A Simple Thought of Sanity

by C.E. Huntingdon

Brutus sees himself as just an average salaryman living in the City. Every day he puts on his alabaster Face and lives the life that is expected of him. He rides the train to work and files and files until it’s time to go home and repeat the day. Unbeknownst to Brutus, he has been picked to be the catalyst that changes the City and the lives of everyone in it. What was a chance occurrence at a café alters the course of his very identity, sending him down a spiral of self-discovery and sanity-inspiring events. But not all revolutionaries are heroes, and not all revolutions bring about a better age. Follow Brutus as he discovers how much more there is to living, and the violent consequences that change his world forever, and the generations that follow after. Brutus’ story is a struggle of the mind and the challenges we face in understanding a reality where madness is seen in a simple thought of sanity.

243 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2021

About the author

Christopher and Ellen Huntingdon are natives of the Oregon Coast. Growing up together in the City of Florence, the two have shared many adventures since, including attending Temple University's Japan Campus, and living four years abroad in Tokyo.

Two bachelor’s degrees later, the pair found themselves returning home to Oregon where they drew further inspiration from their endeavors, which included working and volunteering with their local hospice. Christopher also spent time tromping through the wilderness at a State Park, while Ellen works at a local financial institution. The two are happily married and on most days enjoy the quiet life at home with their fur baby Ornstein. Their life’s experiences have helped them to form their driving maxim as authors:

Strangers in strange lands tell strange tales.

Reviews

[Electra Nanou · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s hard to place where A Simple Thought of Sanity sits in terms of plot and genre. It feels less of a linear story and more like a loose web of existential reflection. The protagonist, for all intents and purposes, is Brutus, living a mundane existence in a futuristic city where everyone must wear masks—or Faces—at all times.

Obsession with cleanliness and consumerism has sterilised society of everything, from germs to emotions. A series of strange events disrupt Brutus’ normal life and lead him down a path that, ultimately, derails this whole orderly culture. Unfortunately, the new system becomes worse than the last—unsurprising, considering the severely restrained and disconnected people in came from.

The writing, imagery, characterisation, and overall messages are powerful to say the least. You feel relatable pangs again and again as you go through this surreal sequence of human experiences. The emotive and bizarro elements make A Simple Thought of Sanity quite the ride, toeing the line between reason and madness, reality and illusion, stability and transformation.

There are downsides, however. The book’s very intriguing plot sometimes becomes blurred and weak, especially under the weight of so much meaning and deviation from the core storyline. While I love narratives that keep me guessing, I can’t say that I was fully satisfied by the time I finished reading this one. There are definitely elements that could have been expanded or clarified further, if only to balance out the plot.

Flaws aside, I did very much enjoy A Simple Thought of Sanity. It’s mysterious, exciting, and harsh, often in a chillingly timely way. If nothing else, it’s also a very effective cautionary tale against losing your heart and individuality. Mildly echoing stories like 1984, Equilibrium, A Clockwork Orange, and even The Matrix, this is a great choice for fans of dystopian fiction.

Many thanks to the author and Reedsy Discovery for providing a copy of this book: https://reedsy.com/discovery/book/a-s...

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

good book

[Virginia · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[AL Kepple · Rating 2 out of 5]

I slogged through this book because I won it in a giveaway.

I never got into the book in a way where I wanted to keep reading to find out what is going to happen next.

There wasn't a real story to it and there were some characters dropped in that didn't lead anywhere. More than once I found myself thinking that what I just read was pointless.

I'm assuming everything was a choice and I'm just not the right audience for this book.

[Happy Booker · Rating 4 out of 5]

A simple thought of sanity is a dystopian fiction with elements of psychological and thought-provoking events. The citizens of the city live a very sterile life. Food is provided, and all buildings are identical. Everyone’s face is the same, and emotions are kept under wrap. So, it is fascinating to Brutus when he is lured into a secret underground club where all the rules are broken.
Brutus’s eyes are opened from this experience, and he no longer wishes to live such a repetitive and controlled life. There is certainly more to life than the monotonous existence, and this shapes up the intriguing story.

The pace of the story was fast, keeping the reader intrigued. I enjoyed reading the book and watching Brutus change. Is liberation the answer to happiness? The final act provides you with solutions and gives you some hint of hope.

I recommend this book to dystopian readers.