#49 The New Wilderness, by Diane Cook



Booker Prize:  2020 Shortlisted

Plot Time and Place:  In the near future, in the wild.

Opening sentence:  "The baby emerged from Bea the color of a bruise."

Plot summary:  The book tells the story of a group of strangers who, as part of an experiment, are living as nomads in the last wildlife region. The story is centered around Bea and her daughter Agnes, and explores the mother-daughter relationship. Bea joined the experiment to save young Agnes from dying, as her lungs were damaged by the polluted air of the City.

Review:  Interesting bits and food for thought:

-a cry for help for the natural world/ climate change/ climate refugees;

-how we humans always destroy the natural world;

-interesting to think how quickly we humans would regress into a "primitive" state;

-how would people adapt to living as nomads;

-feelings between mother/ daughter

Bits I didn't like so much:

-boring to read, not very well written, flat characters, bad dialogue, not a credible story (the fact that they could get mail and have cellphones and go back anytime, no one would want to live as a nomad like that).

Rating:  3/5




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