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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
funny
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
This was a difficult book to read. Set a few years after the COVID pandemic we are still in, the author does not sugar coat the political and social climate and how views towards how to fight the virus divided the nation. At points throughout the book it almost felt like this whole thing was a farcical comedy and we were being made fun of, regardless of which side of the controversies we fall on. Did I mention it was a heavy read? It was long and disturbing. However, every time a character stated "we are on a mission from God" it was a mental break as I couldn't help but think of the Blues Brothers. Somehow I doubt that was the author's intention. Finally, I think the pretentious use of math throughout the book to drive home points that were already quite well made and the author's frequent breaking of the fourth wall got to be a bit much for me. This all coalesced in the epilogue where it went a bit too far and felt straight up preachy. So, while I might recommend this book, it might not be the right book for many right now.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
Thanks to NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for a copy of the book. This review is my own opinion.
dark
tense
fast-paced
I loved Hawley’s book, Before the Fall. So when I saw that he had a new novel coming out that was kind of a dystopian critique of America, I was excited. The jacket description of this book is bananas, but it begins as a compelling, insightful critique of America and how divided we’ve become.
But then it devolves into a bit of a mess. I think I get what Hawley was trying to do. He’s attempting to satirize the current state of America. But I think his point and his narrative get bogged down by the fact that he’s trying to do too much. There’s no issue that isn’t included. We get everything: the political divide, climate change, opioid epidemic, social media, COVID, the Me Too movement, Q-Anon, gun violence, the war in Afghanistan, and more. There’s even a Jeffrey Epstein type character.
To his credit, Hawley acknowledges within the text that the world he created is “ridiculous,” but his points still come across as heavy-handed. It isn’t helped by the dialogue, which is often clunky. There are too many metaphors; people don’t talk like this.
Somewhere in here, though, is a good story. I was invested throughout and anxious to see where it was going. Unfortunately, the problem, to quote from the book: “Simon sighs. It’s all so vague.”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Trafficking, Murder, War
Moderate: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Emotional abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexual assault, Antisemitism, Mass/school shootings
I don’t mind a pretentious, heavy handed cultural critique—I’m just picky about who they’re coming from.