What we thought: Reading this insightful novel confirms the belief that winds of change may flow soft, but grow exceeding strong.
Holly Cave uses a vibrant narrative, graced by often lyrical prose and dramatic descriptions to tell this sobering tale of an imminently possible and desperately troubling future.
After Europe’s bankruptcy births the Takeover, a law is passed by the new-formed totalitarian government. Every newborn citizen is to be Tagged with a Birth Diagnosis; a Background, that will define its life. From that time on the child will be what the Tag says it will be. Tagged as gay, it will never be allowed to be anything other. Tagging – Humanity imprisoned in a genetic straight jacket.
But after a suicide bombing by a member of the Anti Genetics Movement, questions are sparked and acceptance of the status quo begins to waver.
The story develops through the depiction of disparate characters, seemingly unknown to each other but in actuality linked by threads only gradually revealed. As those threads emerge we learn the importance of scientist Elin Nagayama, teenage genius Marie, and the enigmatic Angie; how they hold the keys to the unravelling of a secret held by the State and hidden from the populace. But it’s not until the final pages do we understand how those links will influence the future.
This debut novel is a fabulous read, and I’ll be keeping a lookout for the author’s future offerings.
You’ll enjoy this if you like: Orwell’s Nineteen Eighty Four. Huxley’s Brave New World. Veronica Roth’s Divergent.
Avoid if you don’t like: Disastrous future forebodings.
Ideal accompaniments: A glass of strengthening Guinness and a plate of savoury snacks.
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