joannalouise's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Graphic: Child death and Police brutality
othersociologist's review
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Moderate: Gun violence
Minor: Sexual harassment and Child death
krjod's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
4.5
Graphic: Child death
linafischer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.0
Graphic: War, Dementia, Violence, Gun violence, Death, and Child death
Moderate: Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual harassment, Pedophilia, and Torture
readmedo's review against another edition
4.5
Graphic: Child death, Police brutality, Murder, Kidnapping, Grief, and Dementia
Moderate: Trafficking, War, and Gun violence
Minor: Mental illness, Sexual harassment, and Rape
emmyh_reads's review against another edition
4.0
Moderate: Violence, Torture, and Child death
Minor: Sexual assault
serendipitysbooks's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I’ve seen a lot of comment about the style of this novel which is dominated by big blocks of text. I never found it difficult to read and found the style really effective at mirroring the increasing levels of disorder and chaos that surrounded Eilish, the way it became impossible for her to find a moment to think or pause. Lynch also nailed the tense and claustrophobic atmosphere.
Eilish was a very sympathetic character; her dilemma all too relatable. How far would you/could you/ should you go to protest or resist governmental abuse when you are also responsible for children and other dependent family members? What risks would you take? What risks would you want your loved ones to take? How bad would the situation have to get before you would try to flee - especially when it might mean separating your family forever?
In Prophet Song Lynch has done an excellent job showing why people need to be wary of any overreach of government power and convincingly demonstrating some logical, believable outcomes for an ordinary western family when a government turns against its citizens. His novel reinforces the fact that the events depicted could happen to any of us, not just some foreign “other”.
This novel has been classified as dystopian. But is it really dystopian if the events depicted are actually happening right now?
Graphic: Child death, Dementia, War, Violence, and Torture
kirstym25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death, Torture, Child death, and War
Moderate: Dementia
happyknitter2020's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: War, Child death, Torture, Trafficking, Death, and Murder