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Welcome to Read This Book, the newsletter where I recommend a book you should add to your TBR, STAT! I stan variety in all things, and my book recommendations will be no exception. These must-read books will span genres and age groups. There will be new releases, oldie but goldies from the backlist, and the classics you may have missed in high school. Oh my! If you’re ready to diversify your books, then LEGGO!!
In 2020, the book world will celebrate what would be the centennial birthday of English crime writer P.D. James, born Phyllis Dorothy James on August 3, 1920. Although she rose to fame with the Adam Dalgliesh detective series, I was introduced to James through her dystopian novel The Children of Men.
Set in England during the year 2021, The Children of Men takes place during the aftermath of global mass infertility. The last generation of people known as “Omegas” were born in the mid 1990s, and the last Omega to be born has just been killed in a pub brawl. Apathetic toward a future that in sense doesn’t exist since babies are no longer being born, Oxford historian Theodore “Theo” Faron spends most of his time living in the past and reflecting on the current state of affairs in his diary. It takes the bright and beautiful Julian and her group of unlikely revolutionaries who may hold the key to the survival of the human race to awaken Theo’s desire to live.
Although I enjoy reading different genres, my reading repertoire is lacking in the science fiction department. The Children of Men is the perfect book to read for someone who wants to delve into sci-fi books, but doesn’t naturally gravitate towards sci-fi books. What I enjoyed most is the story feeling grounded in reality since the birth rates in the United States have been declining by 2% each year, and the coronavirus pandemic will likely exacerbate that decline. With facts like these, the concept of the world population no longer being able to reproduce is science fiction I can wrap my head around. The Children of Men not only seems plausible, it seems likely to happen if current trends continue.
Yeah … that got a little dark, but sometimes, I like to embrace living in the Darkest Timeline by diving into books that reflect these bleak times. If you’re looking for an engaging book to do the same, then The Children of Men is an excellent choice.
Not only did I love the realistic sci-fi aspect of The Children of Men, I loved the political commentary within the story that touched on issues like immigration, the judicial system, elections, and human rights. Reading this book made me reflect on how I would behave in this forlorn society. I want to believe I would be revolutionary like Julian and the Five Fishes fighting against the government’s passive tyranny. However, I fear I would most likely be another curmudgeon like Theo living day by day with no regards for the future of humanity that is dying right before my eyes.
The Children of Men is not for the light of heart, but if you take the less traveled road to the disheartening parts of the literary world, then you will find a thought-provoking novel that will stay on your mind for years to come.
Until next time bookish friends,
Katisha
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