Book Review of Normal People by Sally Rooney

by Liz Keating '24 on May 30, 2023
A&E Staff


Arts & Entertainment


Normal People by Sally Rooney follows the on-and-off relationship between main characters Connell and Marianne from their final year of high school in a small town in Ireland to their time at Trinity College in Dublin. Connell is a popular high school athlete from a working-class family who is struggling to find his place in society, while Marianne is an outsider from a wealthy family who is ostracized by her peers due to her family’s reputation. Despite their different social statuses, Connell and Marianne are drawn to each other, and their relationship develops and changes over time. As the book follows them through high school and then to college, they go through periods of intense closeness and then periods of distance, with miscommunications and misunderstandings often driving them apart. Rooney’s writing style is both eloquent and minimalist, capturing the raw emotions of the characters with ease. 

The novel’s structure is unconventional, with short chapters and no quotation marks, adding to the overall feeling of intimacy between the reader and the characters. Throughout the novel, Rooney explores themes of love, friendship, social class, power dynamics, and the impacts of trauma. The plot is character-driven with focus on the internal struggles and personal growth of the two main characters. Overall, Normal People is a beautifully written novel that is sure to resonate with readers, especially those who enjoy character-driven plots. Rooney’s skillful handling of complex themes and characters make this a must-read for anyone interested in contemporary literature.

A Literary Love Affair: A Review of Beach Read by Emily Henry

by Liz Keating '24 on May 29, 2023
A&E Staff


Arts & Entertainment


As the weather warms up and the days turn longer, there is no better time to pick up a nice book. If you are looking for a heartwarming contemporary romance to enjoy at the beach, look no further. True to its name, Beach Read by Emily Henry is a novel that perfectly captures the essence of summer with its poignant exploration of love, loss, and the power of storytelling. 

The novel tells the story of January Andrews, a romance writer who is struggling to come to terms with her father’s death and her own failing career. When January moves into her late father’s beach house, she discovers that her next-door neighbor is none other than her former college rival, literary fiction writer Augustus “Gus” Everett. As January and Gus begin to spend time together, they make a bet to switch genres and write a book in each other’s style. In the process, they begin to open up to each other about their pasts and form a deep connection. However, their budding romance is complicated by their past history and the secrets they both carry. 

One of the strengths of the novel is the examination of one’s creative process and the power of storytelling. January and Gus are both writers, but they approach their craft in very different ways. January is a romance writer who believes in happy endings, while Gus is a literary fiction writer who favors a more pessimistic view of the world. Through their collaboration on the book project, they learn to appreciate each other’s styles and gain a new understanding of the power of storytelling to connect and heal. 

The relationship between January and Gus is a highlight of the novel. While they start off as rivals, their initial animosity slowly gives way to a deep connection and mutual respect. They challenge each other intellectually and emotionally, and their conversations are some of the most memorable moments in the book. Their romance is complicated by their past history and the secrets they both carry, but ultimately, they find a way to overcome their differences and find happiness together. 

In terms of pacing, the novel strikes a perfect balance between introspection and action. While there are plenty of quiet moments when the characters reflect on their lives and relationships, there are also enough plot twists and surprises to keep the reader engaged and invested in the story. 

Overall, Beach Read is a beautifully written and emotionally resonant novel that will stay with readers long after they turn the last page. It is a celebration of love, loss, and the power of storytelling. It’s a perfect book to read on the beach, but it’s also a book that can be enjoyed at any time of the year. Highly recommended for anyone who loves a good story and a great romance.

The Staying Power of Superpowers

by John Downey '23 on May 6, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


The Staying Power of Superpowers

Douglas Wolk’s All of the Marvels

Madison Palmieri ’22

For those uninitiated into the world of Marvel, it may seem rather daunting. With over 27,000 comics, 60 films, and 100 television shows—which feature multiple versions of the same characters, often in seemingly contradictory situations—it can be hard for a prospective reader or viewer to know where to begin.

