There is one thing I liked about this book. Yes, it was written in 1974 but it has a contemporary feel to it. This may sound cliche but it is true all the same.
In the present categorization of things, this would be considered a YA book by many. Written by a young Elana Dykewomon, Riverfinger Women does give the reader the 'youngish' feel to the writing style, to quote someone else who read this. It took time for me to read but then I find it personally difficult to read this style of writing. And yet, it was a fantastic experience and it was very hard to put down once I got into it.
This is the story of a young woman coming into terms with her homosexuality during the late 1960s and early 1970s. When songs like I Am Woman by Helen Reddy were blasting the radios serving to encourage those who needed it. Songs like these made women all over the world shout out loud for their rights in very vocal and physical ways - on the streets. The protests marched, the movements they gave birth to, we still see and join today. Even the bras they burned. Expensive come to think of it.
These were the women that made the world what it is today. This is the world we women enjoy today. Women like Dykewomon left their mark on our world with simple things like their coming of age stories and making a difference.
Should this have been written in contemporary times, it would not have really created any real waves. This was, however, written decades ago, when the times were rougher, when the times were less accepting, when the times had societies shocked as books like these were published. This is what made it such a great read for me. What surprised me, really, was that it did not feel like it was written all those years ago. It's plot was quite present and just as real then as it is today.
Awesome, enlightening read.
Note: Review based on an ebook copy sent by Netgalley. ...more
*WARNING* Opposites is a majorly M/M New Adult novel that contains explicit sexual content and relationshOriginal Blog Post:
My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars
*WARNING* Opposites is a majorly M/M New Adult novel that contains explicit sexual content and relationships between gay, lesbian and straight couples. - This means there are MM, MF, & FF scenes.
I first read Opposites when it was first published back in June so I really thought this one would be the same. I was surprised when I found out that this edition has not only been edited, there were parts of the story line that were changed.
This is a story of what the world could be should there be a genetic manipulation on the sexuality of the male and female human species. Based on the theory that man's inbreeding was one of the major factors that eventually destroyed the world as we know it today, the scientist and one of the few survivors of a cataclysmic event managed to manipulate man's DNA and made them all homosexuals.
When the book opens, it introduces the readers to a society so curious it could boggle the mind. Here we have two men and two women marrying, pairing up and producing children. Each royal house is set on the highest mountain peaks as the world is now mostly water. This reminded me a bit of Waterworld but that is where the similarity ends. This world is curiously simple and yet quite complicated.
We have royal twins Aiya and Aiyan who are matched to be married. Aiyan to Kaden of House Devi and Aiya to Maeve of House Orion. When Aiyan and Kaden meet, they hit it off magnificently. But for Aiya and Maeve, now that is the question. You see, it seems that an anomaly is surfacing: the Opposites or the Outkasts. And Aiya just happens to fall for Kaden's foster brother and loyal bodyguard, Sawyer, who is an Outkast. And then there is Maeve's maverick brother, Tanis, who falls for Raven, the Priest himself!
This is when things get complicated.
Opposites is a pretty lengthy and daunting novel. First, there is a huge cast of characters. Then author takes the opportunity to introduce a dystopic Earth where families rule the seven countries that survived GWI. These families each have their own set of royal family or House composed of four rulers: two men and two women. Traditions, both old and new, are fully integrated into the plot to guarantee a full picture of the culture about to be discovered. These traditions are laced with rules as set by the scientist, Dr. Anthony Smith.
Nature, however, will always find a way. Nature will fight for itself. The rising of the Outkasts or Opposites (heterosexuals) is complicating a world steeped in tradition and many questions arise.
It was fascinating to read how the lives of the young royals were to play out. The rising of an unknown, yet powerful, element is both unexpected and horrifying.
Unfortunately, the tale ends just where it gets to the most interesting part. This took me by surprise, just as I finally found the focus I wanted for this book. Frustrating as that may sound, I am also curious how the plot turns. With the new complications arising, the question of how the young royals and their foster brothers are going handle the unknown is an answer I am looking forward to.
T.M. Smith has managed to create a world that could only be imagined at in these times. Interesting, fascinating, daunting, this is a story to watch out for. And to think about.
What if?
Note: Review based on updated version of Opposites. This is a re-edited and re-released version different from the June, 2013 release.
I got to borrow this from Netgalley, and I have no regrets. It makes me happy to see that such learning books for kids like A TalThis was sooooo cute!
I got to borrow this from Netgalley, and I have no regrets. It makes me happy to see that such learning books for kids like A Tale of Two Daddies is around today for in my days, it frustrated the heck out of me that I had no answers to my questions and if I did get the answers, they were mostly twisted. At the young age of 9 it made me cringe, at the young age of 20, it made me homophobic, currently, I do and am neither.
If this book could only be made to be a part of the curriculum for young kids today, I have hopes that in the future all will accept that there is diversity in our world. Although this is a book too late for my kids, I look forward to sharing this sometime in the future with my grandkids........more
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