End Of Story by Louise Swanson
Too much imagination can be a dangerous thing. It has been five years since writing fiction was banned by the government.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding?And who can be trusted?
My Review
I’ve read three of Louise’s novels, written under the name Louise Beech. Nothing Else was one of my favourite books of 2022. I don’t think I’ve ever cried so much while reading a book.
End Of Story is very different. It’s set in the future, in a dystopian world where all fiction is banned. Once a month there is an amnesty at ALLBooks, where novels can be handed in without fear of prosecution. Like guns or knives.
‘If you tell a story well enough, it’s true.’ says Fern. It’s her catchphrase, her motto.
Fern Dostoy was a successful children’s author, the first children’s laureate and winner of awards and accolades. Until the ban. She lost her livelihood, her home, her sanity. She’s a criminal, masquerading as Fern Dalrymple, working as a cleaner at the hospital. Listening to the plans of the doctors. The madness, taken straight from her third novel.
One day a man selling tea from a van turns up on her doorstep. He has a scar on his face and is in a wheelchair. She doesn’t want his pity, but then he doesn’t want hers.
Eventually, she volunteers at a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to young children who can’t sleep. That’s where she connects with Hunter, the boy who has captured her heart. But who is he really, and why does his call come through on the wrong phone?
End Of Story is intelligent, imaginative, creative and unique. You may never read another story like it. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
Many thanks to The Pigeonhole, the author and my fellow Pigeons for making this such an enjoyable read.
About the Author
Louise Swanson is the pen name of bestselling author Louise Beech, who has published eight novels with Orenda Books. Her work has previously been longlisted for the Not the Booker and Polari prizes and shortlisted for the Romantic Novel Award. She won Best Book of the Year with her 2019 psychological thriller Call Me Star Girl. In April 2023, Louise will also publish her memoir Eighteen Seconds with Mardle Books. She blogs regularly on louisebeech.co.uk, and is on Twitter under the name @LouiseWriter.
