I loved this book so much I read it twice. The subtlety and pacing of the book mirrored the creeping of a dystopia...very slowly then all at once.😮 I typed my comment about creeping before you said it in your video..spooky
100% agree with everything you say! This novel is a masterpiece. I’ve read it twice and it was even better on a second reading (and it was 5 stars first time round). I think it’s a novel I could return to again and again, and find something new each time.
Have just finished this on the back of this video. Firstly I ordered it from the library as a physical book but struggled with the writing style. But I thought it would be a good one to listen to as an audiobook. So I listened on Borrowbox also via my library. It worked really well as an audiobook and am planning on trying his other book Grace next, which is about the Irish potato famine. This was such a powerful and important book and the ending was perfection.
Another one on my list. Sounds wonderful and other comments are positive too. I agree with you that there can be such a thing as a perfect novel. I would be really interested to hear you exploring this in the future. It's an interesting idea - although we could all perhaps agree on a formula for such a novel, its all highly subjective, so our winners would be vastly different! I keep thinking about your meeting with Mary Beard - hope it goes well!
It’s very well-written. It percolates. I think the brilliance of this novel is that it allows people who live in societies of relative wealth and order to imagine what life is like for people who experience war at their front doors. How many people today are in similar situations where they are running from the chaos of war, seeking safety? How many today are starving, being threatened by violence…..there is so much of this happening right now all over the globe. I think Lynch wanted us to think about how these people feel and experience chaos and destabilization.
What an amazing review. I had to pause the video after a few minutes to order myself a copy! Would love to see a video on your 'perfect books' you mentioned!
Agree totally. I read this for the booker last year and it totally blew me away. As a mother, i felt so seen ( how does Paul do that!? ) and so emotionally wrung out. Heartbreaking, eye opening and so, so good! Have you read The Promise, Louise? It was also listed for the Booker, and while being very different from Prophet Song, it blew me away in a similar manner.
I feel exactly the same! I've had a decades-long *love* (The Remains of the Day, The Prophet Song) and *hate* (White Tiger, The Sellout) relationship with the Booker. I've read a lot of books, but I've never seen such a masterful, almost imperceptible, increase of unease, disbelief, wariness, sadness, fear, anger, and finally, utter terror as I've read here. The fact of Eilish being an educated, sensible woman just drove the point home. Every moment Eilish spent with her father just left me shaking. Lynch nailed his dementia storyline down, as well. Lynch's distopic hell-scape could happen to any of us, and particularly, in America right now, the warnings are glaringly real.
OMG! I froze to death in Bath, went away to Montenegro and Croatia for a week, and when I returned to stay with a friend in Norwich, summer had arrived :)
Thanks for that - for some reason I have just not been attracted to this book, despite so many brilliant reviews. Need to get over myself ! Have just downloaded the sample for a preview and will also listen to the Audio preview. AndI agree with you - I have read many perfect novels in my life - when it is the right book at the right age, nothing is better than that.
I read his book Grace which is told by a young girl during the famine. It was beautifully written and the young girl and her brother are completely believable. It is very grim but not gratuitous. I think you would like it. You have encouraged me to read Prophet Song.
I've been a bit afraid of this book but your review is so beautiful, I think I need to pick it up. I just finished The Bee Sting and after pushing through a slow start, I ended up loving it.
Great read , purchased other Paul Lynch " Beyond the sea " to be read . I've just recently finished Rachel Cusk " Parade " and would like your thoughts .
I have the book; therefore, I now have a reason to read it. Currently, I am reading another Irish novel, “1916” by Morgan Llewelyn. It is a really good book.
