A review by ollyreads_972
Universality by Natasha Brown

informative reflective medium-paced

3.75

I read Universality as part of this year’s Booker Prize longlist, but the book had actually intrigued me for a while; I’d heard a YouTuber speak very highly of it a few months back. 

Overall, it was a fairly average read for me. The first story (written as a newspaper article about a stolen gold bar) stood out. It seems simple at first glance, but gradually reveals deeper layers of meaning. That kind of narrative structure appears throughout most of the collection.

She offers a sharp critique of modern Britain, targeting political, financial, and social structures. Through shifting perspectives and overlapping narratives, she shows how stories—and truth itself—are constantly being reshaped to serve different purposes.

It’s clever and accessible, but I didn’t connect with every story. A solid 3.75/5.