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A review by katykelly
The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber
5.0
I've given this five stars. I didn't actually want to, but I couldn't think of any reason to lower the rating.
This is a book that seems to be two books in one, and there's a lot in there that is unsaid, that is background to the story but could actually fill volumes by itself. I've never read Faber before, and the size of this did make me wonder, but it's very readable and accessible.
Is it science fiction? Is it post-apocalyptic dystopia? Is it a story about faith? About marriage? Or all of them?
Peter is a preacher, leaving behind his wife Beatrice and cat to go on a mission, far away. We realise just how far a couple of chapters in as our own disorientation dissolves and Peter's begins as his flight ends and he arrives at a very unique destination.
Peter starts a new life with his new 'flock' and also his fellow pioneers. His only method of communication with Bea is via a Shoot that sends message back and forth across the vast distance separating them, and it isn't long before Peter (and the reader) is feeling disconnected with home and just how far away all the troubles appear to be.
I don't want to go into detail. I will say that I loved the structure, Peter's life with his converts, his life at the base, his messages with Bea and how they change over time to reflect their changing relationship and Bea's struggles by herself without her husband. I also liked the history of Peter and other characters.
The religion side of the story for me was interesting. I have no idea on the author's beliefs or quite what message he's putting across. I did feel anger almost from the start though, about the evangelisation of foreign peoples, how absurd it seems taking a local deity to foreign climes - just why would they embrace the idea, the words, the characters? Especially when the words for them do not exist in their language and culture.
Peter's dealings with this tribe are fascinating, the description of them, their homes, their language, all very nicely done.
There's a, not exactly twist, but a revelation or two along the way that surprises and really causes consternation in Peter but also did in me, and made me consider the nature of being human and what makes us the success that we are. There is also the very sad side of the story given by Bea's messages, of natural and man-made disasters at home and what life for her is like without her husband.
I was puzzled by the chapter headings. I realised partway through that each chapter is headed by the last few words at the end of that particular chapter. Still can't work out why. All answers on a postcard please...
Some very good writing, loved the relationship aspect, the religion is fascinating to me, the sci-fi element wonderfully created, and I really would have liked to know more about Bea's side of things, though that would have defeated the purpose of keeping Peter to distanced from it all.
An amazing creation (if that's not a pun at all), And a great cover too (mine is the gold swirly one).
This is a book that seems to be two books in one, and there's a lot in there that is unsaid, that is background to the story but could actually fill volumes by itself. I've never read Faber before, and the size of this did make me wonder, but it's very readable and accessible.
Is it science fiction? Is it post-apocalyptic dystopia? Is it a story about faith? About marriage? Or all of them?
Peter is a preacher, leaving behind his wife Beatrice and cat to go on a mission, far away. We realise just how far a couple of chapters in as our own disorientation dissolves and Peter's begins as his flight ends and he arrives at a very unique destination.
Peter starts a new life with his new 'flock' and also his fellow pioneers. His only method of communication with Bea is via a Shoot that sends message back and forth across the vast distance separating them, and it isn't long before Peter (and the reader) is feeling disconnected with home and just how far away all the troubles appear to be.
I don't want to go into detail. I will say that I loved the structure, Peter's life with his converts, his life at the base, his messages with Bea and how they change over time to reflect their changing relationship and Bea's struggles by herself without her husband. I also liked the history of Peter and other characters.
The religion side of the story for me was interesting. I have no idea on the author's beliefs or quite what message he's putting across. I did feel anger almost from the start though, about the evangelisation of foreign peoples, how absurd it seems taking a local deity to foreign climes - just why would they embrace the idea, the words, the characters? Especially when the words for them do not exist in their language and culture.
Peter's dealings with this tribe are fascinating, the description of them, their homes, their language, all very nicely done.
There's a, not exactly twist, but a revelation or two along the way that surprises and really causes consternation in Peter but also did in me, and made me consider the nature of being human and what makes us the success that we are. There is also the very sad side of the story given by Bea's messages, of natural and man-made disasters at home and what life for her is like without her husband.
I was puzzled by the chapter headings. I realised partway through that each chapter is headed by the last few words at the end of that particular chapter. Still can't work out why. All answers on a postcard please...
Some very good writing, loved the relationship aspect, the religion is fascinating to me, the sci-fi element wonderfully created, and I really would have liked to know more about Bea's side of things, though that would have defeated the purpose of keeping Peter to distanced from it all.
An amazing creation (if that's not a pun at all), And a great cover too (mine is the gold swirly one).