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The Book of Strange New Things
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November: Comment As You Read | The Book of Strange New Things by by Michel Faber
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Lilybeth
(last edited Oct 28, 2015 08:15PM)
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Oct 28, 2015 08:14PM
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Page 56. I'm getting slowly engaged. Wondering what USIC is and not trusting them. I'm not yet connecting with the main character. We shall see...
Just picked up at library and hope to finish another book I'm reading by tomorrow so I can start it!
Page 351. I started getting more into it at around page 80 or so. Interesting the way this unease starts building, and it isn't ever quite gone. What I find most compelling is the gradual distance we sense between people, and how it's so hard to bridge that distance. And I'm still wondering what we DON'T know about the entire thing...the mission, the people, the Oasans, the planet...
Okay - done. Interesting study of interpersonal relationships. A couple of pet peeves -- why does he have to keep pointing out that the various women "look like lesbians?" In order to underscore how socially awkward people are? That rubbed me the wrong way. Also, the Christian-centric focus was a little implausible to me (that this would be the only religious group represented in the new world), but I guess I can accept that as part of his concept and story. Curious to hear what others think! Will wait before commenting further.
Finally done with novel. Interesting sci fi take on what will happen at the "end of days". I understand Mia's comment about Christianity being the only religion brought to Oasis but I think we Christians have always been the ones to traditionally spread the good news to others as missionaries. I just don't recall Hindus, Jews, or Muslims cultures really doing this in history so using a Christian in this role makes sense to me and for the book even though he's being manipulated for this not for altruistic reasons by the USIC. I wish we could have seen more of a natural evolution of relationships that usually happens when people are thrown together in a situation to survive. I find that part of book implausible that these humans have been together for years(not Peter) and have not formed long term friendships or intimate partnerships. It was an entertaining read and starts sucking you in to figure out what is happening, but something is missing...I don't know if it is just the superficial relationships.
As I've been thinking more and more about this novel, I'm liking it more. It's interesting because I think that the author does a great job of conveying a certain sense of unease and the sense of estrangement that we all potentially have from each other, if not for certain trappings of similar beliefs, similar activities we enjoy, similar reading tastes (tee hee!). The folks from USIC were chosen not to make waves, so they were the people most likely to be distant and shut down, so it's no surprise that they didn't "bond" the way we might like to bond. Although -- there is some hope at the end. And, as for the Christianity, yes, you make a good point Deena (Manon). It does make sense that Christians would have been on the first line proselytizing, given history. And when we find out just why the Oasans find Christianity particularly appealing,even outside of any cultural context that they could possibly understand, it's a bittersweet, poignant moment that actually made me tear up.
Funny - I had the sense that this book was written by an atheist who had been raised in the Christian faith, and it turns out that's accurate (do we know how to spot each other or what? LOL)!
It just felt like he was saying, no matter what the foundations of your beliefs (did Peter really "believe" the way Beatrice did, or was he using his religion for his own purposes, or both?), what we're left with in the end is our actions toward each other. When Flores actually makes an effort to communicate with the Oasans at that med drop, when Peter decides on what he needs to do, whether they believe in a deity or not, these actions are all we have at our disposal here in the world to make things better between us. Deity or no deity.
