Thank you once again for your videos. I just finished the book a few hours ago. For 20% of the book, I was engrossed in the novel and Eilish's situation. I thought the book was going to be one of my top books. I grew tired of all the endless arguments with the children and how Eilish kept making foolish choices. I would also have cut the oldest son from the novel as his scenes got on my nerves and felt like typical bratty son/flustered mother passages. Eilish comes across as too naive for a woman her age. You used the word "relentless" and I think Lynch is relentless in putting Eilish through one horrible situation after another. I found the book quite similar to Black Butterflies, but I thought Morris handled the situation much better as the main character's behaviour never felt dictated by the plot or the author's insistence on suffering. With that said, the hospital administration scenes toward the end are spectacular and I wish there had been more of that. The "haircutting" scene as well. Those two sections are so strong and say so much about this world that I wish the novel had focused on moments like those.
Yes! I agree! Those moments felt so brilliantly done and observed, but I sort of needed a bit more relief in parts of the book to really appreciate everything else it was doing.
Thank you for putting into words so well how this book made me feel. It's such a disturbing ,distressing book. Too close for comfort to events that must be happening around the world right now.Bleak and harrowing indeed,not an easy read. I had to force myself to stop reading and go outside to breathe and calm down. I've thought about it every day- and night - since I read it and will definitely read it again.
I found it a very compelling book, I read it in one sitting. I was rolling my eyes throughout thinking that Eilish was delusional. After seeing all that can happen in war and natural disasters my view is if you have an option to get out, then get out. So I would have cut and run (I hope, much earlier than the main character did). It gave me strong Black Butterflies vibes but I preferred Black Butterflies. While dystopian, I never questioned the world she was in, because I think that world was pretty close to reality for people in some parts of the world.
Ooh, yes, Black Butterflies is a good comparison! And I agree, I thought that world building was very comprehensive- I think I just couldn’t always get into the rhythm of the text itself, but I still think it does a lot of impressive things!
Eilish was bearing the burden of small children, a missing husband, an elderly father, and a missing son. On one level she understands the gravity of the situation yet knows if she leaves she abandons her husband and son. Heartbreaking.
In general, this book did not work for me. I did not connect with Eilish at all. As you say, there aren't any moments of “relief” to make the characters feel human. But I did like the explanation at the end - that did touch me. There were also things about the writing that I didn’t understand - references to “mouths” and “shoes” and unnecessarily new “verbs,” which felt pretentious. If this makes the shortlist, as I assume it will, I will reread it. As you say, I think (and hope ) it will benefit from a second read.
Yeah, I think I needed some breaks on the intensity (or even just paragraph breaks!) to process it, but it’s such an unusual style in a way I can see working for other people!
I was impressed with this novel, while there may be criticisms about the characters and writing I wonder how is the appropriate way to express or respond to a violent take over by a totalitarian regime? I think that's what Lynch is trying to portray is the lack of precision in understanding and the slow unravelling of it all.
That’s a very good point- the language really mapped well to the suffocation of the situation, but I just found it tricky to get into its the rhythms, even though I could see what was happening!
I listened to it on audiobooks….it was gripping & quite disturbing…as a mother my stomach was knotted up!…however I understand why it won the Booker….never forget…it could happen anywhere!
I agree with the criticisms of this book, the writing style and lack of clearly articulated thinking made this a lot less engaging. Did anyone else feel that it was implied that Bailey was secretly working with the rebels as well? He was out of the house and even hanging out with kids Eilish didn’t know. If so, that would also add more credibility to the scene at the end ( don’t want to spoil it for anyone).
Thanks for sharing your thoughts . One thing to add, perhaps it is a book aboute white immigrants. Taking the experience of so many people of colour amd reimagining that as happenibg to a white European.
