Westward Women by Alice Martin
Westward Women by Alice Martin breathes new life into the dystopian genre with a road trip that feels like a fever dream. The hypnotic writing takes you on the road with three incredible young women who embark on a journey of a lifetime, perhaps even their last. A mysterious outbreak is occurring throughout America, as young women are beginning to show unusual symptoms such as slowing down, feeling tired, and becoming restless. This is driven by a deep-rooted desire to leave everything behind and travel to the Pacific Ocean.
The story is at times eerily poetic and other times hopeful. The journey is one of discovery for each woman, as they leave everything they know behind, with no known destination in sight. They leave behind who they once were to become someone new and to give in to this unusual longing. The story shifts between three perspectives, with one woman following her sister and another chasing a story. It all begins with an itch. One that, when it spreads, drives women on an adventure equal parts discovery and mystery. Their journeys read like a travel monologue that allows you to get to know each of the women, from their desires to their interactions with the Piper. Even though they have similar desires and symptoms, the writing ensures that they read as three distinct characters.
A Journey of Itch and Discovery
Martin brings the itch of wanderlust to life with a unique premise and a character-driven narrative that takes you on the road and teaches you about life. You learn about the world through the experiences of these characters. From the first page, you’re introduced to the Westward Women with little understanding of what to expect. There’s Aimee, who searches for her sister Ginny, who succumbed to the itch and disappeared one day without a word. Following in her footsteps, she engages in a road trip adventure that lets her learn more about herself and puts her on the path of the mysterious figure, The Piper.
Next, you meet Eve, who is a journalist following a story that will change how she sees the world and open her mind to everything possible. The structure itself takes a unique twist, with the story primarily told through the third person, except for the case of Teenie. She has a young presence that is wrapped up in an unwavering loss that haunts her memories. She gives a realness to the world and adds an emotional layer that Martin perfectly captures. Seeing the world through her eyes creates an innocent perspective and puts you directly on the bus with The Piper. This gives the road trip an intriguing juxtaposition, as her innocence is balanced by the knowledge of where the bus is heading. The dystopian elements of the world are subtly included and at times feel like a fever dream, which is captured by the visual style of Martin’s writing.
The story leans into the mystery of where the young women vanish, which gives it the right amount of chills. This keeps you invested, as the more you know these women, the more you want to understand and see them prevail against this infection. The journeys are female-centered, with their desires and experiences at the forefront. Endearing, chilling, hypnotic, and explorative, Westward Women is an engaging female-focused narrative that takes you on the road in a tale of wanderlust, longing, and the search for life’s meaning.
About Alice Martin:
Alice Martin holds a PhD in Literature from Rutgers University. She is an Assistant Professor of English Studies at Western Carolina University, where she teaches fiction writing and American literature. She lives outside of Asheville, North Carolina with her husband, her son and too many typewriters. Westward Women is her debut novel.