Agree this is a brilliant novel. Brilliant and brutal. The Booker got it sooo right last year. I don’t like the idea of a perfect novel, once you’ve read a perfect novel then how does anything ever compete, the quest is over. Lol. I like the idea of almost finding the perfect novel often, almost with all the adventures - highs and lows - ahead. 😊
I just picked up Prophet Song from my favorite independent bookshop in Madison, WI - Frugal Muse. I can't wait to read it - I read the first two pages in the bookshop and I am already hooked. It's on my TBR for July. I also need to send you a big THANK YOU for recommending "The Making of the Modern Middle East" by Jeremy Bowen in one of your past vlogs. I had to order it from Amazon Used books, because it is not in circulation in the US. I have read the first two chapters. It is so lucidly and compellingly written that my husband and I have decided to read it aloud to one another so we can discuss it as we go. Cheers!
I loved this book so much I read it twice. The subtlety and pacing of the book mirrored the creeping of a dystopia...very slowly then all at once.😮 I typed my comment about creeping before you said it in your video..spooky
Totally agree! 👍
Now I'm even more excited to pick this up!
🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
100% agree with everything you say! This novel is a masterpiece. I’ve read it twice and it was even better on a second reading (and it was 5 stars first time round). I think it’s a novel I could return to again and again, and find something new each time.
Absolutely 👍
So agree, Louise.
🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩵🩵🩵
Have just finished this on the back of this video. Firstly I ordered it from the library as a physical book but struggled with the writing style. But I thought it would be a good one to listen to as an audiobook. So I listened on Borrowbox also via my library. It worked really well as an audiobook and am planning on trying his other book Grace next, which is about the Irish potato famine. This was such a powerful and important book and the ending was perfection.
So glad it worked for you on audio book and that you found it inspiring. Thanks so much for letting me know 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚💛💛💛
Another one on my list. Sounds wonderful and other comments are positive too. I agree with you that there can be such a thing as a perfect novel. I would be really interested to hear you exploring this in the future. It's an interesting idea - although we could all perhaps agree on a formula for such a novel, its all highly subjective, so our winners would be vastly different! I keep thinking about your meeting with Mary Beard - hope it goes well!
I’m going to have a real think about the perfect novel.
The interview with Mary Beard was a blast 💥 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
It’s very well-written. It percolates. I think the brilliance of this novel is that it allows people who live in societies of relative wealth and order to imagine what life is like for people who experience war at their front doors. How many people today are in similar situations where they are running from the chaos of war, seeking safety? How many today are starving, being threatened by violence…..there is so much of this happening right now all over the globe. I think Lynch wanted us to think about how these people feel and experience chaos and destabilization.
Absolutely spot on - could not agree more 👍
Totally agree with you. One of the best books I have ever read too. Just kept me hooked all the way through and the ending!!!!!! Wow
Totally agree! 👍
What an amazing review. I had to pause the video after a few minutes to order myself a copy! Would love to see a video on your 'perfect books' you mentioned!
Thank you. I’m planning something… 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
Agree totally. I read this for the booker last year and it totally blew me away. As a mother, i felt so seen ( how does Paul do that!? ) and so emotionally wrung out. Heartbreaking, eye opening and so, so good!
Have you read The Promise, Louise? It was also listed for the Booker, and while being very different from Prophet Song, it blew me away in a similar manner.
Yes, I have read it and loved it too 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
Loved this novel too. Would be wonderful to hear of the other " perfect novels " on your list . Plesse share
Will do! I have plans… 👌🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
I feel exactly the same! I've had a decades-long *love* (The Remains of the Day, The Prophet Song) and *hate* (White Tiger, The Sellout) relationship with the Booker. I've read a lot of books, but I've never seen such a masterful, almost imperceptible, increase of unease, disbelief, wariness, sadness, fear, anger, and finally, utter terror as I've read here. The fact of Eilish being an educated, sensible woman just drove the point home. Every moment Eilish spent with her father just left me shaking. Lynch nailed his dementia storyline down, as well. Lynch's distopic hell-scape could happen to any of us, and particularly, in America right now, the warnings are glaringly real.
