VOX by Christina Dalcher

What would happen in America if the government decided that all females should be outfitted with a "bracelet" that limited them to speaking only 100 words a day? If the clock was rewound to mimic a period where women had, not only no considered opinions, but no jobs, no real education, and no ability to do anything besides care for the home, children and husband. That is the state of the nation in this near-future tale. The PURE movement, spearheaded by a preacher and the upper levels of government, has relegated women and female children to mere tools of the men to whom they belong. The men control every aspect of life. Propaganda fills the airwaves. Even the women, like Dr. Jean McClellan, a neuro linguist whose scientific research in eliminating Wernicke's Aphasia was about to make a huge difference in stroke and head injured people, have been silenced. Powerful men have reduced America to a fundamentalist state after subjugating half the population.

In this new world order, hope comes when it seems that all has been lost. Jean is called by the President to work on her project in a top secret lab because his brother has had a head injury from a skiing accident and the President needs him cured. When Jean arrives to begin the intense work demanded of her, she finds that something even more heinous is planned. NO SPOILERS.

This was quite the read -- shades of Atwood's chilling work, THE HANDMAID'S TALE -- but with the focus more on the voice of women and their need to pay attention to politics and their rights. To not stand idly by while government creeps into their homes and bedrooms. To use their power to vote and campaign for themselves. The story would definitely provide many themes and topics for a great book club discussion. It gave me chills to imagine how easily something like this could happen if fully half the population was lulled into a sense of complacency. Keep up the good fight, ladies.

The narrative itself was a quick read even though there was a ton of technical and scientific information. I found myself often wondering how far-fetched the science was though always rooting for it to be possible. I thoroughly absorbed it all and think it was a very interesting and compelling book. Sort of a wake up call to answer some of the current political shifts that have the potential to impact the lives of many women. People always say, "That couldn't happen here." But, they're wrong. All it takes is...and I'm paraphrasing...for a few good women to do nothing.

Thank you to NetGalley and Berkley for the e-book ARC to read and review. I recommend it!

Standalone, not part of a series. This would make a great movie or miniseries!