Published in 2021 in the middle of a global catastrophe, this is an interesting novel correlating the idea of isolation and depressive thoughts during such challenging times with the modern living. what the living cut-off with the global crisis but from a different perspective.
The story revolves around four main characters, although there are other characters like Felix’s brother who pops in for one dramatic moment to lead it in an unexpected direction.
But largely it is a story narrating lives of four people, out of these Alice and Eileen loom large over the said narration taking it ahead through their mutual and continuous email correspondence over the period of few months (years??)
Supporting these ladies in contemporary but caring ways are two men called Felix and Simon. Felix has his own demons and enters Alice’s life rather nonchalantly. He is not impressed by her glamorous hipster lifestyle nor he is interested in her writing career. He comes with his own baggage and has fair share of skeletons in his closet, so he is treading carefully but not so lightly.
Like a sleek feline friend, he befriends Alice without actually knowing much about her or letting her know about his past. He declares his motive behind this relationship way before and then pretends not to care if Alice is injured by his questionable and at time snarky remarks. There relationship goes through a process which starts from loathing to loving throughout the span of the entire plot line. However, it’s not so convincing neither it becomes interesting in the finale.
Simon on the other hand, comes across as more stable, mature and dare I say, normal person amongst all his friends. He is a protagonist of this novel without even trying to be one. As a childhood friend and neighbor, he was always filled in the background of Eileen’s life. He filled in the void of caregiver and a shoulder-to-cry-on whenever she required him. When I say normal, it simply means that Simon is a straightforward middle class man. He is educated, has a stable career and has limited life aspirations. He doesn’t go overboard by discussing worldly matters like Alice and Eileen do in their email exchanges neither he is ignorant fool with a limited world view. His balance and his mild manners is what makes him more relatable in this entire novel.
Does it come across that I didn’t like the book? I hope not because I liked the general premise of the novel projecting futility of human emotions in a world connected by so much of technology. At times, such interconnected worlds could feel intrusive but more often than not it makes a person alone in a sea of humans.
Having said that, I think the premise is not explored enough or fails in its execution as readers can feel lost or bored or both while reading the lengthy exchanges between our two leading ladies. They certainly write a lot but without having any concrete meanings attached to it as all of it comes bubbling out in personal exchanges when they get together on a holiday.
As mentioned before, it represents people connected through modern gadgets in challenging times who are living a complicated and isolated lives. But somehow it emphasis on that key ingredient which till now (thank god for that!!) machines are not able to replicate- the human touch. Was it the main takeaway from this novel? I am not certain.
At times enjoying the banter between Alice and Felix, loving the fragile intimacy between Eileen and Simon but disliking the circular slow pace of this particular novel, I think carry a mixed feeling about it. I would say go in for the author’s writing prowess, well fleshed out characters but don’t expect too much in terms of plot depth. All in all, give it a shot of reading at least once.