Yes, it chimes in so many terrifying ways 😱🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
I absolutely loved this novel. It's definitely my favourite read of the year and I think it'll be hard to beat it.
👍👍👍
Sounds terrific read, I enjoy dystopian novels. Imagine how wonderful it would be if the future was not dystopian.❤
Absolutely 😳🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
OMG! I froze to death in Bath, went away to Montenegro and Croatia for a week, and when I returned to stay with a friend in Norwich, summer had arrived :)
Summer in Norwich 🤣🤣🤣🧡🧡🧡📚📚📚🙏🙏🙏
I read this last year and felt exactly the same about it as you do! I have picked up Beyond The Sea but haven't got around to reading it yet!
Ooo, please let me know when you do 🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
😀💕xx Thanks Louise, LOVED Prophet Song which I recently read. And shall reserve his only other available in my library - Grace. 🥰📚
Bought that one but not read yet 😊
Ooo, let me know what you think 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
Loved this book Louise.
👍👍👍
Thanks for that - for some reason I have just not been attracted to this book, despite so many brilliant reviews. Need to get over myself ! Have just downloaded the sample for a preview and will also listen to the Audio preview.
AndI agree with you - I have read many perfect novels in my life - when it is the right book at the right age, nothing is better than that.
Love your final point 🩷🩷🩷🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚
I read his book Grace which is told by a young girl during the famine. It was beautifully written and the young girl and her brother are completely believable. It is very grim but not gratuitous. I think you would like it. You have encouraged me to read Prophet Song.
That sounds very tempted. May leave it a little while and let Prophet Song settle first 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
I've been a bit afraid of this book but your review is so beautiful, I think I need to pick it up. I just finished The Bee Sting and after pushing through a slow start, I ended up loving it.
I must get to Bee Sting, have only heard good things 🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
I wasn’t going to read this, I was put off by some of the reviews, but you e convinced me….oh dear, more books!
Please let me know what think of it 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🩷🩷🩷
Oh wow! I’m adding this to my tbr❤❤ thank you for this showcase!
Hope you enjoy it! 🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
Brilliant choice, Louise . I loved loved this novel 🎉
👍
Great read , purchased other Paul Lynch " Beyond the sea " to be read . I've just recently finished Rachel Cusk " Parade " and would like your thoughts .
Haven’t read any Cusk yet… 🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚🩷
@louisesavidgemuses4135
I loved "Second Place" , I would recommend you start with that Rachael Cusk first.
I have the book; therefore, I now have a reason to read it. Currently, I am reading another Irish novel, “1916” by Morgan Llewelyn. It is a really good book.
Do love Irish writing- storytelling is so embedded in their culture 🙏🙏🙏🩷🩷🩷📚📚📚
Agree this is a brilliant novel. Brilliant and brutal. The Booker got it sooo right last year. I don’t like the idea of a perfect novel, once you’ve read a perfect novel then how does anything ever compete, the quest is over. Lol. I like the idea of almost finding the perfect novel often, almost with all the adventures - highs and lows - ahead. 😊
We need to thrash this one out 🤣🤣🤣❤️❤️❤️
I have had this on my shelf since it won last year. I am ashamed I haven’t picked it up yet.
Don’t be ashamed- it’s so important to read the right books at the right time. It took me months to get to it 🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚🤣🩷🩷
I just picked up Prophet Song from my favorite independent bookshop in Madison, WI - Frugal Muse. I can't wait to read it - I read the first two pages in the bookshop and I am already hooked. It's on my TBR for July. I also need to send you a big THANK YOU for recommending "The Making of the Modern Middle East" by Jeremy Bowen in one of your past vlogs. I had to order it from Amazon Used books, because it is not in circulation in the US. I have read the first two chapters. It is so lucidly and compellingly written that my husband and I have decided to read it aloud to one another so we can discuss it as we go. Cheers!
That’s so wonderful- you’ve warmed my heart 🩷🩷🩷🙏🙏🙏📚📚📚