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A review by nkfanning
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Intriguing at first, then a bit slow and at times stressful, and finally quite depressing - is how I’d describe my experience of reading Prophet Song.
Firstly, I liked Eilish as a main character, and I think anyone reading will empathise with her struggles and the immense pressure she succumbs to trying to keep her family together in this book.
As Irish society descends into tyrannical madness in this book, I found myself much more interested in why and not the how, which is unfortunately all the book focuses on. Ok so we have a secret police now, they’re arresting all the threats to The State, the ominous “Party” have been voted in to power, but why? I wanted to know what about Ireland and our politics could lead to these events occurring. There was nothing to separate Eilish’s life and descriptions from any historical fiction novel out there. I didn’t understand the point of setting Prophet Song in a dystopian Ireland if it wasn’t going to explore our country’s specificities and nuances.
The ending was a bit too rushed for me, I wanted more to be resolved.
Firstly, I liked Eilish as a main character, and I think anyone reading will empathise with her struggles and the immense pressure she succumbs to trying to keep her family together in this book.
As Irish society descends into tyrannical madness in this book, I found myself much more interested in why and not the how, which is unfortunately all the book focuses on. Ok so we have a secret police now, they’re arresting all the threats to The State, the ominous “Party” have been voted in to power, but why? I wanted to know what about Ireland and our politics could lead to these events occurring. There was nothing to separate Eilish’s life and descriptions from any historical fiction novel out there. I didn’t understand the point of setting Prophet Song in a dystopian Ireland if it wasn’t going to explore our country’s specificities and nuances.
The ending was a bit too rushed for me, I wanted more to be resolved.