In his 2021 book All of the Marvels: A Journey to the Ends of the Biggest Story Ever Told, Douglas Wolk provides a roadmap to the Marvel universe. As Wolk explains in the book’s introduction, a lifelong love of Marvel coupled with a realization that no one had yet attempted to trace a larger “Marvel story” that encapsulated Marvel’s decades of comics inspired him to read all 27,000-plus of these comics in their entirety. Since no one else had told the “Marvel story,” he figured, why not him?

All of the Marvels is the result of Wolk’s efforts. Although the book’s fairly modest length of 354 pages may seem insufficient to capture six decades of storytelling across multiple mediums, Wolk is deliberately economic and efficient in his writing to keep readers engaged. Rather than trying to create a “Marvel encyclopedia” that catalogues every single character and plot point in the Marvel universe, he offers sweeping summaries of the world’s major players and most important moments, events, and sagas. For instance, Spider-Man, the X-Men, and Thor—along with their respective villains and major storylines—each have their own chapters.

Each chapter describes these characters’ inceptions and evolutions. Each also provides readers with a handful of titles and plot summaries of comics featuring said characters for suggested reading. Cognizant that much of his audience has likely not read more than a handful of Marvel comics and may have even only previously encountered the Marvel universe through television or film, Wolk makes frequent, helpful references to small- and big-screen adaptations of the comics’ world.

Interspersed between these chapters are “interludes” devoted to exploring the history of Marvel outside of its comics. For instance, Wolk takes up the proliferation of monster stories in 20th century popular culture as well as conflicts such as the Vietnam War that likewise shaped 20th century life. Another notable “interlude” details how the relationships between Marvel creators Stan Lee, Jack Kirby, and Steve Ditko evolved over time.

One of the most notable aspects of All of the Marvels is Wolk’s attention to how women—although long sidelined in Marvel comics and screen adaptations alike—have been central to the Marvel story from its genesis. He explains how Marvel’s very first comics centered not on aliens or mutants, or even super-powered human beings, but rather an ordinary group of young women—mostly 20-something professionals—going about their daily lives. Wolk notes that although these figures have long faded from prominence, one of them, Linda Carter, has made an appearance as recently as 2006 in a Doctor Strange comic.

Wolk ends the book with a discussion of how Marvel has made a difference in his life, primarily by bringing him closer to his son. If there is a larger point for readers to take away from All of the Marvels—aside from the sheer magnitude of the “Marvel story”—it is this: these stories, in all of their forms, remain beloved hallmarks of Western culture not because of their characters’ powers, but rather because of the power of the stories, themselves. The Marvel universe helps us make sense of our lives and bring us closer together, and this is the staying power of all of the Marvels and their superpowers.

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: Soft Apocalypse

by John Downey '23 on April 22, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Book Review: Soft Apocalypse

What If the World Ends Not With a Bang, But a Whimper?

Madison Palmieri ’22

The word apocalypse typically has connotations of violent, fiery chaos that erupts all at once, wreaking havoc on a modern world and forcing its inhabitants into a new, alien reality. Indeed, this is the basic premise of most apocalyptic and post-apocalyptic fiction. Will McIntosh’s Soft Apocalypse, however, asks readers what it would be like if the world as they knew it ended not with a bang, but a whimper?

The novel centers around sociology major Jasper and his band of friends over the course of 10 years, exploring what life in a slowly-but-surely decaying society might look like. Readers follow them from their time as nomads—condemned as “gypsies” by their more affluent neighbors who have been fortunate enough to keep their homes—to their stint as apartment-dwellers in an initially peaceful but increasingly tense neighborhood and then to their forced return to life on the move. Eventually, the group seems to find a potential safe haven, but it might come at the cost of the little humanity they have left. Jasper and his friends are forced to make their most difficult decision in their 10 years on the run: Struggle to cling to a dying past, or embrace the uncertainty of the brave new world that stands to point the way to a potentially peaceful future?

