Suzette Haden Elgin (1936–2015)

Oh, goodness, where to start? There are so many problems with this book.

Firstly, it's so boring. I was recommended this because I like the movie Arrival and linguistics. But honestly, this book doesn't say a whole lot about linguistics, or even aliens.

It was definitely too long, and it strangely had 3 different main plots going on that never successfully came together. The ending was abrupt and unsatisfying.

It's super feminist, which was the author's point. She definitely preferred to hit readers over the head with her personal moral convictions at the expense of the actual story. I was confused about why she chose to make her world a "men are powerful jerks, women are disempowered but strong rebels" scenario. Especially with the way her world was set up (women can't vote, they can't go places without their male escort, etc.), a historical novel (or one set in the Muslim world) honestly could have communicated all that. I think it would have been vastly more interesting to read about a society in which women were the power-hungry abusers and men the victims.

There is a ton of profanity, which I found very strange for a linguist author - you'd think a linguist would enjoy using words more creatively. And, profanity is offensive in general.

On that same note, this book is very anti-religion - and specifically, anti-Christian. The author makes the "evil" men the ones who are "Christian" (though I use that term loosely, because the author doesn't understand the difference between nominal and devout Christians, apparently).

The author made sure to work in the fact that the "smart, brave women" had secret abortions.

There are several sexual references, though no explicit content.… (more)