Review: A Life in the Service by Roberta Pescow

Title: A Life in the Service
Author: Roberta Pescow
Series: N/A
Pages: 24
Publisher: (/)
Date Published: June 21, 2012
Format: ebook
Genre: Fiction
Source: RABT

Synopsis:
Jenny accepts the fact that she was born into a domestic race for a life of domestic work. In return for this loyal service, the householders provide food, protection and shelter. Jenny's earthy spirituality and gentle nature allow her to be content with her lot, even when her situation is far from ideal. But during a terrifying fire, Jenny accidentally becomes separated from her master and mistress. Out on the street with no identification, Jenny finds herself an unlikely fugitive with no protection from a dangerous world. The experience shakes her beliefs to the core and causes her to question everything she has ever known. Follow Jenny's adventures in strange world of inequality that is a lot closer to home than you think. This novelette is approximately 12,000 words in length.

My Review:
Entering into the story I really didn't know what to think. The writing is very VERY lyrical and brought to mind classic fairy tales. I got a little lost sometimes because of how much...imagery and abstract thought there was. Paired with kind of a stark character development, this led to a dreamy and almost unreal story that you felt like you were floating through.

At the same time I was confused about the world that Jenny lives in. She's a domestic, and was raised by her mother in a family of 8 to grow up and serve the householders. Householders adopt domestics once they are old enough and they use them as nannies, entertainment, etc in their own homes. If you're a domestic, you've got to wear your identification necklace and without it you will be arrested and no one ever returns once they disappear in the back of the police van.

This read was very quick. It took me no more than 20 minutes to finish it. To some people that might not seem worth it, but I actually really enjoyed the twist at the end. It kind of made me think and want to start over and read it again with the new perspective from the end of the book. Here I was thinking that this is some Dystopian world of coldness and greed, yet at the end it was a shock to realize how true the story is.

It really hard to review this book. The reason you should read it is actually something I can't tell you without completely spoiling the ending for you...but I will just say that I think it's worth it to give it a read.