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A review by rhosynmd
The Sentence is Death by Anthony Horowitz
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
I found this book really difficult to review. I think the premise is fascinating, the story was brilliant and the writing was great.
However…I cannot overlook the horrendously inaccurate portrayal of the condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. It’s described as a degenerative condition that will be fatal (similar to MS), whereas in fact it’s a genetic disease, which comes in a variety of types and severities. It is not possible that a man could make it to his 50’s, leading a very active life, having had no symptoms and then suddenly (seemingly) be on deaths door less than a year later. Also, as it’s a genetic condition it cannot be “cured” at all, let alone with a spinal fusion which by the way IS available on the NHS. I know it’s only a minor subplot in the book, but accuracy matters, especially with rare and misunderstood conditions such as this. Okay…rant over. As you can probably tell, I have personal experience with this condition.
There was also quite a lot of ableist attitudes on show in the book, both in Anthony Horowitz’s attitude to the boy with muscular dystrophy (shouting at someone in a wheelchair is a terrible thing to do), the use of the phrase “handicapped”, and in the letter right at the end of the book (being an invalid/disabled is portrayed as a fate worse than death).
All in all, my opinion of Anthony Horowitz as a writing has gone down.
However…I cannot overlook the horrendously inaccurate portrayal of the condition Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. It’s described as a degenerative condition that will be fatal (similar to MS), whereas in fact it’s a genetic disease, which comes in a variety of types and severities. It is not possible that a man could make it to his 50’s, leading a very active life, having had no symptoms and then suddenly (seemingly) be on deaths door less than a year later. Also, as it’s a genetic condition it cannot be “cured” at all, let alone with a spinal fusion which by the way IS available on the NHS. I know it’s only a minor subplot in the book, but accuracy matters, especially with rare and misunderstood conditions such as this. Okay…rant over. As you can probably tell, I have personal experience with this condition.
There was also quite a lot of ableist attitudes on show in the book, both in Anthony Horowitz’s attitude to the boy with muscular dystrophy (shouting at someone in a wheelchair is a terrible thing to do), the use of the phrase “handicapped”, and in the letter right at the end of the book (being an invalid/disabled is portrayed as a fate worse than death).
All in all, my opinion of Anthony Horowitz as a writing has gone down.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism