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A review by serendipitysbooks
Prophet Song by Paul Lynch
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- 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
Prophet Song is my 11th book from the Booker Prize longlist and one that grabbed me from the get-go. It’s set in a alternate or near future version of Ireland headed by an increasingly tyrannical totalitarian government that will not brook any criticism or protest. The novel opens one dark and rainy night with the secret police knocking on Eilish’s door looking for her husband. It then closely follows Eilish as the political situation deteriorates, ordinary life becomes ever more difficult, and the toll on her family rises. The plot contained definite echos of Irish history combined with situations drawn from contemporary events in the Ukraine, Syria, Central America and other parts of the globe. I imagine for an Irish reader this mix would be especially impactful in countering the “that could never happen here” mindset that many people hold.
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?
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?
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Torture, Violence, Dementia, and War