306 pages
English language
Published Aug. 7, 2016
Set in an alternative historical present, in a "eusistocracy"--An extreme welfare state -- that holds public health and social stability above all else, it follows a young woman whose growing addiction to illegal chili peppers leads her on an adventure into a world where love, sex, and free will are all controlled by the state.
It definitely lives up to the expectation engendered (haha) by the blurb.
There are obvious parallels with e.g. The Handmaid's Tale, but the chili angle is amazing, and somehow enhances the extreme Finnishness of the whole thing.
SFFBookClub
Content warning no details, but some plot concepts are touched on.
Since nearly every other review of the books tends to mention it, I will as well – This book is weird. With that out of the way, I will say that my book club choosing to read this nearly right after the US Supreme Court rulings on women’s rights may not have been good timing. This book could be very upsetting since it is taking place in a society where women have virtually no rights whatsoever. There are parts of it that are very reminiscent of Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale, along with a nod to H.G. Wells. Eugenics is on full display as the backdrop upon which most of the story framework hangs. Following Vanna/Vera as she navigates a society that sees her more as a possession than a person was interesting. While she is prevented from doing a lot of what she would like, she can also get away with things simply because no one in this society would suspect her of being capable of doing those things. The deep dive Sinisalo takes into chili peppers is great fun. While she expands beyond the reality of chilis, the majority of the information she presents is factual. When the story diverges from the facts about chilis is where most of the weirdness comes in. Overall, Vanna/Vera reaches a conclusion she can be at peace with, although it is not where I was anticipating the book going.