If Soft Apocalypse could be summed up in one cliché, it would be, “the more things change, the more they stay the same.” Even though Jasper and his fellow survivors constantly face threat after threat, issues of romance and relationships are always at the forefront of his mind. Throughout his trials and tribulations, he finds himself involved with a number of women: married accountant Sophia, who brings him and his fellow nomads supplies, red-haired, bookish Phoebe, who he loses and finds multiple times throughout the novel, masochistic rock star Deirdre, who steals the only memories of his childhood he has left, free spirit Bird, whose life he saves during an excursion into the wilderness, and his best friend Ange, one of the only people he’s ever truly loved.

While this seemingly continuous flux of romances may seem unrealistic, especially considering the circumstances in which they occur, it is not only incredibly realistic, but also necessary. Given that the novel takes place over the course of 10 years, it is more than plausible that, apocalypse or no apocalypse, Jasper would have this number of relationships, if not more; given that the protagonist is continually placed in situations which test the limits of his humanity, it is more than reasonable that he would seek to cling to one of the most basic elements of our humanity: our capability to love.

One of the most interesting aspects of the novel, especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, is its handling of apocalyptic disease. Rather than one singular epidemic, there are multiple waves of sickness intentionally released by various groups of scientists-turned- terrorists. The most important, however, is Doctor Happy, which, upon infection, alters the individual’s brain chemistry to alleviate them of the sadness and pain so prevalent in the novel’s world. This disease—or perhaps cure—is the ticket price of entry into the potential haven Jasper and his friends find. 

Soft Apocalypse will leave readers guessing what choice Jasper and his fellow survivors make until its final pages: take the proverbial blue pill and live out the rest of their days in a blissful state at the expense of losing who they are, or take the proverbial red pill by refusing the virus and live their lives haunted by what they’ve seen and done?

Overall, the novel forces readers to ask themselves some of the most profound questions about their existence: what does it mean to be human? If one loses their humanity, can they recover it and, if so, how? Is it better to live ignorantly in bliss or face the harsh realities of life? What stance Soft Apocalypse takes on these matters readers will have to decide for themselves.

Rating: 4.5/5

Like a True Sociopath

by John Downey '23 on April 22, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Like a True Sociopath

Book Review: Confessions of a Sociopath

By Tully Mahoney ’23

Confessions of a Sociopath by M.E. Thomas is an eye-opening book that sheds light on the reality of sociopathy from the perspective of a clinically-diagnosed sociopath. 

Hollywood often depicts sociopaths as stone-cold killers who lack the ability to blend into society. In her memoir, Thomas challenges those stereotypes: she details her life as a successful law attorney, a devout Mormon, and an appreciated sister.

Thomas is incredibly candid about her attempts to conceal her sense that she was abnormal throughout her early life as well as how she felt like a social outcast until she was properly diagnosed with sociopathy in college. She explains how although she felt very alone, 1 percent of the population, 4 percent of corporate America, and possibly more than 10 percent of Wall Street employees are camouflaged sociopaths. After learning these facts, many readers will not only be surprised, but also perhaps even be prompted to look deeper within their own natures and those of their family, friends, and coworkers. 

Despite Confessions of a Sociopath’s allure, however, the book is not without its faults. On multiple occasions in the memoir, Thomas explicitly states that she aims to provide a firsthand account of a true sociopath’s life. With this in mind, readers might expect an honest, unfiltered account of all her secrets, yet when she discusses exploiting people for her own benefit, she holds out on readers, writing, “I wish I could tell stories of ruining people, but they’re the stories most likely to get me sued—situations that involved the police and restraining orders and professional lives derailed.” Since Thomas previously claims—at multiple moments —that she will provide a fully-disclosed account of her life, her failure to do so with regard to her treatment of other people cheapens her memoir. It is important to note, however, that Thomas does uphold her promise in the book as it pertains to other, less salacious areas of her life.

