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lindserature 's review for:
The Book of Guilt
by Catherine Chidgey
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A huge thank you to Cardinal and NetGalley for an advance copy!
In an alternate post-WWII universe, identical triplets are growing up in a British orphanage. The Captain Scott Home for Boys is the only home Vincent and his brothers have ever known, and their three mothers the only parents in their lives. Every day, they take medicine to prevent the Bug from overtaking them, and they dream of a life in Margate, a magical place to which many of their former friends have already reached. When they meet Nancy for the first time, however, their lives and fates are forever altered.
I usually love dystopian novels; they allow readers to look more deeply into their worlds, both past and present. This novel is no different. Chidgey pulls from the history of World War II to highlight the many injustices committed by Mengele and the Nazi party, as well as they ways those experiments and ideas have persisted. She also focuses on various forms of discrimination and the ways in which they can shape not only a child’s perception of the world, but an entire society.
I also love the mystery of dystopias. This novel is no exception; though a bit predictable at times, the reader is drawn into the world and trying to figure out what is happening to the characters. The three perspectives work so well together to give us pieces of the puzzle, building a complete picture through the experiences of Vincent, Nancy, and the Minister.
This is a book that is creepy, thrilling, shocking, mysterious, and deep. It forces the reader to debate philosophical questions that are only skimmed in similar novels. I’ve seen this often mentioned in the same sentence as NEVER LET ME GO, and though I believe it’s an apt comparison because of the subject matter, I also believe that this book has more depth and makes better use of its characters. It’s a fantastic, interesting read, and I can’t wait for it to be available to everyone in just a few days!