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A review by rowena_m_andrews
The Book of Malachi by T.C. Farren, Tracey Farren
3.0
The Book of Malachi is not a book for the faint-hearted, and it certainly won’t be a book for everyone, as it delves deep into some very dark subjects, and to be honest, I’m not entirely sure how I feel about this one. It was incredibly well written, and I’m not one for shying away from darker books, but there were a few points in this one where it felt not quite gratuitous but brushing up against the periphery of that.
That said, this was a very unique book that takes that Sci-Fi/Speculative element and makes it disturbingly real and close to the world that we live in now because it does not feel outside the realms of possibility that this could be happening somewhere out in our world. A dystopian future that feels terrifyingly like it could be an alternative present and I think perhaps that was the Book of Malachi’s greatest strength was, because it made it immediate and devasting with its possibility. There is also the fact that this book is an in-depth dive into the way humans can and will treat one another for exploitation, for money or personal gain, and exploration of the depths of human cruelty and morality, and this is another aspect that is dealt with very well. Yes, it’s dark, yes it pushes the limits at times, but it never does so unquestionably, and it doesn’t shy away from exploring them, which while disturbing is to be admired.
The titular Malachi makes for an interesting main character, and the first person POV means that we dive as deeply into his thoughts and feelings, and experience, as we do the world and situation that he finds himself, which creates the sense that we are there, experiencing the horrors of the world, the questions for ourselves. That he is mute provides not only motivation for his participation in what is happening on the oil rig, but it adds depth to his perception of the world and how he experiences, and in a way, it makes his experience and the choices that he makes more visceral because he has to confront himself, his past and what might happen if he chooses to help, or chooses to keep his peace and do his job. We spend so much time with Malachi and his thoughts, that his turmoil becomes ours, that his decisions are weighed as heavily in our thoughts, and it really does add an extra dimension to this book.
There is not a lot of light or hope within this book to offset the darkness, and I think perhaps some glimmers might have made this book more accessible, and in some ways would have deepened the sense of horror. There is a glimmer of it towards the end though that was much needed.
Overall, I did enjoy The Book of Malachi, and it is a book that will stay with me for a while, but I think it is very much a book that will not appeal to everyone because it is truly a dark read. However, for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, especially ones with bleak futures filled with terror, or just fiction on the darker (very dark) side, then this may well be the book for you.
That said, this was a very unique book that takes that Sci-Fi/Speculative element and makes it disturbingly real and close to the world that we live in now because it does not feel outside the realms of possibility that this could be happening somewhere out in our world. A dystopian future that feels terrifyingly like it could be an alternative present and I think perhaps that was the Book of Malachi’s greatest strength was, because it made it immediate and devasting with its possibility. There is also the fact that this book is an in-depth dive into the way humans can and will treat one another for exploitation, for money or personal gain, and exploration of the depths of human cruelty and morality, and this is another aspect that is dealt with very well. Yes, it’s dark, yes it pushes the limits at times, but it never does so unquestionably, and it doesn’t shy away from exploring them, which while disturbing is to be admired.
The titular Malachi makes for an interesting main character, and the first person POV means that we dive as deeply into his thoughts and feelings, and experience, as we do the world and situation that he finds himself, which creates the sense that we are there, experiencing the horrors of the world, the questions for ourselves. That he is mute provides not only motivation for his participation in what is happening on the oil rig, but it adds depth to his perception of the world and how he experiences, and in a way, it makes his experience and the choices that he makes more visceral because he has to confront himself, his past and what might happen if he chooses to help, or chooses to keep his peace and do his job. We spend so much time with Malachi and his thoughts, that his turmoil becomes ours, that his decisions are weighed as heavily in our thoughts, and it really does add an extra dimension to this book.
There is not a lot of light or hope within this book to offset the darkness, and I think perhaps some glimmers might have made this book more accessible, and in some ways would have deepened the sense of horror. There is a glimmer of it towards the end though that was much needed.
Overall, I did enjoy The Book of Malachi, and it is a book that will stay with me for a while, but I think it is very much a book that will not appeal to everyone because it is truly a dark read. However, for those who enjoy dystopian fiction, especially ones with bleak futures filled with terror, or just fiction on the darker (very dark) side, then this may well be the book for you.