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Genre - psychological fiction
This debut novel by Swedish short story writer, Holmqvist, has created a fascinating future society where people have allowed the government to set up accommodation for older single 'unnecessary' people to live in. We follow 50 year old Dorrit Weger as she packs up her modest home and gives away her dog and moves into the sterile and controlled world of the unit. This is where single, childless women over 50 and men over 60 who work in non progressive jobs must go to live out the rest of their lives. There is the security of knowing all your needs will be met for food, clothing, accommodation and recreation but you will be expected to submit to drug and psychological testing and donate your organs to save the ‘necessary’ people. People live comfortably but not for very long and when Dorrit meets a man and falls in love she is not so sure she is ready to accept this situation anymore. Strangely familiar and frightening!
---- Reviewed by Sue, Belgrave
Genre - psychological fiction
This debut novel by Swedish short story writer, Holmqvist, has created a fascinating future society where people have allowed the government to set up accommodation for older single 'unnecessary' people to live in. We follow 50 year old Dorrit Weger as she packs up her modest home and gives away her dog and moves into the sterile and controlled world of the unit. This is where single, childless women over 50 and men over 60 who work in non progressive jobs must go to live out the rest of their lives. There is the security of knowing all your needs will be met for food, clothing, accommodation and recreation but you will be expected to submit to drug and psychological testing and donate your organs to save the ‘necessary’ people. People live comfortably but not for very long and when Dorrit meets a man and falls in love she is not so sure she is ready to accept this situation anymore. Strangely familiar and frightening!
---- Reviewed by Sue, Belgrave
