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A review by loxeletters
The Good Terrorist by Doris Lessing
challenging
funny
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
I have a very complicated relationship with this book.
After reading the quotes on the blurb, I interpreted the book as a criticism on terrorism but more importantly on communism - not so much the theory, as the "lifestyle." And the "communists" shown in this book are terrible people. I hated so many of the character, especially Jasper. But they also feel incredibly contrived. The idea that every single person living in the squat is just this selfish and stupid is simply not believable to me. It felt very much like a straw man.
After I read up a bit on the background of the book, mainly the fact that Lessing at some point was a socialist, and that she me at this book as an exploration of how people become amateur terrorists, I've gained a new appreciation for it. That doesn't change the fact that I could not suspend my disbelief for these characters. Some commentators say this book is a satire - Lessing only ever referred to it as humorous - and I can somewhat understand that point of view. Still, I feel it doesn't work as a satire because the "joke" relies on the reader believing that communists/squatters are selfish, anti-intellectual and hypocritical. Which I do not.
All of this aside: I adored the character of Alice. Not necessarily as a person, but the complexity and believability was incredible. Similarly, I felt that Jasper as a villain worked really well. And I also appreciated Lessing's prose a lot, which is why I kept reading even at points where the characters seemed absolutely ridiculous to me.
Overall, then, I'm not sure how to rate this book. I enjoyed it, and I also didn't.
After reading the quotes on the blurb, I interpreted the book as a criticism on terrorism but more importantly on communism - not so much the theory, as the "lifestyle." And the "communists" shown in this book are terrible people. I hated so many of the character, especially Jasper. But they also feel incredibly contrived. The idea that every single person living in the squat is just this selfish and stupid is simply not believable to me. It felt very much like a straw man.
After I read up a bit on the background of the book, mainly the fact that Lessing at some point was a socialist, and that she me at this book as an exploration of how people become amateur terrorists, I've gained a new appreciation for it. That doesn't change the fact that I could not suspend my disbelief for these characters. Some commentators say this book is a satire - Lessing only ever referred to it as humorous - and I can somewhat understand that point of view. Still, I feel it doesn't work as a satire because the "joke" relies on the reader believing that communists/squatters are selfish, anti-intellectual and hypocritical. Which I do not.
All of this aside: I adored the character of Alice. Not necessarily as a person, but the complexity and believability was incredible. Similarly, I felt that Jasper as a villain worked really well. And I also appreciated Lessing's prose a lot, which is why I kept reading even at points where the characters seemed absolutely ridiculous to me.
Overall, then, I'm not sure how to rate this book. I enjoyed it, and I also didn't.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Toxic relationship and Suicide attempt
Moderate: Death, Gore, Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, and Classism