Drought by Pam Bachorz
January 2011 by Egmont
Hardcover, 400 pages
Review Copy-Finished
Ruby Prosser dreams of escaping the Congregation and the early-nineteenth century lifestyle that’s been practiced since the community was first enslaved.She plots to escape the vicious Darwin West, his cruel Overseers, and the daily struggle to gather the life-prolonging Water that keeps the Congregants alive and gives Darwin his wealth and power. But if Ruby leaves, the Congregation will die without the secret ingredient that makes the Water special: her blood. So she stays. But when Ruby meets Ford, the new Overseer who seems barely older than herself, her desire for freedom is too strong. He’s sympathetic, irresistible, forbidden—and her only access to the modern world. Escape with Ford would be so simple, but can Ruby risk the terrible price, dooming the only world she’s ever known.
Review
How many seventeen year old girls can say they've been alive for 200 years? How many girls can say they have special healing powers in their blood that make the sick healthy and make the dying heal? How many girls do you know who are in complete slavery? Well this about sums up Ruby...as the genie would say "phenomenal cosmic powers...itty bitty living space".....that space being with her overbearing controlling mother who's primary goal is brainwashing her daughter, squelching her potential and making sure no one finds out about her special gifts outside of their cult-like circle...(sounds like a real peach)..a cult that oppresses themselves in the face of slavery relying on man who left them years ago.
How many seventeen year old girls can say they've been alive for 200 years? How many girls can say they have special healing powers in their blood that make the sick healthy and make the dying heal? How many girls do you know who are in complete slavery? Well this about sums up Ruby...as the genie would say "phenomenal cosmic powers...itty bitty living space".....that space being with her overbearing controlling mother who's primary goal is brainwashing her daughter, squelching her potential and making sure no one finds out about her special gifts outside of their cult-like circle...(sounds like a real peach)..a cult that oppresses themselves in the face of slavery relying on man who left them years ago.
Ruby's never known life outside of the Congregants, they collect water daily as slavery-work, they live in simple homes, wear old-fashioned simple clothes and are controlled by a master named Darwin. He controls the food, the water and the well being of the group, he also controls the guards and the beatings that get handed out on a daily basis for missed quotas. Ruby's mother steps in daily for Darwins beatings to protect the group knowing later Ruby can heal her, still though the beatings take a toll on her well-being. Although Ruby longs for life outside of the Congregants, she feels terrible her mother gets beaten, she (even with her power) submits to her mother and a man-God named Otto they worship, one Ruby has never seen but shares DNA with as he- this savior, Christ like figure- is her father. As the days grow hotter and longer in a drought unlike any other the group has dealt with, a restlessness begins to grow in Ruby and when she meets Ford, a new guard watching them, he stirs in her things shes never felt, things she wants to explore and a deep rebellious fire that makes her want to stand up and fight back.
I liked Drought for what it was, that being an interesting premise set within a dystopian world. In the beginning of the novel the reader just starts with these people, we really don't know why nor do we find out how these people (super-long-living-people) came to this point. I have so many whys Im left with...like: Why did Otto come to them in the first place, why do they live so long, why does Ruby have this blood from Otto, why do the people just work like slaves, why wont they run and for petes sake why wont they do anything about it???? I felt a lot of the characters lacked the proper emotional drama that I would liked to have seen, especially considering these people were severely oppressed, starved and beaten constantly. At some point I was hoping for a fierce outcry, a rise up, a REVOLUTION or even an utter loss of hope from them to set some sort of tone for their plight. Instead Drought ends in a very quiet manner, with more the revolution playing out in Ruby's head, it took her the entire book to get to this milestone but nonetheless she does finally grow and come into her power taking complete responsibility for her life. Im left with some questions and Im hoping Pam addresses those in a future installment, overall though even with a few hiccups I did enjoy reading Ruby's story.
Rating
Drought is suitable for teens 14 and up and contains: Violence, domination, religious aspects, slavery, abuse, manipulation, death and mild romance.
3.5/5- YA-Dystopian
Thanks to Egmont for Review Copy and if you missed my fun interview with Pam you can check it out here!
Well, T, I'm glad you enjoyed this way more than me. I was left utterly frustrated. First with the creation of Ruby, the 200 year old seventeen year old, then by the fact that the only thing these people fought for was to stay oppressed. Like you, I had so many questions, and the quite ending didn't help.
ReplyDeleteReally nice review Tina, I haven't read too many reviews for this one so I haven't been able to figure out if it might be something I'd be interested in. I'm not super excited about all the whys your left with, but I do like the sound of Ruby:) Thanks for such a thorough take on this one, it was very helpful!
ReplyDeleteAs always, brilliant review :)
ReplyDeleteBy the way, hysterical image!
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...I still undecided about this one. I do like the sound of the concept but I am worried about all the whys??? you are left with. Great review Tina :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen this several times at the bookstore, but haven't picked it up. I might thumb through it the next time I go.
ReplyDeleteBtw...Thanks for the recommendation of that indie bookstore. I went there they day you posted it on my wall with my BF! We both loved it! :)
@juju- I like being brillant...:)
ReplyDelete@lily- I love it too!! Its my fav little Indie bookstore in the area
I'm really excited about this book, but I hate books that leave you with a lot of "whys"
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