Another issue with Confessions of a Sociopath is that although the memoir is altogether captivating from beginning to end, there are periods where Thomas draws out her ideas for too long. These sections of the memoir become unfocused: Thomas attempts to highlight her key points, but they are hard to comprehend. At the end of the exposé, she finally states her official “thesis,” but the account would be much clearer if she had done so earlier on in the book.

Notably, Goodreads reviewers express frustration with Thomas’ bluntness, self-centeredness, and her tendency to obscure herself in her writing. These readers clearly did not pay attention to Thomas’ discussion of the attributes of a sociopath, as such a person lacks the empathy and social awareness they ironically fault Thomas for failing to exhibit. They do not realize that it would be impossible to read a memoir from the perspective of a sociopath that includes those qualities, unless it were severely edited, as the absence of these traits often defines a sociopath’s personality. Indeed, it is unfair and ignorant to fault Thomas for presenting a sociopathic personality and perspective in a memoir written by a sociopath about sociopathy.

Overall, Confessions of a Sociopath calls attention to the presence of sociopaths in society and identifies some of these people’s key traits that may typically go unobserved. As this memoir was quite enthralling and stimulating, it deserves 3/5 stars, regardless of its sometimes unfocused nature and lack of promised full disclosure.

Book Review: One Second After

by John Downey '23 on April 8, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Book Review: One Second After

The Power of History in the Absence of Electrical Power

Madison Palmieri ’22

While some apocalyptic fiction novels are set in a near, nightmarish future or one even more remote, oftentimes, the most frightening and therefore impactful works in this genre take place in the present day. William Forstchen’s One Second After does just that. True to its title, the novel explores what happens in the immediate aftermath of an attack that fundamentally alters modern American life.

When readers first meet protagonist John Masterson, he seems to be living a thoroughly mundane existence in a stereotypical American small town in North Carolina. A war veteran, a professor at a local college, the father to two teenage girls, and the loving owner of two golden retrievers, Masterson’s most pressing concern is whether his younger daughter will think she’s too old for the stuffed animals he got her for her birthday.

When the power suddenly goes dark as a result of an Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) terrorist attack, however, Masterson unwittingly finds himself in a relative position of authority thanks to his military know-how and respected position in the community. Along with the mayor, the town doctor, and other leading officials, Masterson works to navigate the obstacles that accompany a sudden backwards technological shift of 500 years.

As is the case with all apocalyptic literature, all goes well—until it doesn’t. While this is to be expected, the way in which Forstchen places his protagonist directly in the path of these tragedies makes it particularly gut-wrenching. For instance, due to his curious status as a non-official on the makeshift council governing the small town, he is tasked with executing two thieves, one of whom was a former student of his, by firing squad. An even more tragic instance of this narrative technique is how Masterson must grapple with his desire to break the ration rules to secure insulin for his diabetic daughter while at the same time enforcing the rules for everyone else.

One Second After does a great job of finding moments of humanity in the midst of a world succumbing to moral corruption. For example, when one member of the council suggests that the townspeople may be forced to consider eating domesticated animals, Masterson and the other council members immediately shut him down. Although some of them are eventually forced to do so, such exchanges affirm that the characters strive to hold onto their humanity—and some semblance of normalcy—for as long as they can.

One major recurring theme throughout the novel is the importance of history. Masterson, as a history professor, possesses a wealth of knowledge about historical events, especially those related to war, given his military background. It is this knowledge that, along with his leadership skills, makes him such an admired, respected, and turned-to figure throughout the novel. 

However, at times, Masterson’s historical knowledge borders on voyeuristic. For instance, when at a pre-battle gathering at the local college, at which the student soldiers are told that not all of them will make it out of the forthcoming struggle alive, one of his first thoughts is that the battle will be remembered by historians for decades and even centuries to come.

