A review by alireuter
Something New Under the Sun by Alexandra Kleeman

3.5

Kleeman explores the hallucinogenic nature of the modern American lifestyle, delving into a realm of classic dystopia. The key themes examined are those of the cultish, corrupt and claustrophobic, leading you to question whether everything those in the higher ups are really looking out for you. I found this notion very relevant these days which was discussed through multiple storylines very well. if you’ve ever seen the the film under the silver lake starring andrew garfield this is the same vibe. i enjoyed the characters’ backstories, especially looking into patrick’s family position & internal relationships. in the least negative way possible, i preferred the side plots rather than the main storyline. the mystery of wat-r was fun & intriguing but the thing i wish was more focused on was the cult that was-although on the other side of the country-which was the most thematically reflective of the rest of the book. i loved the ambiguity of the ending & the question raised about how much you can truly escape the control of larger corporations that actually rule the world. overall, a great read but i couldn’t help but not enjoy it a certain points unfortunately. i’d love to look into what else kleeman & what others thought of the book. if you like the sound of it then please give it a go!