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adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Do you love reality television? How about people behaving badly for material items? Are you a fan of coming-of-age stories with morally grey characters? Do you love books with a dystopian setting? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, The Compound, would be a good book for you to try. Even if you don’t like any of those things, you may still enjoy this book! I do not watch reality television, but while reading the very binge-worthy, The Compound, by Aisling Rawle, I totally get the hype. Even though my personal experience as a viewer of reality TV is quite minimal, as I turned the pages of The Compound, I was able to understand why this sort of television is so riveting. In the same way that viewers become invested in the characters of reality TV, this reader became equally invested in the outcome of the characters and the “game” they were playing, so much so that I found my heart rate accelerating with each turned page.
With characters that I wanted to love, but loved to hate, I couldn’t help but wonder what choices I would make if I were in their shoes. Mainly I was pretty sure I would never put myself in their shoes. Although I remained conflicted about the purpose and benefit of such a show/game, as I learned more about what drove some of the characters to apply to the show, I had more empathy for them. Ultimately, I couldn’t stop turning the pages because I had to know who was going to be voted off the compound next, and who would be the last contestant standing.
This was a fun and immersive reading experience, albeit a disturbing commentary on our materialistic culture, that I will not soon forget. If you are looking for a bingeable story that will take you outside your own daily existence, make The Compound the next book you pull from the shelf.
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House for an ARC of The Compound by Aisling Rawle in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Cursing, Blood, Excrement, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol
Moderate: Infidelity, Mental illness
challenging
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Sexual content
Minor: Gore, Mental illness, Torture, Stalking, Fire/Fire injury, War
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
A suspenseful and thrilling story which combines the atmospheres of Love Island, Big Brother and Lord of the Flies. The story explores the issues of modern society, in particular the issues of capitalism, consumerism and personal image. Aisling is a great writer who keeps you on the edge of your seat, trying to guess what the contestants will do next. She is able to present some complex ideas and questions in a way which reflects modern society and entertainment whilst remaining accessible. I thoroughly enjoyed the development of the story and the character arcs within the overall plot; which ultimately leaves you question what would happen next in the characters lives.
The story itself is set in a secluded compound, placed in the middle of the desert. Whilst the female contestants arrive immediately after the last group leave, the men have to travel across the desert to meet them. Once all the group has arrived, a series of tasks are set, both communally and personal, and result to material rewards; as time goes on, these gifts become more and more expensive and luxurious. All the while, the contestants must form opposite sex partnerships to stay within the compound. As time goes on and they build an idyllic compound there appears to be something sinister lying beneath the surface and questions how much should you sacrifice for material gain and luxury?
The story itself is set in a secluded compound, placed in the middle of the desert. Whilst the female contestants arrive immediately after the last group leave, the men have to travel across the desert to meet them. Once all the group has arrived, a series of tasks are set, both communally and personal, and result to material rewards; as time goes on, these gifts become more and more expensive and luxurious. All the while, the contestants must form opposite sex partnerships to stay within the compound. As time goes on and they build an idyllic compound there appears to be something sinister lying beneath the surface and questions how much should you sacrifice for material gain and luxury?
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gore, Infidelity, Misogyny, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury
Minor: Racism
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the desert, there's a compound. Ten women are there, waiting for ten men to arrive. When the men arrive (late and less one of their number), the game is afoot. Every person who is not sharing a bed with a member of the opposite sex when the sun rises is banished.
Everything is filmed, everything must be earned through tasks (communal or personal), and the contestants are punished for breaking any of the rules.
The Compound really doesn't read like a debut novel. It's assured and propulsive, and uses its premise to examine all kinds of social issues without losing any of its pace or bite.
The contestants are mostly interesting and well drawn, Lily especially so. She's hyperaware of how she looks, how she'll look on camera, the effect she's having on the men, and initially seems pretty shallow. Another blonde who lives and dies by her fashion magazines, who likes to be dolled up to the nines, and wants shiny things. She's not just that, though - people seldom really are what they seem on the surface.
Most of the contestants are morally grey and are nudged one way or another by the unseen producers. It's fun to see the manipulation, until it suddenly isn't and the tension ratchets up several gears.
The last third of the book is genuinely scary in places - it earns its comparison to Lord of the Flies.
I stayed up way too late (on a school night!) to finish this, and had trouble sleeping afterwards (complimentary). By rights, The Compound should be one of the buzziest books of the summer.
Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Everything is filmed, everything must be earned through tasks (communal or personal), and the contestants are punished for breaking any of the rules.
The Compound really doesn't read like a debut novel. It's assured and propulsive, and uses its premise to examine all kinds of social issues without losing any of its pace or bite.
The contestants are mostly interesting and well drawn, Lily especially so. She's hyperaware of how she looks, how she'll look on camera, the effect she's having on the men, and initially seems pretty shallow. Another blonde who lives and dies by her fashion magazines, who likes to be dolled up to the nines, and wants shiny things. She's not just that, though - people seldom really are what they seem on the surface.
Most of the contestants are morally grey and are nudged one way or another by the unseen producers. It's fun to see the manipulation, until it suddenly isn't and the tension ratchets up several gears.
The last third of the book is genuinely scary in places - it earns its comparison to Lord of the Flies.
I stayed up way too late (on a school night!) to finish this, and had trouble sleeping afterwards (complimentary). By rights, The Compound should be one of the buzziest books of the summer.
Thanks to Harper Collins and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Bullying, Misogyny, Violence, Blood
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Vomit, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Biphobia, Body shaming, Sexual violence, Suicide, War
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Violence, Blood, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Violence, Blood, Fire/Fire injury, Injury/Injury detail