Nonetheless, One Second After is an overall thought-provoking read. With heart-wrenching moments and vivid, at times graphic, imagery, the insight into the human condition which it offers will remain with readers long after they read its final lines.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

Family Loyalty and Medical Ethics

by John Downey '23 on April 8, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Family Loyalty and Medical Ethics

A Review of My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Tully Mahoney ’23

My Sister’s Keeper, by Jodi Picoult, is an all-consuming, heart-wrenching novel about Kate, a girl diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia at two years old, and her sister Anna, who was born to be Kate’s organ donor. The girls’ parents were told that having a family member serve as Kate’s bone marrow donor would give her the best chance at beating the leukemia, but neither they nor Kate’s brother are matches, so they are left hopeless until Anna is born as a perfect genetic match. 

By age 13, Anna has undergone countless surgeries, transfusions, and shots. Now, her parents are requesting that she give Kate her kidney. Anna questions who she is without Kate and if she means anything more to her family than being her sister’s lifeline; she figures she must draw the line at some point or she will continue to undergo such difficulties, so she meets with a lawyer to defend her body against her parents.

The novel is told from seven perspectives, giving a well-rounded view of the ethical debate that emerges at its center: Anna; Campbell, Anna’s lawyer; Sara, Anna’s mother; Brian, Anna’s father; Jesse, Anna’s brother; Julia, Anna’s guardian ad litem—which means someone appointed to act in a lawsuit on behalf of someone who cannot represent themselves, like a child; and Kate. These characters and their perspectives raise the questions of what it means to be a good parent, a good sister, and a good person as the debate of if it is morally correct to infringe on Anna’s rights to save Kate unfolds. Although this debate may appear to have a clear right answer—that Anna has the right over her own body—readers will find themselves empathizing with her parents’ point of view.

My Sister’s Keeper suffers from an unnecessary side plot following Campbell and Julia. Essentially, without giving away any spoilers, they were high school lovers whose extraordinarily different backgrounds led them to break up. When they are both assigned to Anna’s case, they feel an underlying awkwardness from what was left unsaid so many years ago.

As for its triumphs, the novel does a great job at artfully approaching a divisive real-life topic. Reading it in 2022, with genetic modification now possible, the story forces readers to consider how they would act in a situation that forced them to choose between family loyalty and medical ethics. Also, although the novel is told from several perspectives, which may appear overwhelming at first, it progresses elegantly and with a clear, full picture.

That being said, My Sister’s Keeper deserves 3.5/5 stars. Notably, there is a movie adaptation of this novel, but it makes significant changes to the book’s plot, which may leave readers rather disappointed. However, it is nevertheless a quality film that highlights the controversial ethical issues that drive the novel.

Book Review: Oryx and Crake

by John Downey '23 on March 26, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Book Review: Oryx and Crake

An Origin Story for a Brave New World

Madison Palmieri ’22

If there’s one thing Margaret Atwood is known for, it’s crafting dystopian tales that feel simultaneously foreign and all too familiar. While the acclaimed author is best known for The Handmaid’s Tale, this novel is only of many which evince her keen ability to make readers question their reality and the future to which it may lead.

Indeed, her 2003 book Oryx and Crake, the first installment of the MaddAddam trilogy, likewise forces readers into this uncomfortable but important position. In true Atwood fashion, the novel jumps from one period in time to another: readers learn of the narrative’s present day through the eyes of Snowman, who seems to be the only survivor of a cataclysmic event, and learn of the past events which led to this state of affairs from the perspective of Jimmy, the young man that Snowman used to be.

The present-day storyline sees Snowman struggle to survive in the wilderness with only strange new humanoids for company. He is haunted by voices and visions of his past, especially those of the titular Oryx and Crake. The former is the only woman he ever truly loved; the latter is the man responsible for the apocalypse and the creator of the humanoids—and Jimmy’s best friend.

