Benjamin Markovits, in his lukewarm NY Times Book Review titled Life Descends Into Chaos in This Year’s Booker Prize Winner, states “the ’emergency’ is never explained…the political crisis here is a kind of blank; it has no history…we never learn what they’re arguing about, apart from the rule of law…The other big decision is stylistic. There are sections and chapters in the novel but no paragraphs. Dialogue is not punctuated with quotation marks, and is often interrupted by descriptions and sudden dives into interiority. All of which means that following a conversation takes some detective work…”
Markovits is right, all true. But set it all aside. Easily, this was the best book I’ve read in 2023, and one that will stick for some time. I’ve shared a two excerpts from the book below:
Tell me, he says, do you believe in reality? Dad, what is that supposed to mean? We belong to a tradition but tradition is nothing more than what everyone can agree on – the scientists, the teachers, the institutions, if you change ownership of the institutions then you can change ownership of the facts, you can alter the structure of belief, what is agreed upon, that is what they are doing… (they are) trying to change what you and I call reality, they want to muddy it like water, if you say one thing is another thing and you say it enough times, then it must be so, and if you keep saying it over and over people accept it as true – this is an old idea, of course, it really is nothing new, but you’re watching it happen in your own time and not in a book… Sooner or later, of course, reality reveals itself, he says, you can borrow for a time against reality but reality is always waiting, patiently, silently, to exact a price and level the scales——
For how many days the shelling and gunfire has continued, the fighting stopped for the night but her body does not believe the silence, a sensory prickling in her nerves, the banging deep in her skull. She turns to Molly inhaling from her hair the fading scent of jasmine, sensing the mind at peace beneath the sleeping breath, to reach in with her hand and pull the terror out by the root, to caress the mind back to its old shape. Something has winged from the dark of her mind and she holds very still, then turns from Molly, gets up and goes into the kitchen. The sky in astronomical twilight, watching the trees rooted in the earth, thinking, there will be goodness again, there will be high and happy voices, the sound of feet seeking for slippers and the clicking of bicycle wheels through the porch.
— Paul Lynch, Prophet Song (Atlantic Monthly Press, December 5, 2023)
I am not familiar with this prize-winning book, but those two sections you quote from it sound so representative of the current times we’ve been going through, and in such a poetic way.
Hi Ken. This is the first book I have read by Paul Lynch and I was hooked from go. Story doesn’t get much into politics but he makes it all real if democracy is lost. Irish Times called the book “chilling plausible” and they got this so right.
Where is Wally???
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I don’t know anything about the book but those comments on the style and the general atmosphere evoked by the quotes remind me of José Saramago’s writing. Consider me intrigued.
Yes. And I love Saramagos writing. Have read everything he wrote. Magic.
wow, what a way with words –
Like this, throughout the entire book. Magic.
I read Prophet Song and loved it. I had no issues with the format and got used to it quickly. A gripping story and worthy of the award.
I read it and absolutely loved it. Gripping, unputdownable, gorgeous writing. I got used to the format fairly quickly. IMO, the prize was well-deserved.
Sharon, I totally agree with you. I have read many Booker Prize award winners and more often than not, I have been disappointed. This was a masterpiece. Happy Holidays.
Hear, hear! Happy holidays and happy reading, David!
Not familiar with this author, pal, but clearly an oversight that needs to be rectified. Into the queue it goes.
Gorgeous writing – it was in my queue, but it clearly needs to get bumped to the front..need a love button
Not an uplifting story but beautifully written about what could happen here if we aren’t careful.
Forewarned – thanks for the heads up!
Thanks for intriguing your “readers” who seem to be open to brilliance…originality…exploring…and willingness.
Thank you for intriguing us…all of your readers who are open to your suggestions…to what’s new and unknown…to artists…and expanding our minds.
You are all Brilliant Valerie!!!
Sounds compelling.
Yes. dark, but immersive.
Wow! I feel the intensity. You have read it, I gather. Might not have seen it if you hadn’t shared it. I will say thank you after I read it! Happy new year, friend.
Thank you Carrie. Happy New Year!