The End of Men

This is a book that I probably wouldn't have picked up myself if not for the strong recommendation from my friend and co-worker, Steph. It a speculative fiction pandemic story (not my usual cuppa tea) that was written in 2018, before the 2020 pandemic! I could only imagine what went through Sweeney-Baird's head when the Covid pandemic hit two years later. 

This impressive debut is set during a pandemic which has attacked 90% of the male population. With the male species almost decimated, women of the world are left to grieve, adapt and jump into roles that had previously been gender-biased as the world restructures and copes with this new normal. 

The story is told from the perspectives of a group of women from different parts of the world, including a Glaswegian doctor, a British Intelligence officer, a sociologist and a Canadian scientist. Through these women, readers witness the loss, fears, stressors and slivers of hope that impact their families and the world at large. 

The story digs deep into many topics, making this a great pick for a book club, particularly one with different genders and age groups. Topics include ethics, morality, grief, issues with fertility and gender roles - particularly how much of the world is set up for male success. Yup, we're talking about the patriarchy! From the male-focused sizing of EMS uniforms, cellphones and seatbelts to health monitors that are cued to male symptoms, this book brings to light many imbalances that the world accepts as the norm. Even the idea of walking alone at night without the fear of being approached or attacked - do men worry about this issue that is at the front of my mind every time I have to walk outside when it's dark? 

With our recent and continuing struggles with Covid, the emotions instigated by a pandemic hit close to home - the world stopping in its tracks, the fear, the loss of lives, the misinformation and the hunt for a vaccine but this is a fascinating read. It is a bit slow at times due to the inclusion of so many perspectives, but the characters are strong, bits of humour add some levity and readers are given much food for thought. Oh, the book discussions that will ensue!

With the author's ability to write about a global pandemic just before the Covid pandemic hit, I'm equally eager and afraid to ask what her next book will be about. But one thing is for sure, I'll be reading it.

My Rating: 4 stars

Author: Christina Sweeney-Baird

Genre: Science Fiction, Dystopian

Type and Source: Trade Paperback from public library

Recommended by: Steph L

Publisher: DoubleDay Canada

First Published: April 27, 2021

Book Description from GoodReads: Set in a world where a virus stalks our male population, The End of Men is an electrifying and unforgettable debut from a remarkable new talent that asks: what would life truly look like without men?

Only men are affected by the virus; only women have the power to save us all.

The year is 2025, and a mysterious virus has broken out in Scotland--a lethal illness that seems to affect only men. When Dr. Amanda MacLean reports this phenomenon, she is dismissed as hysterical. By the time her warning is heeded, it is too late. The virus becomes a global pandemic--and a political one. The victims are all men. The world becomes alien--a women's world.

What follows is the immersive account of the women who have been left to deal with the virus's consequences, told through first-person narratives. Dr. MacLean; Catherine, a social historian determined to document the human stories behind the male plague; intelligence analyst Dawn, tasked with helping the government forge a new society; and Elizabeth, one of many scientists desperately working to develop a vaccine. Through these women and others, we see the uncountable ways the absence of men has changed society, from the personal--the loss of husbands and sons--to the political--the changes in the workforce, fertility and the meaning of family.

In The End of Men, Christina Sweeney-Baird creates an unforgettable tale of loss, resilience and hope.