"Vox"

“Vox”
Written by Christina Dalcher
Review written by Diana Iozzia



Unfortunately, I felt that “Vox” didn’t live up to my expectations, perhaps due to its execution of its premise. “Vox” is a dystopian, science fiction novel that is set in a world where women cannot speak more than 100 words in a day. If they do, they are shocked by a band, or “bracelet”, connected to their wrists. Our main character is Jean, a woman who has three sons and a daughter. In this society, women have been stripped of their voice and their opinions. They may work, in only approved of positions. As a result of women revolting, they are starting to lose their abilities. Gay couples are separated and their children are being sent to male relatives. Their Republican president has implemented cameras everywhere. Due to the lack of language, women are still not allowed to speak in sign language, read, receive male, speak on the telephone, use computers, and more.

The action of the plot begins when Jean is approached by a previous employer to help create a cure to an illness called aphaxia, suffered by no other than the president’s brother. In return for helping, Jean will be paid a great sum and also be able to take off her monitor and her daughter’s. We are thrown into this animal testing lab, and Jean begins to work. She has also been having an affair with a coworker while she works.

Personally, I did not enjoy the plot of the medicinal testing and dealing with the annoying government workers. However, I did enjoy as Jean becomes more involved with the rebellion, after connecting with the mailman and his family, who are against the “Pure” government. I felt that if the book related more to the rebellion, than use the science lab testing plot, I would have enjoyed it more. The characters don’t seem to do enough to rebel, and the solutions to their problems seem to be too easy.

I felt very unsatisfied with the ending. I felt that there should have been much more in this book than there was. I feel as I speak to others who have read the book, that we all believe this. It was okay, but it could have been more appealing. I also wish that the characters were more likeable and interesting.

I recommend this book for those who are just beginning the “evil government that hates women” dystopian sub-genre. However, I would prefer to recommend “The Handmaid’s Tale”, “The Power”, “The Stepford Wives”, “Never Let Me Go”, and “Station Eleven” (which doesn’t have a government that hates women, but it really shows the power and strength of women).

I was sent a review copy from Putnam Publicity to read and review.