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serendipitysbooks 's review for:
Universality
by Natasha Brown
dark
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I went in knowing this involved an assault with a gold bar. What I got was a critique of many aspects of British society - the intersection of race and class, journalism, meritocracy, privilege, left vs right, they power of words, class, and so much more, not to mention one of the the most smug, self-serving and unlikeable characters I've encountered in a while. So many ideas and themes in such a short book, but it never felt like there was too much packed in, nor that some ideas were fully explored. The writing was strong, and I, a one-time wanna be journalist (I would have been terrible), appreciated the storytelling that opened with a lengthy piece of investigative journalism. Surely a book for the Orwell Prize for Political Fiction.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism, Violence, Classism