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Prophet Song by Paul Lynch - 5* - My Review

Eilish is a mother of four living in Ireland with her husband, Larry. This book opens with a knock on the door. Two representatives of the Garda National Services Bureau want to interrogate Larry. The government has adopted the Emergency Powers Act, which has suspended civil rights. Larry is a leader of the teachers’ union, and as such, has fallen afoul of the new regime. When Larry disappears, Eilish must navigate an increasingly violent environment, while attempting to safeguard their children and her father (who has dementia). The narrative follows what happens to the family, as conditions in the city deteriorate and supplies become scarce. A civil war breaks out and fear is ever-present.

This book examines the erosion of liberties that so many of us take for granted. It is a dark but powerful story, especially since this horrendous situation has actually happened in countries around the world. The tone is one of looming disaster. The writing is top rate. The structure of the book may be difficult for some readers, since it contains long paragraphs with embedded dialogue. This builds the sense of foreboding and tension but requires focused concentration to determine who says what. The majority of this book is bleak, but it also contains a very tiny ray of hope. It portrays the manner in which many people, when faced with this type of situation, are slow to act, and the reasons this can happen. I read this novel due to its longlisting for the Booker Prize. It is a chilling picture of a scenario that is all too easy to visualize. I can envision this book becoming a future classic.

I received an advance reader's copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

ETA - I think a good barometer of whether or not to read this book is your feeling about Cormac McCarthy's The Road. If you gave that one a high rating, you are likely to appreciate this one.