The Unit by Ninni Holmqvist, translated from the Swedish by Marlaine Delargy.
In this dystopian near-future, 50+ women and 60+ men who are single, childless and in jobs that can be done by others, are asked to step aside and check into a home where they will live out their lives in pampered luxury--for a price. I'm not sure what is more chilling--the price they pay, that their society thinks it's the right thing to do, or that they go along with it without resistance.
The book raises the questions,
- What is freedom?
- What is human dignity?
- How do we humans value our selves and each other?
and many others
.
Ever been in one of those "exclusive retirement homes" - where, for a significant down payment and monthly price, folks - some in their 50's and 60's (others much older) - live lives of pampered regimentation.
And, you don't have to be single and childless to participate in these smothered and sheltered worlds.
You find them on the ocean in places like Carlsbad, CA.
Dress for all meals, sit at the same table with the same boring conversation, get on the bus for an excursion where the most exercise is getting up the steps into the bus.
My singing group sings for a couple of those places.