Author: Howard Jacobson
Start Date: 3 January 2015
End Date: 31 May 2015
Genre: Dystopian fiction
What It's About: At some undefined date in the future, society has changed, though it's hard to pinpoint exactly what has changed. It almost seems like a reverse cultural renaissance. The catalyst for the change is an event referred to as WHAT HAPPENED, IF IT HAPPENED. The two protagonists, Ailinn and Kevern, though both born after WHAT HAPPENED, are a well-matched couple who seem to be a few who still value art and free-thought and culture, who are unwittingly manipulated by some who hope to bring about another societal shift. I guess.
What I Liked About It: The writing was incredible. I rarely read books with such complex and advanced writing, mainly because it requires a lot of thinking and because I think all day for work, reading to think is difficult. But it is refreshing to see that people still value good writing and that for some, not just what is said but how it is said is still the art.
The plot itself is fairly basic, but punctuated with characters' backstories, journal entries, and stream-of-consciousness. These elements combine to place the reader in the story and share Kevern and Ailinn's experiences, along with the other members of the town.
What I Didn't Like About It: Sometimes I felt like the writing required me to read, re-read, and sometimes re-re-read portions to understand what happened. And even finishing it last night and this morning, there are certain things that I either didn't understand why this was happening, or why it was relevant to the story, or if it even did happen. But maybe that was Jacobson's aim, now that I think of it.
Would I Recommend It? Certainly. I'm planning to read the book again at some point because I'd like to understand it a little bit better (after I have some distance from it of course). But it's not for everyone. If you're okay with thinking while you read, then go for it. If you're more into fluffy reading, no way.
Rating: 3.5/4
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