benchurchus 's review for:

Universality by Natasha Brown

3.5

funny mysterious medium-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Character

Strong character development: Yes

Loveable characters: Complicated

Diverse cast of characters: Yes

Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

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Universality by Natasha Brown is an interesting read. The first section is a long-form magazine piece, not just written in that style, but presented as one. It’s a bold choice that sets the tone before the story begins to peel back and reveal more about the characters.

Lenny and Pegasus stand out the most. They start off as slightly clichéd figures, which feels deliberate, given how the media often flattens people into types. As the narrative shifts, they become more layered and compelling.

The book explores themes of wokeness, capitalism, and the performative nature of both in modern discourse. These are timely ideas, but for such a short novel it only manages to land a few of the punches it throws. I finished it feeling that, yes, these issues are complex and the media often fails to deal with them well.

Perhaps that is part of the point. But my response was more of a quiet “yep, I get it” than any real shift in thinking. It reflects the current cultural landscape effectively, but doesn’t offer much that feels new. The final section, featuring Lenny’s interview, is probably the strongest. It’s tense, awkward in the right ways, and a good example of Brown’s sharp writing.

The mix of forms and tones is one of the book’s biggest strengths. But it didn’t quite land with the weight I was hoping for. If the subject matter interests you, it’s worth picking up. Otherwise, it might leave you a bit cold.