In order to cope with the “brave new world” in which he finds himself, and perhaps to help the humanoid “Crakers” cope as well, he devises a mythology centered around Oryx and Crake, casting the former as a mother figure to the creatures of the Earth and the latter as a father figure to the humanoids themselves. Snowman presents himself as a sort of intermediary prophet between these “deities” and the Crakers.

The past storyline follows Jimmy as he grows up in an increasingly unhappy household, befriends Crake, and loses touch with him, though the pair ultimately reconnect. While a great deal of this storyline consists of worldbuilding, Atwood’s choice to present it through the young Jimmy’s eyes makes it natural and engaging. Indeed, readers learn of strange new creatures such as “wolvogs” and “pigoons” designed in labs alongside the young boy.

These two storylines merge at Oryx and Crake’s climax in a satisfying way, and while the novel ends with a cliffhanger, this is only because the complete story continues to unfold over the course of the two additional books that comprise the MaddAddam trilogy.

Although Atwood’s keen use of structure and compelling prose make this novel a fast-paced, hard-to-put-down read, it is frustrating that Oryx is relegated to the stereotypical role of the fairly helpless love interest, useful only for what she can offer the male characters. While Atwood’s skill and social awareness makes it evident that this portrayal is purposeful for what it can say about how society treats women, it is nonetheless disheartening that the novel’s only major female character is treated as such.

Overall, however, Oryx and Crake is a memorable read. It will force readers to think about what they do—and don’t—know about how the world they inhabit came to be as well as what they accept as true about this origin story. 

Rating: 4/5 stars

Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

by John Downey '23 on March 26, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Book Review: The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue

A Romantic, Historical Fantasy You Won’t Be Able to Put Down

Tully Mahoney ’23

V.E. Schwab’s The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is a stunning novel that captivates readers from the very first page. As a young woman in 1700s France, Addie is expected to marry and raise children in the same town she grew up in, so she prays to new gods and old gods alike for freedom. For the longest time, she does not receive any sort of sign that her wish will be granted.

However, in a moment of desperation on her wedding night, she prays after dark and summons the god of the darkness, a ghost of the shadows that transfigures himself into a handsome man with eyes whose colors change with his emotions. She bargains with him to live forever without the shackles of expectations.

The catch? The devil curses her so everyone she meets forgets she exists. 

The novel splits between Addie’s life in the 1700s and the 2000s, following her adventures and the people she meets as she tries to make an impression in a world that she exists as a shadow within. Across the centuries, Addie and the god of darkness play a metaphorical game of chess, consistently attempting to be one step ahead of the other: he wants her to give up her soul, and she is too stubborn to give him the satisfaction of her doing so.

Addie learns to make her mark on the world by giving lyrics to musicians, allowing artists to paint her, and becoming a spy during wars. Her mark is subtle and can never truly be attributed to her, as anyone she meets forgets all about her as soon as she leaves, making them think they created the words, envisioned the face in the painting, or learned the secret information themselves. 

In her loneliness, Addie continuously asks herself, “What is a person, if not the marks they leave behind?” This question fuels her desire like an uncontrollable fire, especially when everything changes after she meets a boy in a bookstore, Henry, who somehow remembers who she is.

This is where the novel’s structure comes into play. It is split into four parts, and at the beginning of each, there is a description of a piece of artwork, a wonderful stylistic choice that unifies these parts seamlessly. Each work of art includes a description of a girl with seven freckles in the shape of a constellation: Addie. These illustrations describe Addie’s impact in the world and how Henry is connected to her before they even meet.

Indeed, before Henry meets Addie, his best friend, Bea, realizes that the same woman appears across decades of paintings and proposes this phenomenon to Henry as her thesis. He tells her it was likely just a coincidence, so Bea drops the idea. Upon meeting Addie, however, he realizes Bea was right, and notices that she does not remember Addie after they meet and thus does not make the connection herself. 

