The Unit

The Unit

Ninni Holmqvist

4 out of 5

Very reminiscent in my mind of the Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood.

I have always been very leery of translated books, feeling that something was going to get lost. But this book was all too real and all to relevant in a world that has gone slightly mad.

Dorrit Weger has hit the age, when women are over fifty and men are over sixty and childless, and are working in non progressive jobs, when they are taken to the Second Reserve Bank Unit. There their life starts over. They are given lovely apartments, medical care, delicious food, exercise and entertainment. The only problem is that they must subject themselves to drug and psychological testing, donating their organs, and then one day they are expected to make the final donation.

But what happens in this unit is beyond the psychological testing, beyond the separation from the outside world that has ignored them and separated them from productive people. Who consider them dispensable. Bonds are made and when the truly unthinkable, the highly improbable happens, Dorrit must make a choice that would be beyond the ability of most women.

This truly remarkable book hold you from beginning to end and is highly recommended for both the thought provoking read and for book group discussions.