Foe: A Novel
*Now a major motion picture starring Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal* A taut, psychological thriller from Iain Reid, "one of the most talented purveyors of weird, dark narratives in contemporary fiction" (Los Angeles Review of Books). Severe climate change has ravaged the country, leaving behind a charred wasteland. Junior and Henrietta live a comfortable if solitary life on one of the last remaining farms. Their private existence is disturbed the day a stranger comes to the door with alarming news. Junior has been randomly selected to travel far away from the farm, but the most unusual part is that arrangements have already been made so that when he leaves, Henrietta won't have a chance to miss him. She won't be left alone--not even for a moment. Henrietta will have company. Familiar company. Told in Iain Reid's sparse, biting style, Foe is a "mind-bending and genre-defying work of genius" (Liz Nugent, author of Unraveling Oliver) that will stay with you long after you turn the final page.
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Community Reviews
When Junior is selected to be one of the elite members of the first Installation in outer space, he and wife Hen have to spend time learning to adjust to his impending absence. Despite years of marriage, during this time the two really begin to start to notice each other and pay attention to the subtle behaviors they've grown accustomed to. But Junior is also being monitored and primed by Terrance, an agent for the organization responsible for the mission, and Junior starts to notice Terrance doesn't seem to be quite the "friend" he'd like them to believe he is.
Another great novel from Iain Reid. Reid is a master at pointing out the things we take for granted, as well as the subjectivity and malleability of reality. This book wasn't as psychologically jarring as his others, but the mystery and hints of something being "off" were right in line with what I expected. This felt a lot like a modern Twilight Zone episode to me. The finale was subtle, easy to miss, but so telling about the need for human companionship.
Another great novel from Iain Reid. Reid is a master at pointing out the things we take for granted, as well as the subjectivity and malleability of reality. This book wasn't as psychologically jarring as his others, but the mystery and hints of something being "off" were right in line with what I expected. This felt a lot like a modern Twilight Zone episode to me. The finale was subtle, easy to miss, but so telling about the need for human companionship.
*3.5
I found it so interesting how the characters think that the beetles are disgusting but the replicas are so fascinated by them. It makes you think about the small or "insignificant" things that could bring us joy if we changed our perspective a little bit.
It was so thought-provoking to think that people would like us more or less depending on what things we focus on, like the replicas being almost identical but more 'positive' with their partners made Hen leave her husband and find what she actually wants in life and it also drove her to make a replica of herself but how she was before Junior left to space so that he would also be happy.
I found it so interesting how the characters think that the beetles are disgusting but the replicas are so fascinated by them. It makes you think about the small or "insignificant" things that could bring us joy if we changed our perspective a little bit.
It was so thought-provoking to think that people would like us more or less depending on what things we focus on, like the replicas being almost identical but more 'positive' with their partners made Hen leave her husband and find what she actually wants in life and it also drove her to make a replica of herself but how she was before Junior left to space so that he would also be happy.
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