Thank you once again for your videos. I just finished the book a few hours ago. For 20% of the book, I was engrossed in the novel and Eilish's situation. I thought the book was going to be one of my top books. I grew tired of all the endless arguments with the children and how Eilish kept making foolish choices. I would also have cut the oldest son from the novel as his scenes got on my nerves and felt like typical bratty son/flustered mother passages. Eilish comes across as too naive for a woman her age. You used the word "relentless" and I think Lynch is relentless in putting Eilish through one horrible situation after another. I found the book quite similar to Black Butterflies, but I thought Morris handled the situation much better as the main character's behaviour never felt dictated by the plot or the author's insistence on suffering. With that said, the hospital administration scenes toward the end are spectacular and I wish there had been more of that. The "haircutting" scene as well. Those two sections are so strong and say so much about this world that I wish the novel had focused on moments like those.
Yes! I agree! Those moments felt so brilliantly done and observed, but I sort of needed a bit more relief in parts of the book to really appreciate everything else it was doing.
I found the book soo boring and nothing like the real dictatorship
Thank you for putting into words so well how this book made me feel. It's such a disturbing ,distressing book. Too close for comfort to events that must be happening around the world right now.Bleak and harrowing indeed,not an easy read. I had to force myself to stop reading and go outside to breathe and calm down. I've thought about it every day- and night - since I read it and will definitely read it again.
It’s so intense, isn’t it? It’s definitely one that I think will linger in people’s brains for a while!
I found it a very compelling book, I read it in one sitting. I was rolling my eyes throughout thinking that Eilish was delusional. After seeing all that can happen in war and natural disasters my view is if you have an option to get out, then get out. So I would have cut and run (I hope, much earlier than the main character did). It gave me strong Black Butterflies vibes but I preferred Black Butterflies. While dystopian, I never questioned the world she was in, because I think that world was pretty close to reality for people in some parts of the world.
Ooh, yes, Black Butterflies is a good comparison!
And I agree, I thought that world building was very comprehensive- I think I just couldn’t always get into the rhythm of the text itself, but I still think it does a lot of impressive things!
Thanks for your wonderful videos🎉😊
Thank you so much!
Eilish was bearing the burden of small children, a missing husband, an elderly father, and a missing son. On one level she understands the gravity of the situation yet knows if she leaves she abandons her husband and son. Heartbreaking.
In general, this book did not work for me. I did not connect with Eilish at all. As you say, there aren't any moments of “relief” to make the characters feel human. But I did like the explanation at the end - that did touch me. There were also things about the writing that I didn’t understand - references to “mouths” and “shoes” and unnecessarily new “verbs,” which felt pretentious.
If this makes the shortlist, as I assume it will, I will reread it. As you say, I think (and hope ) it will benefit from a second read.
Yeah, I think I needed some breaks on the intensity (or even just paragraph breaks!) to process it, but it’s such an unusual style in a way I can see working for other people!
I'm leaving at the spoilers as my copy has just arrived. I'll listen to the rest later!
Enjoy!
I was impressed with this novel, while there may be criticisms about the characters and writing I wonder how is the appropriate way to express or respond to a violent take over by a totalitarian regime? I think that's what Lynch is trying to portray is the lack of precision in understanding and the slow unravelling of it all.
That’s a very good point- the language really mapped well to the suffocation of the situation, but I just found it tricky to get into its the rhythms, even though I could see what was happening!
I listened to it on audiobooks….it was gripping & quite disturbing…as a mother my stomach was knotted up!…however I understand why it won the Booker….never forget…it could happen anywhere!
Oh I can imagine! And yes, chilling to think it could still very much happen!
I agree with the criticisms of this book, the writing style and lack of clearly articulated thinking made this a lot less engaging. Did anyone else feel that it was implied that Bailey was secretly working with the rebels as well? He was out of the house and even hanging out with kids Eilish didn’t know. If so, that would also add more credibility to the scene at the end ( don’t want to spoil it for anyone).
Ooooh, I don’t think I’d thought about that! Thank you!
shut out once again.....................if only i had more than one head to read with!!!!!!
Ahah, I know, I wish!
Thanks for sharing your thoughts . One thing to add, perhaps it is a book aboute white immigrants. Taking the experience of so many people of colour amd reimagining that as happenibg to a white European.
Oh yes, excellent point, thank you! It does some really interesting things, definitely!