Schwab’s writing style is effortlessly elegant and captures the readers’ imaginations, and the novel’s plot line has two serious twists that prevent it from falling into a lull. Schwab creates characters that feel like real people regardless of the absurdity of someone making a deal with the devil. Readers will feel the characters’ pain, loneliness, happiness, and agony.

The main flaw of The Invisible Life of Addie Larue is the lack of experiences Addie has, considering that she lives for 300 years. She only travels from a small town in France to Paris to Brooklyn, and it is hard to imagine that a woman who disappeared from her family on her wedding day because the thought of living in the same town forever drove her crazy would then only go to only three places in three centuries. On a similar note, although Addie meets many great, infamous people, they are all Eurocentric icons. Also, the descriptions of Addie’s experiences, as well as her interactions with these icons are very limited, leaving much to be desired. 

All in all, however, the novel is worth the read, especially for readers who enjoy romance and historical fantasy.

Book Review: When the English Fall

by John Downey '23 on March 3, 2022
A&E Co-Editor


Arts & Entertainment


Book Review: When the English Fall

A Unique Take on the Apocalyptic Fiction Genre

Madison Palmieri ’22

Today, apocalyptic fiction is one of the most popular literary genres. As such, authors must work to make their tales stand apart from the rest. In When the English Fall, author David Williams does just this. At first glance, the novel’s plot may appear to be standard apocalyptic lit fare: a man watches as the world falls apart and then experiences the fallout firsthand.

The catch?

The man, Jacob, is a member of an Amish community in the midwestern United States. When the apocalyptic event, a solar storm, brings widespread outages and overall chaos to “the English,” as the Amish refer to all non-Amish people, he and his family are initially unaffected. 

Indeed, the same people who once mocked him and his community for their quaint, seemingly backwards way of life now turn to them for help with skills which their families have not had to pass on for several generations, but which the Amish practice in their day-to-day lives, such as canning and hunting.

For a while, all seems relatively peaceful. While Jacob’s “English” friends, such as delivery man Mike, bring news of unrest in distant cities, the only initial sign that something is amiss in his neck of the woods is the visits his community receives from army men requesting that surplus food be shared with those in the outside world who have suddenly found themselves without.

However, as is to be expected in an apocalyptic novel, the situation soon grows dire. Mike, his ex-wife, and their sons take shelter with Jacob, his wife, and their two teenage children as resources become increasingly sparse and other “English” men and women become increasingly desperate. Thievery and violence creep closer and closer to Jacob’s door until it eventually, tragically crosses the threshold into his community.

He and his family must make a decision: remain where they are and risk the horrors at hand, or set out for the possible sanctuary of another Amish settlement?

When the English Fall’s power lies in the fact that it offers readers a different perspective on a familiar narrative. Indeed, while there are countless stories about an apocalyptic event destroying the modern way of life, this novel allows readers to see such a phenomenon from a distance: they become estranged from it, aware that it has occurred but unsure of its particulars. All they know is that the “simple” world of the Amish remains untainted by the horrors it induces onto society at large—until this society degrades to such an extent that it seeks to exploit that of the Amish. 

This distance will force readers to take a hard look at the world in which they find themselves and ask how well they would fare if they suddenly found themselves without electricity and all of the conveniences and luxuries it makes possible. Would they have what it takes to live like the Amish, or would they be like those who take advantage of the Amish?

Nonetheless, there are a couple of aspects in When the English Fall which detract from its power. For one, given that the novel is written in the form of diary entries made by Jacob, they become a bit repetitive. While such repetition is certainly realistic, it makes reading laborious at times. Another minor shortcoming is the novel’s fairly abrupt ending—but readers will have to decide their opinions on this part of the novel themselves.

Overall, When the English Falls offers an unexpected, largely successful take on apocalyptic lit. Fans of the genre will be pleased to note the presence of many of its quintessential elements, from frenzied faith to revelations of moral depravity in the absence of order, but will see them as if new from Jacob’s perspective.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars