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A review by katykelly
The Empathy Problem by Gavin Extence
5.0
The theme of bankers and greed reminded me of The Mark and the Void (Paul Murray), that of potential redemption made me think of Eleven by Mark Watson, but Gavin Extence has his own voice and his own theme running throughout his novels so far - brain injuries/conditions and mental illness seem to feature in each.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.
Here we have a rather interesting protagonist - a banker. Patrick Bateman without the psychosis, a greedy and thoughtless young hotshot rising up the ranks to be suddenly stopped in his tracks by the discovery of an incurable brain tumour.
With little time left, he finds the symptoms of sudden emotion and empathy to make him see the London world of big business around him in a new way.
You never think this is going to end with a miracle cure, but you DO want Gabriel to have a George Bailey realisation and see the world as it truly is, and what he could have done in it.
It would make a lovely heart-warming tear-jerker of a film, with some slightly predictable relationships (seeing the banking protesters as humans, Gabriel also develops feelings for someone he wouldn't ordinarily have noticed) but a good build to a fitting and moving conclusion.
I've read all of Extence's novels and this may be my favourite, tipping Alex Woods off the top spot.
An unusual 'hero' but an enjoyable journey as the reader hopes the erstwhile 'money guy' will learn the most important lessons of all while he still can.
Could be a good one for book groups and discussions.