Review of The Awakening of Daamna Tayo
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Dustin Stopher
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Review of The Awakening of Daamna Tayo
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Awakening of Daamna Tayo" by Yvette Saafir.]
Yvette Safir’s The Awakening of Daamna Tayo is a science-fiction story that takes place predominantly in a dystopian setting. The novel focuses on a society in which women are treated like cattle; they are referred to as cows, they are sold in live auctions, and they are bred primarily for reproductive purposes. The bulk of the story is seen through the lens of Laianna, a female given the title of Daamna Tayo when she is handed to her master, and the narrative follows her struggle to rise against the oppressive culture she finds herself in. The tale can easily be seen as fiction, but it may also be seen as an allegory for how women are treated in modern society with topics like abortion rights.
The story is incredibly enthralling. While the premise of women being seen as subhuman creatures is one that is mostly foreign to real life, it is an idea that we find in diluted quantities throughout contemporary life. The dystopian aspect of the women’s upbringing in the novel is reminiscent of works like The Handmaid’s Tale, and the world that audiences are introduced to is just as fascinating. It can be difficult to grapple with some of the scenes in the work, but any story with something important to say will have such moments. As the book progresses, the cruelty that is so prominently on display for most of the work is slowly dissected and addressed, and readers will find it satisfying to watch Laianna rebel against a demonstrably corrupt system. The ending of the novel is hopeful and offers immense relief from the bleakness that otherwise pervades the work.
Unfortunately, there are major editorial concerns that hold the book back from reaching its full potential. Grammar mistakes and writing errors plague the narrative. Dialogue is especially poor in execution as quotation marks are often forgotten entirely, making it difficult to understand who is speaking or if someone is speaking at all. Subheadings that seem like they should be chapter titles are thrown about the text, but they are not recognized as official chapters. Meanwhile, the chapters that are recognized are far too long, which further supports the notion that these subheadings are intended to be chapters. A professional editor is sorely needed for the work. Substantial revisions are necessary for a polished composition, and better organization would make the narrative easier to follow.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend this work to anyone who is a fan of the science-fiction genre. Additionally, those who consider themselves to be women’s rights advocates will find the themes in this book especially pertinent to the fight for gender equality. I feel that this book could be eye-opening for those who typically second-guess the morality of granting abortion rights or assisting women in receiving equal treatment in the workplace. Readers who pick up the book will have to dismiss the writing quality for the sake of the important message contained therein. Sensitive topics like rape, profanity, and violence are present across the novel, so audiences uncomfortable with such depictions should consider finding another selection. However, I would like to stress that it is precisely these uncomfortable moments that I think add value to the book.
Overall, I give The Awakening of Daamna Tayo 3 out of 4 stars. Its ability to weave a believable story with an interesting concept and relevant themes has the potential to make it a classic in the science-fiction genre. Although, for this to happen, it must be heavily reworked in regards to its editing. I would rate the book higher as soon as these problems are fixed, but as the book stands now, I will stick to my current rating.
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The Awakening of Daamna Tayo
View: on Bookshelves
Yvette Safir’s The Awakening of Daamna Tayo is a science-fiction story that takes place predominantly in a dystopian setting. The novel focuses on a society in which women are treated like cattle; they are referred to as cows, they are sold in live auctions, and they are bred primarily for reproductive purposes. The bulk of the story is seen through the lens of Laianna, a female given the title of Daamna Tayo when she is handed to her master, and the narrative follows her struggle to rise against the oppressive culture she finds herself in. The tale can easily be seen as fiction, but it may also be seen as an allegory for how women are treated in modern society with topics like abortion rights.
The story is incredibly enthralling. While the premise of women being seen as subhuman creatures is one that is mostly foreign to real life, it is an idea that we find in diluted quantities throughout contemporary life. The dystopian aspect of the women’s upbringing in the novel is reminiscent of works like The Handmaid’s Tale, and the world that audiences are introduced to is just as fascinating. It can be difficult to grapple with some of the scenes in the work, but any story with something important to say will have such moments. As the book progresses, the cruelty that is so prominently on display for most of the work is slowly dissected and addressed, and readers will find it satisfying to watch Laianna rebel against a demonstrably corrupt system. The ending of the novel is hopeful and offers immense relief from the bleakness that otherwise pervades the work.
Unfortunately, there are major editorial concerns that hold the book back from reaching its full potential. Grammar mistakes and writing errors plague the narrative. Dialogue is especially poor in execution as quotation marks are often forgotten entirely, making it difficult to understand who is speaking or if someone is speaking at all. Subheadings that seem like they should be chapter titles are thrown about the text, but they are not recognized as official chapters. Meanwhile, the chapters that are recognized are far too long, which further supports the notion that these subheadings are intended to be chapters. A professional editor is sorely needed for the work. Substantial revisions are necessary for a polished composition, and better organization would make the narrative easier to follow.
Nevertheless, I highly recommend this work to anyone who is a fan of the science-fiction genre. Additionally, those who consider themselves to be women’s rights advocates will find the themes in this book especially pertinent to the fight for gender equality. I feel that this book could be eye-opening for those who typically second-guess the morality of granting abortion rights or assisting women in receiving equal treatment in the workplace. Readers who pick up the book will have to dismiss the writing quality for the sake of the important message contained therein. Sensitive topics like rape, profanity, and violence are present across the novel, so audiences uncomfortable with such depictions should consider finding another selection. However, I would like to stress that it is precisely these uncomfortable moments that I think add value to the book.
Overall, I give The Awakening of Daamna Tayo 3 out of 4 stars. Its ability to weave a believable story with an interesting concept and relevant themes has the potential to make it a classic in the science-fiction genre. Although, for this to happen, it must be heavily reworked in regards to its editing. I would rate the book higher as soon as these problems are fixed, but as the book stands now, I will stick to my current rating.
******
The Awakening of Daamna Tayo
View: on Bookshelves
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Amy Luman
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While this is not something that is currently prevalent in our society it seems like that is the way we are headed. Maybe not just with women, but with anyone who doesn’t fit the norm of society.
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