Book Review: Nomansland by Lesley Hauge
I do love a good post-apocalyptic novel. Hauge gives us one in Nomansland. Far into the future, there is an island where only women live. The outside world is one of eternal darkness and threat; men (and worse) are the enemy hell-bent on destroying the Island.
The world of the novel is disturbing and pitch-perfect. The climate is perpetually cold, with vicious storms and long, dark seasons. The Island itself is both treacherous and claustrophobic, trapping the characters in a sort of bell jar. Just staying alive in this wasteland is a fight, and every rule and tradition must be obeyed for the society to endure. At least, that's what the girls who are trained to protect the island are told. But when they discover a remnant of the past--of the world before the Tribulation--they begin to question what they've been told, and who the enemy really is.
The society of the Island recalls several other classic dystopias. Fans of The Giver and The Handmaid's Tale will get a sense of deja vu. Those looking for another Hunger Games may be fooled by the bow and arrow cover…trust me, this book is nothing like Hunger Games, in either tone or message. Hauge isn't just recycling tropes. Her characters are fully realized young women, as prone to hormones and temptation as any human.
Our protagonist Keller is particularly conflicted, as she is forced to begin making horrifically complicated choices about situations where she has literally no trustworthy information. Negotiating the complex society of the Island is a constant dance. One false step can bring terrible repercussions, in the form of public, corporal punishment and exclusion from the group (not unlike high school, though there's more death in this world). As Keller slowly uncovers more secrets about her society, she loses most of her trust in her fellow women and in the culture that raised her. But, in a nod to the realism that Hauge is going for, Keller knows she cannot escape or survive on her own. She must forge alliances with people she barely understands.
Hauge offers no easy answers to Keller's dilemmas, instead throwing nuanced and multi-layered problems at her and the reader, ultimately leaving the resolution up to us. The story often turns inward, to Keller's own mental struggle, and this near-solipsism works in the story's favor. Keller is pure teenage girl, her reactions and thinking absolutely believable. The otherness of her society doesn't change that. Another huge asset of this story is the absence of teen romance (though it does not lack issues of love). By removing (and subverting) the easy out of "girl meets boy," Hauge keeps the story focused on the mysteries and dangers of the Island.
Man, I can't believe it took me this long to post this, since the book (now a couple years old) still sticks with me. How did I know I liked it? I started reading this leaning against my bookshelf…as one does…in order to get a sense of the writing. Three hours later, I decided I should probably sit down. Your mileage may vary (it got some hate on Good Reads), but the book just clicked for me.
Conclusion? I loved this story of discovery, secrets, and rebellion. Nomansland is a visceral but intelligent read that offers realistic relationship and a lot to think over.