Book Review: The Children of Men by P.D. James

 

Title: The Children of Men

By: PD James

Genre: Dystopian

Pages: 241

Release Date: January 1st, 1992

Publisher: Vintage Books

Rating: ★★★★☆

 

Summary from Goodreads:

Told with P. D. James's trademark suspense, insightful characterization, and riveting storytelling, The Children of Men is a story of a world with no children and no future. The human race has become infertile, and the last generation to be born is now adult. Civilization itself is crumbling as suicide and despair become commonplace. Oxford historian Theodore Faron, apathetic toward a future without a future, spends most of his time reminiscing. Then he is approached by Julian, a bright, attractive woman who wants him to help get her an audience with his cousin, the powerful Warden of England. She and her band of unlikely revolutionaries may just awaken his desire to live . . . and they may also hold the key to survival for the human race.

 

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Review:

Although I was already familiar with this story, this book brought new perspective and dept to the tragedy of the world within the pages.

The story behind the pages, shows a world that is falling apart. Women can no longer get pregnant, and as the population ages, there are no younger people to take their place. Schools are closed and the youngest people are in their twenties.

When one woman comes up pregnant, she knows if she is found out, the government will turn her into a science experiment and take her child from her. There are people who wish to keep her safe, but they are few and far between and its hard to know who to trust.

The truth behind the words in this book, are far more impactful than I think the author knew at the time they wrote them. To think about a mother fearing for the life of her child, or having her child taken from her. These fears live in the real world.

This was a great book. A definite must.

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