A review by unfetteredfiction
Чоки, by John Wyndham, Джон Уиндъм
5.0
"Even the merest spark of reason must be fanned in the hope of a flame."
- John Wyndham, Chocky
Possibly my favourite Wyndham yet...
I'm struggling to put my finger on why exactly I loved this story so much. Possibly, I think that the most attractive elements of Wyndham's style are condensed into this novella, in essence the plot is simple, yet at times as deep as the reader wills it to be.
Matthew is a young boy who loves his sister and parents, he was adopted at a young age and appears, insomuch that anyone can be, normal. At what seems a random and unsignificant point in time, Matthew is visited by an external presence inside his own mind. This presence, which his parents reasonably assume is a form of 'imaginary friend', is given the name 'Chocky'.
Matthew and Chocky develop an interesting relationship. Chocky speaks to Matthew and attempts to teach him about their home, a task which is difficult because Chocky requires vocabulary and understanding which are beyond Matthew (and perhaps humanity's) current reasoning. When Chocky attempts to speak about their home, how far away it is, how they travelled to be here, we realised that Chocky is, in fact, an alien presence on Earth. Matthew’s mother becomes increasingly concerned for Matthew, needing to find an answer or solution to Chocky in an attempt to banish them. Matthew's father, however, takes a slightly more gentle approach, appealing to Matthew's feelings rather than his own panic.
This story says so much about childhood, language, parenthood, friendships, growing up, gender, the environment, as well as humanity's downfalls and bright lights.
This is a story I won't forget and one which, in my opinion, comes close to perfection.
- John Wyndham, Chocky
Possibly my favourite Wyndham yet...
I'm struggling to put my finger on why exactly I loved this story so much. Possibly, I think that the most attractive elements of Wyndham's style are condensed into this novella, in essence the plot is simple, yet at times as deep as the reader wills it to be.
Matthew is a young boy who loves his sister and parents, he was adopted at a young age and appears, insomuch that anyone can be, normal. At what seems a random and unsignificant point in time, Matthew is visited by an external presence inside his own mind. This presence, which his parents reasonably assume is a form of 'imaginary friend', is given the name 'Chocky'.
Matthew and Chocky develop an interesting relationship. Chocky speaks to Matthew and attempts to teach him about their home, a task which is difficult because Chocky requires vocabulary and understanding which are beyond Matthew (and perhaps humanity's) current reasoning. When Chocky attempts to speak about their home, how far away it is, how they travelled to be here, we realised that Chocky is, in fact, an alien presence on Earth. Matthew’s mother becomes increasingly concerned for Matthew, needing to find an answer or solution to Chocky in an attempt to banish them. Matthew's father, however, takes a slightly more gentle approach, appealing to Matthew's feelings rather than his own panic.
This story says so much about childhood, language, parenthood, friendships, growing up, gender, the environment, as well as humanity's downfalls and bright lights.
This is a story I won't forget and one which, in my opinion, comes close to perfection.