Description
Reminiscent of the works of Margaret Atwood, Deborah Harkness, and Octavia E. Butler, The Women Could Fly is a queer feminist speculative novel that speaks to our times - a piercing dystopian tale, set in a world in which magic is real and single women are closely monitored in case they are shown to be witches . . .
Josephine Thomas has heard every conceivable theory about her mother's disappearance. That she was kidnapped. Murdered. That she took on a new identity to start a new family. That she was a witch. This is the most worrying charge because in a world where witches are real, peculiar behaviour raises suspicions and a woman - especially a Black woman - can find herself on trial for witchcraft.
Finally ready to let go of the past, Jo's future is in doubt. The State mandates that all women marry by the age of 30 - or forfeit their autonomy by registering to be monitored. At 28, Jo is ambivalent about marriage, feeling she has never understood her mother more. When offered the opportunity to honour one last request from her mother's will, Jo leaves her regular life to feel connected to her one last time.
'For fans of Margaret Atwood' - Elle
'Thoughtful...wry, magical' - Guardian
'Brimming with wonder' - Raven Leilani, author of Luster
In this powerful and timely novel, Megan Giddings explores the limits women face - and the powers they have to transgress and transcend them.
About the Author
Megan Giddings is the author of the novel Lakewood; a features editor at The Rumpus, a channel of the Los Angeles Review of Books; and a contributing editor at Boulevard. She is a recipient of a Barbara Deming memorial fund grant for feminist fiction. Her short stories have been published in Black Warrior Review, Gulf Coast, and The Iowa Review. She holds degrees from the University of Michigan and Indiana University. She lives in Michigan.
Reviews
For fans of Margaret Atwood * Elle Magazine *
Thoughtful novel, written in a wry, magical realist tone reminiscent of Kelly Link and Carmen Maria Machado * Guardian *
Megan Giddings's prose is brimming with wonder. The Women Could Fly is a candid appraisal of grief, inheritance, and the merits of unruliness. -- Raven Leilani, Bestselling author of Luster
This novel put me in the mind of the works of Margaret Atwood. An extraordinary concept * Platinum *
The relationship at the heart of this novel - between Jo and her mercurial mother - is much closer to timeless. * The New York Times *
Perfect for fans of The Handmaid's Tale and The Power. * Stylist *
The Women Could Fly is an absolute triumph. Giddings conjures up a world that feels familiar, despite the increasingly creepy hints of dystopia. And along the way, she shows what the anti-witch crusaders really fear most: our ability to create a better world if we work together. * Washington Post *
One of the most exhilarating and fulfilling books I've read in years. It's wildly imaginative, funny, deep, radical, and full of suspense. -- Jamie Attenberg, author of The Middlesteins
Profound, daring, wondrous, and utterly original. A feminist dystopian epic . . . a hypnotic blend of enchantment and outrage. I could not love this novel more. -- Jessamine Chan, author of The School for Good Mothers
This is a gem of a book about womanhood, lineage, and defiance. -- C Pam Zhang, author of How Much of These Hills Is Gold
Reading this book is like putting on an old winter coat and discovering a magical talisman in the pocket: it's full of warmth, comfort, and a whole new world of possibility. -- Adrienne Celt, author of End of the World House
The Women Could Fly recalls legendary works of dystopian fiction but casts a spell all its own. -- Alexandra Kleeman, author of Something New Under the Sun
Megan Giddings has a knack for taking her readers on a wild, suspenseful and thrilling ride. With descriptive setting and peculiar character development, I'm sure this novel is about to give us Dune meets The Salem Witch Trials realness. * Buzzfeed *
A book with echoes of Octavia Butler and Shirley Jackson. * Electric Lit *
Megan Giddings is a young writer to watch. * Kirkus Reviews *
Buzzes with hot-button issues * Daily Mail *
Book Information
ISBN 9781035001606
Author Megan Giddings
Format Paperback
Page Count 368
Imprint Pan Books
Publisher Pan Macmillan
Weight(grams) 206g
Dimensions(mm) 197mm * 130mm * 27mm
