Review by emilypoche - The Definitions

emilypoche 's review for:

The Definitions by Matt Greene

3.0

mysterious slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: No

Loveable characters: Yes

Diverse cast of characters: Complicated

Flaws of characters a main focus: No

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for providing this ARC for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

The Definitions by Matt Greene is a dystopian science fiction novel, set in a near future or present in which there is purportedly a virus that has randomly destroyed people’s memories. Contained in an unnamed center to help restore memories, the narrator journals their interactions with learning their new system of existence and interacting with other students.

It becomes clear, within the first few chapters of the book, that whatever the truth of the situation, it certainly isn’t what the students are being told. I would categorize this book a lightly science fiction, because of the off handed mentions of scans and data, and a virus threatening the planet. However, this is very light, and I would say that for those looking for very heavy mechanics or a world building based on existing science, this isn’t going to scratch the itch. It’s far more of a dystopian novel than anything sci-if.

I think that this book is a very interesting literary experiment into the power of language, words, and strategically changing the definitions of things. At times it’s even clear to the characters that the schema they’re in is artificial and that things are being purposefully altered in ways to exert control. I think it really does pose many moments for the reader to think about our perceptions of things, and to challenge how ideas may have come into our world.

What I struggled with, is that as the center is internationally vague to its residents, so the author is vague with us. There’s very little in way of central plot. It’s a stream of consciousness journal recollection that gives a slice of life. However, that life is not particularly interesting. The plot moves along simply because time passes and things naturally change. Beyond that, many of the interpersonal interactions are “things that never get said” to each other. This means that there’s a lot left hanging in the air between characters, and there’s a lot of deeply emotional exchanges that occur entirely within the narrator’s feelings.

This means that after the establishing chapters that build a slightly ominous yet thought provoking world, the story hits a snag and loses steam. The book is, to put it blindly, pretty boring for the latter half.

I’m going to give this book a 3/5 because I do think it’s conceptually interesting. I think the author takes risks, and ultimately this book had a cerebral element that I enjoyed. However the plot is paper thin and moved glacially towards no payoff. If you are looking for something that can challenge ideals about language and education’s role in understanding our world, it’s a good option.

Content Warnings