In full disclosure, I have not read Red Clocks by Leni Zumas and to be honest with you I am not sure if I will. From the reviews, before I even pick the book up, I know what it is about and whose agenda it promotes.
Like Roe vs. Wade, and Doe vs. Bolton, the laws that made abortion legal in our country for any reason and at any time, this book seems to be based on half-truths and lies. It also is a great disservice to women.
The premise is the passing of "The Personhood Amendment" to the Constitution, that makes abortion illegal and jails any woman who attempts to end her own pregnancy. The set up of the characters is the desperation each one feels because of their own personal circumstances, to either end a pregnancy or desired one. From what I did read, the powers that be in the book have even constructed a pink wall to keep women from seeking abortions in Canada. (They had to get that "wall" building in right?)
It is no surprise that children are seen as a burden in the novel. Life will not be cherished here. The "kill or create" mentality is evident as termination is sought by one woman, while another seeks treatments to conceive. You know the spiel,"wanted" or "unwanted." The novel follows four women, the Wife, the Biographer, the Daugther, and the Mende, who uses herbs to heal and also destroy unborn life.
Again, I admit I have not read the book, but I know the stories well. They are the same stories that are told over and over again, stories we have been listening to for years that aim to somehow justify the killing of 60 million unborn children in the womb since the passage of Roe vs. Wade, which by the way was supposed to make abortion "safe and rare." 60 Million!
However, I know, we know, that there are millions of stories missing from Red Clocks that deserve to be told, that need to be told. The stories of women like Keisha Marie Atkins, 23, who died from abortion, or 29-year-old Jennifer McKenna Morbelli. Or those women who have been unable to have other children, or who have committed suicide, like Stacy Zalli because of abortion. Or the stories of the millions of post-abortive women (even Guttmacher admits 10% of women who have had abortion are negatively impacted) who suffer physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually. Or how about my story - a teenager who was coerced into abortion like countless others, by parents, boyfriends, or husbands. Or, let's tell the stories of women like Candace Pickens, who were killed by boyfriends because they refused to abort their child.
Where are their stories?
With the anniversary of Roe vs Wade, it is now 45 years of women being lied to, 45 years of continued manipulation by those who have their own agendas in keeping abortion the god it has become. Instead of "Red Clocks", perhaps this book should be named "Red Button" to reflect this war on women. Make no mistake about it, abortion has caused pain and conflict to millions upon millions and there is much collateral damage, which as a nation, we continue to deny and ignore. Until their stories are heard as well, this book is just a fantasy intended to enshrine the god of abortion..
