Reviews

The New Life by Tom Crewe

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kou_'s review against another edition

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Maybe not a good time; wasn’t really interested

an_tonia's review against another edition

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challenging dark informative reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Der junge Wissenschaftler henry und der ältere Schriftsteller John beschließen zusammen ein Buch über Homosexualität zu schreiben. Der eine um die Gesellschaft freier und offener zu gestalten und Wissen voran zu treiben. Das neue Leben zu verwirklichen. Der andere um sich aus seinem persönlichen Gefängnis zu befreien und sich zum ersten Mal selbst zu spüren. Doch der Kampf für eine Utopie ist ein Kampf mit Schmerzen und Verlusten. Aus eigenen Gefühlen heraus geht man weit über bestehende Grenzen heraus, schreckt aber auch sein ganzes Umfeld. Aus Überlegungen heraus geht man vorsichtig und strategisch aber langsam und eher für zukünftige Generationen vor. So oder so ist eine Utopie lebensnotwendig für manche dabei aber so lebensfern.

silly_erika20's review

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challenging emotional inspiring sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

sjhoward's review

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challenging reflective sad slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

zenjief's review

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hopeful reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

drlark's review

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emotional informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

What a STUNNING look at late-Victorian England and the people who don't fit the stifling norms of the time trying to find their way and their place. The New Life tells the story of two men in 1894 who decide to write a book about the experiences of gay men and publish it as a scientific/medical text, meant to refute the criminal laws of the time. Their motivations are unique; their backgrounds distinct. This all takes place at the same time that Oscar Wilde is arrested and jailed, so the stakes are incredibly high.

Two things deeply impress me about this book. 1) While our two male leads profess an appreciation for "Greek love" -- which is based not insignificantly on the belief that women aren't intellectually or morally capable of full relationships with men, so men find fulfilling relationships with each other -- the author is deeply interested in the relationships between these men and their wives. The dialog Tom Crewe writes between these two couples is so sharp, honest, and revealing. No one's the villain; no one is entirely right or wrong (except the law, obviously). I viscerally understood every character's motivation, and this contributed so much to the overall urgency of the story.

And perhaps even more impressive, 2) Crewe writes the impossible tension between the desire for freedom, for understanding, for social change, for justice (for the New Life), and the necessity of survival and preservation of self in a hostile society SO WELL. The impact of the book John and Henry write is real and dangerous. The consequences are potentially disastrous for everyone tied to them, and they have to reckon with that. Some do so better than others. I think the author's attention to how class and privilege play out in the willingness or aversion to risk-taking is incredibly nuanced and thoughtful.

I was enthralled by the characters' journeys in The New Life. The last third read like a thriller with Wilde's trial and the publication of our heroes' book. I had no idea how things would turn out for them and for their families, so I could not put this down. I also appreciated the characters' interest in their own sexuality and experiences. Like, yes -- humans are fascinating creatures; let's try to understand them!

This is a favorite of the year, for sure. I'm so glad to see this won the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.