domestic abuse, homosexuality, faith and politics, and the role of women in the church all get a moment in the spotlight. The novel is thus painfully reminiscent of a late-season sitcoms' best-cameos clip show - there's a lot to look at, and you know it's supposed to be interesting because the characters are important, but really it's just a time-suck.
Now, for Spoilers.
Let's talk plot. First, Hannah goes to a halfway house where everyone is utterly manic. The stakes seem high at first - it's been made abundantly, repeatedly clear that Hannah has nowhere else to go - but then she leaves and it's not actually that bad. This scenario quickly becomes thematic, as Hannah experiences frequent, turbulent plot twists, none of which have any real impact on her character. The book quickly becomes a standard escape story, and not a well-plotted one. First, Hannah seeks shelter with her abused, pregnant sister. Don't worry - this plot point will be dropped quickly. There is a significant arc when Hannah and her partner-in-flight are kidnapped for purposes of human trafficking - Hannah escapes at the last moment, her friend does not. It is mentioned again just once, briefly, on the last page of the book. The writer takes a similar nonstick approach to Hannah's startling u-turn on the subject of homosexuality - within the span of about ten minutes, she goes from 'it's an abomination' to 'oops, time to seduce my female rescuer!" No confusion, angst, or significant character development ensues.
The one plot point that isn't mercilessly abandoned like an unwanted accomplice is the love affair. Remember, the abortion that started it all? Of course there's an angsty love affair to back that up. Unfortunately, this is the one plot point that definitely, unquestionably should have been abandoned.
I mentioned earlier that the novel draws on The Scarlet Letter. This is most evident in the identity of Hannah's ex-lover - a prominent and charming (and married) pastor. Throughout the book, Hannah never lets go of her certainty that the two of them are meant to be together; that his adultery was justified, and his cold wife brought his faithlessness on herself; that his blatant abuse of the power dynamic in their church was a blazing, timeless romance. They share a final assignation, and Hannah, feeling that she has accomplished some kind of journey of personal growth by returning to the man who refused to incriminate himself to save her from her carmine fate, escapes across the border to Canada.
Reader, as you know, I have been on the run before. I have fled unseen forces and relied on the hospitality of unsavory characters. It is an experience that changes everything about one's perspective and personality. When She Woke seems to claim that the impact of that journey would be to cause one to toy with bisexuality and agnosticism and peeing outside; clearly, the author has never had to wash the smell of blood and smoke out of her hair in a gas station restroom as sirens pealed in the distance. I was definitively underwhelmed.
I mentioned earlier that the novel draws on The Scarlet Letter. This is most evident in the identity of Hannah's ex-lover - a prominent and charming (and married) pastor. Throughout the book, Hannah never lets go of her certainty that the two of them are meant to be together; that his adultery was justified, and his cold wife brought his faithlessness on herself; that his blatant abuse of the power dynamic in their church was a blazing, timeless romance. They share a final assignation, and Hannah, feeling that she has accomplished some kind of journey of personal growth by returning to the man who refused to incriminate himself to save her from her carmine fate, escapes across the border to Canada.
Reader, as you know, I have been on the run before. I have fled unseen forces and relied on the hospitality of unsavory characters. It is an experience that changes everything about one's perspective and personality. When She Woke seems to claim that the impact of that journey would be to cause one to toy with bisexuality and agnosticism and peeing outside; clearly, the author has never had to wash the smell of blood and smoke out of her hair in a gas station restroom as sirens pealed in the distance. I was definitively underwhelmed.
Rating: Tiresome.
Possible ratings: Magnificent, Divine, Satisfactory, Tiresome, Lamentable, Execrable. This is a blog about words, what rating system did you expect?
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