The Cleft: A Novel
 

The Cleft: A Novel

by Doris Lessing


In the last years of his life, a contemplative Roman senator embarks on one last epic endeavor: to retell the history of human creation and reveal the little-known story of the Clefts, an ancient community of women living in an Edenic coastal wilderness. The Clefts have neither need nor knowledge of men; childbirth is controlled through the cycles of the moon, and they bear only female... (read more)

Top tags: womenancient mysteriessciencedebatedoris lessing (all tags)

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Amazon Reviews (5)
 

Most Helpful Reviews

Liked It

mizuki1988
  • Rated 4 stars

I really liked the idea, it was ingenious... but the storyline got a bit stretched towards the end so I had to put it down a couple of times not to fall asleep.

mizuki1988’s full review »
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Didn’t Like It

Annita S
  • Rated 1 stars

I did not like this book!

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Community:
  • Rated 2.763158 stars
Amazon:
  • Rated 0 stars
 

Newest Comments

  • Nicole S

    nicole s said:

    Not really enjoying this book. Think I may give up...

    posted Friday, June 13 2008
  • Sara in Beirut

    sara in beirut said:

    When I saw this book I thought there might be a link between this and Atwood's Handmaid's Tale; both being about women in unusual socities. I plan to begin reading it right now as I have a holiday for a week!

    posted Friday, April 25 2008
  • starcrossed

    starcrossed said:

    From pg. 216 of "The Cleft":

    "What we see we need to conquer... I see poor Horsa lying there crippled and think of how Rome has hurt itself in our need to expand, to have..."

    This is the narrator speaking, and I think it portrays why the author chose a Roman man to narrate. Rome represents the height of masculine authority and expansion. It is in direct contrast or opposition to feminine CLEFT. Read all of page 216-217 and it's pretty clear. At least to me!

    posted Wednesday, October 24 2007
  • starcrossed

    starcrossed said:

    Maybe because the Romans were arguably the height of a paternalistic society where male power and reason dominated??

    posted Monday, October 22 2007
  • srapri

    srapri said:

    hi....tis seems to be one of the lesser read books here. quite a pity cause tis is easily one of the best books i have come across. from the narrative to her re-imagining of the origin myths.......wat a kick! but the best part of the book (well can't really pick on one....leaving the rest for u to point out) is the constant switching from the period of the roman narrator to the period of the clefts.

    any ideas as to why she might have chosen someone in the roman age to narrate the tale??

    posted Thursday, September 6 2007 ( | view 1 reply )
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