Review of Severed Roots

[Amy Luman]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Severed Roots" by Nego Huzcotoq.]

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5 out of 5 stars

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Who is responsible for the evil that exists in our world? Is it men? Is it women? Children? The government? Maybe it’s the oppression that we all put up with every day without even realizing it. According to the book Severed Roots by Nego Huzcotoq, a movement to revitalize things was begun by women to “break from the past” and keep men from their seeming dominance.

Nick Wong had grown up in a children’s center in Canada as one of the dreaded “mankeys.” All men were called mankeys and were considered inferior to all women. They held the most menial jobs and were not loved or nurtured during their childhood. The girls, on the other hand, were attended to and reared with the utmost awareness. Those children that were born before the movement began were removed from their parents’s care, and marriage was outlawed because of the inherent possessiveness and brutality of men. Those who were born after its inception were conceived by women who were paid to bear them.

Nick’s best friend was Beatrice. Beatrice desperately wanted to have a child of her own, but that was, of course, outlawed, too. Women of this era were forced to attend gatherings every month that reiterated the evils of men and their previous rule over society. The book opened with Nick and Beatrice discussing her apparent “Motherhood Syndrome,” as wanting a child was called, at a chance encounter at a mall where she had just experienced harassment regarding her lack of participation at the monthly meetings.

There were no detectable errors in this book, so it was exceptionally well edited, and there was nothing that I could find to dislike except that everything bad that happened to anyone, or anything that was less than perfect, was blamed on men. According to the women in charge, the men had a tendency toward violence and abuse. The family unit was seen as the cause of any fears or insecurities exhibited by those who grew up in them. While I did not agree with the portrayal of men and the family, this book was a depiction of a possible dystopian future. 

The relationship between Nick and Beatrice was the part of the novel that I enjoyed the most. They were not content with the status quo and strove to find a way to improve conditions for themselves and everyone else. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. There was almost no profanity, and there was no overt sexual activity, only allusions to it. I recommend this to those who are entertained by descriptions of a future dystopian society. This is a book with a very interesting idea of what may become of the entire world.

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Severed Roots
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[Alissa Nesson]

This sounds like a fascinating story! How interesting to imagine a matriarchal society, especially one that is so extreme and so different from our own. Thanks for an intriguing review!

[Amy Luman]

This sounds like a fascinating story! How interesting to imagine a matriarchal society, especially one that is so extreme and so different from our own. Thanks for an intriguing review!

Thanks for commenting! ?:

[Diana Lowery]

I enjoyed the questions that you opened with. Very thought-provoking! I enjoy a good dystopian story and might check this one out.

[Amy Luman]

I enjoyed the questions that you opened with. Very thought-provoking! I enjoy a good dystopian story and might check this one out.

Thanks for commenting!

[Gerry Steen]

Unfortunately, as we all know, there are women who either grew up in families with cruel fathers or are involved with cruel men while raising a family. A lot of the hardship is created by men who need to have control because of their insecurities. Turning this narrative around, and making women the abusers jolts us into remembering that this problem is always part of our society. Due to your review, I am interested in reading this dystopian story.

[Amy Luman]

Unfortunately, as we all know, there are women who either grew up in families with cruel fathers or are involved with cruel men while raising a family. A lot of the hardship is created by men who need to have control because of their insecurities. Turning this narrative around, and making women the abusers jolts us into remembering that this problem is always part of our society. Due to your review, I am interested in reading this dystopian story.

I don’t believe that the majority of our problems are caused by men. They just seem to be a convenient scapegoat because of the tendency of some men to cause problems.

[Kutloano Makhuvhela]

Wow! This gives me Orwellian future. I think I might choose this book and find out more about this strange world the author has crafted. Thank you for an enticing review. Do continue to do more.

[Terry Kimble]

Oh wow, this dystopian novel sounds intriguing. I read and reviewed a book on a similar topic and enjoyed it while disagreeing with its premise. The creation of a strictly matriarchal or strictly patriarchal society brings to mind the well-known quote by John Dalberg: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Thanks for the insightful glimpse into this book.

[RJ Reviews]

Huh, a role reversal. But sounds like a portion of the society still gets oppressed. So I guess the future depicted in this book is not much different from today except the role reversal part. Your rating of the book is encouraging. Your review details the important plot-points. Thank you.

[Amy Luman]

Wow! This gives me Orwellian future. I think I might choose this book and find out more about this strange world the author has crafted. Thank you for an enticing review. Do continue to do more.

They are such great, believable characters! I hope you enjoy it.

[Amy Luman]

Oh wow, this dystopian novel sounds intriguing. I read and reviewed a book on a similar topic and enjoyed it while disagreeing with its premise. The creation of a strictly matriarchal or strictly patriarchal society brings to mind the well-known quote by John Dalberg: "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Thanks for the insightful glimpse into this book.

Any power of the absolute variety is very intriguing. It makes me think of someone who thinks that they can control every aspect of everything.

[Amy Luman]

Huh, a role reversal. But sounds like a portion of the society still gets oppressed. So I guess the future depicted in this book is not much different from today except the role reversal part. Your rating of the book is encouraging. Your review details the important plot-points. Thank you.

I really liked the book. Thanks for your comments.

[Qwerty Writes]

So bizarre! I love the thrill of dystopian worlds but like you, I also have some questionable thoughts on views on men and family in this book.
It was a sweet read! Keep writing and I'll keep reading!

[Julie Marie Basil]

This sounds like a very interesting dystopian story. I haven’t read anything in this genre in a while, so I might have to check this one out! Thanks for sharing your thoughts.