If any of you read my blog, you might be wondering what's been taking me so long to do this. After all, the cover is exciting enough, now you want to know whether the book itself is worth it or not.
To start off, the idea sounds innocent enough that I'll admit that I was fooled into buying it. This time I wasn't really fooled by the cover- I actually thought that I shouldn't judge it by its cover- the fact that the girl is topless there doesn't mean that the story is that dirty. Well I was wrong there. If I had judged the book by its cover, I would have known where I was headed.
But then I may never have read this book if that were the case, and that in itself is a loss as well.
It's true that this story is anything but innocent, but in a moment I'll get to why you should read this book.
Now, the innocent concept is about four young teenagers in the French countryside who run away to live in the forest and start their own noble community which they call the 'Republic of Trees'. Using Jean Jacque Rosseau's 'Social Contract' (don't pretend to be smart, please. Just click on that link and read it a bit, it'll do you a whole world of good) as a backbone, they start making up their rules, their way of living, and hey, everyone's happy. The main character Michael gets to climb trees. His brother and his best friend get to go hunting with a rifle. Isobel gets to go sunbathing. You get the idea.
But ah, the story isn't a whole load of roses. As I have said earlier, this book is anything but an innocent, fun read for those below twelve. Words like 'erection' do make their appearance in this book, and hey, big deal, right? The main characters are teens. They'd have to be castrated to not have any urges. But no, that's not really where the bulk of the story is. The bulk of the story really falls into place when a fifth character- Joy is introduced. While Joy seems to bring no harm to the way things work at first, seduction, love, jealousy...well things do fall apart. And in a bloody way. You'll have to read it to believe it.
There is a sort of dream-like quality to the way this story is told. Michael, the narrator won't remember all the details of everything that's happened, instead he picks out what he does and tells it to you, leaving you to assume to fill in the blanks. It adds a sense of realism to this story- in that seriously, if a story were narrated through a first-person POV, how the heck to those people remember every last detail? There is also a childish innocence to the way he narrates that you will feel ebb as the story progresses. And as things get ugly, well the dream turns into a nightmare.
The climax is a heartstopper, and the dark closing we're given ends this story in a way that tells you straight to your face: "IF YOU WERE LOOKING FOR ENID BLYTON, YOU GOT THE WRONG BOOK SUCKER!"
And that in itself is art, I'd say. The darkness of it all. This book is like William Golding's Lord of the Flies in a sense. The darkness of the human heart, portrayed in all its realism is what makes it all the more beautiful. If you don't mind being disturbed and having long periods of going, "Holy shit...they were kids. How could they..." then by all means, this book is the book for you.
I wouldn't say I loved every last moment of it. It's not that kind of book. But if you're looking for something that will leave a mark, then look no further. This will leave bloody footprints all over your mind. And again, the dream-like, self-righteous style of delivery makes this book all the more a frightening read.
A powerful debut from author Sam Taylor. I hope he keeps on writing, because really, there comes a time in life when you realize that you have way too much happy endings.
9 out of 10 because of its masterful delivery.
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