Before She Sleeps

A Novel

By: Bina Shah

Narrated by: Deepti Gupta, Lameece Issaq, Soneela Nankani, Fajer Al-Kaisi, Allyson Johnson

Length: 8 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

“A haunting dystopian thriller” from the acclaimed author of A Season for Martyrs

“Fans of The Handmaid’s Tale won’t want to miss this one.” (Publishers Weekly)

In modern, beautiful Green City, the capital of Southwest Asia, gender selection, war, and disease have brought the ratio of men to women to alarmingly low levels. The government uses terror and technology to control its people, and now females must take multiple husbands to have children as quickly as possible.

Yet there are some who resist, women who live in an underground collective and refuse to be part of the system. Secretly protected by the highest echelons of power, they emerge only at night to provide the rich and elite of Green City a type of commodity no one can buy: intimacy without sex. As it turns out, not even the most influential men can shield them from discovery and the dangers of ruthless punishment.

This dystopian novel from one of Pakistan’s most talented writers is a modern-day parable, The Handmaid’s Tale for repressed women in Muslim countries everywhere. Before She Sleeps takes the patriarchal practices of female seclusion and veiling, gender selection, and control over women’s bodies, amplifying and distorting them in a truly terrifying way to imagine a world of post-religious authoritarianism.

©2018 Bina Shah (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Good

I was nervous to listen to this since it could be derivative of handmaidens tale, but I was quickly drawn in by the characters. Every narrator was good to the point I knew the character speaking even though each narrator’s version were different. What I mean is if Julian is speaking to another character but it is from Sabine’s pov, you know it is Julian from Sabine’s narrator. I would take the bad reviews with a grain of salt. Part of me wished for more, but it could have ruined the story’s pace and plot.

captivating

This book was exquisitely written. I was captivated from start to finish. Nina Shah builds and molds complex characters living in an even more complex society. The narrators did an amazing job at giving color to this great story. Very worth the read.

Drew me in

It seemed a little derivative of A Handmaids Tale, but I took a chance. Glad I did. The characters and story drew me in to the point that my attention didn't stray while listening. That's quite a feat!

Performance was very good, story okay

This has been on my reading list for awhile and I had a long road trip coming up so I decided to play it for that. The concept is interesting, but I think more world-building was needed. The basic components were there, but some things seemed too convenient, like it was written as an afterthought to close a loophole. Also seems like the author wants to turn this into a trilogy (whether or not that’s happen I am not sure). The voice performances were good though and they kept me interested for my car ride. A good book if you’re trying to finish one quickly to add to your reading count totals.

Started out interesting but ended up corny

I liked it at first but it descended into a young adult romance which was not what I was expecting. The dialogue became a soap opera.

Captivating

This book is amazing!! So captivating and thrilling!! A must have! I would recommended purchasing this book.

I was waiting for answers

There are many unanswered questions in this story and I didn't feel a fun sense of suspense, more of just reading to finish. That said the characters are wonderful and the voices are wonderful. It just felt like a first book, like a first chapter in the story. I'm excited to learn more.

Genuine and emotionally suspenseful!

Love it! Couldn't put it down. Definitely a possible future and well written. Good narrators

the concept was interesting.

I liked the idea of the story and the Utopian time. I just feel like the end came abruptly and there were some loose ends that need tied up. I am hoping there is a sequel coming to clear up some questions I have.

disappointing

overall I found this book disappointing. I am not quite sure why it was on an editor review list. the story was cliche with very little character development.