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reviewed Prophet Song by Paul Lynch

Paul Lynch: Prophet Song (Hardcover, 2023, Oneworld Publications) 5 stars

On a dark, wet evening in Dublin, scientist and mother-of-four Eilish Stack answers her front …

Will make you think and stay with you (stick with it if the prose and syntax feels awkward at first -- it's worth it)

5 stars

First, I love the use of language, punctuation, syntax, in this book. It took time to acclimate, but once one does it becomes a character itself. I cannot imagine this story written in a more conventional way. At least not a story as powerful.

Second, I had no idea when I finished how much I would be thinking about it a month later. Do not get me wrong, I marinated on this book for a while after finishing (and while reading, of course), but recent events have made this story much more... pointed.

This was a difficult read and I wouldn't say I "enjoyed" it (apart from the language, which is beautiful at times, and cutting at others, and so so bleak). Do not go into Prophet Song expecting a rollicking read. It hurts, it frightens, it warns. This is all my opinion, of course, and I haven't explored the reviews of others much (if you see this, please let me know what you thought!). I am glad I read it.