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[Following is a volunteer review of "Seven at Two Past Five" by Tara Basi.]

Seven at Two Past Five, by Tara Basi, begins with a mixture of dystopian, totalitarian, and fantasy elements. Abi, the protagonist, is an elderly button-maker who lives by strict rules and regulations. Her life is governed by punctuality and ritual. Every morning, she wakes up in her bunk-bed-coffin (which is branded with the number "seven") after a fitful night's sleep where she experiences nightmares called "the Terrors." Then, at precisely two minutes past seven o'clock, she sets off to her workshop, where she creates buttons that are custom-made to order. She is content with her monotonous daily routine, until one fateful morning when she awakens from a slumber which was not plagued by the Terrors. At first, she is relieved at having a peaceful night's rest for once, but when she is accused of deviating from her routine and causing "disturbance potential" she embarks on an epic journey to appeal the judgement. Along the way, Abi encounters an extensive cast of characters who either help or hinder her progress.

The cover art was intriguing to say the least: with the dark-hooded figure at the center and a robed, hooded figure on stilts at the rear. The greenish-grayish background colour along with the lightning bolts and smoky swirls add an air of mystery. The hooded clothing brought to mind the attire worn during certain cult rituals. Since this is the uniform worn by most of the characters in the book, it is an appropriate cover image. The story itself was written in the first-person point of view, from Abi's perspective. She narrates her own adventure, describing everything as she sees it. The author made use of some unusual and advanced vocabulary as the tale progressed. Also, the text was written in a somewhat poetic and dreamlike (or nightmarish) style.

When it comes to describing what I enjoyed about the book: where do I begin? For one thing, the author kept my interest from start to finish. Although this is a relatively short novel (190 pages), there are so many details crammed into a small package. Abi's surreal subterranean realm is reminiscent of Lewis Carroll's fantastical world from Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, albeit a much gloomier adult version. Nothing seems logical in this nonsensical world with a dysfunctional and arbitrary justice system. As I plunged further into the story, and into this dystopian world, the symbolism became obvious. Each challenge that Abi faced mirrored struggles we face in the real world. From false accusations and blatant lies to sexual harassment and ageism, Tara Basi creatively incorporated some familiar problems into the plot. I must commend the author for skillfully developing each character. At the beginning of the story, Abi is fearful, anxious, and unsure of herself. Later on, her moods and mindsets changed according to her situation. She grew more assertive and confident as she faced preliminary delays, but as time wore on she became weary and despondent, hoping for a speedy end to her appeals process. Abi takes everything literally, and she doesn't seem to understand popular expressions, which is often humorous; she speaks so bluntly, yet her diction is so advanced and formal. Apart from Abi, all of the other characters have unique and memorable personalities as well. Each character has his/her own distinct style of speech. To name a few, Zero, Abi's "appeals process administrator," speaks like a stereotypical young person and he has an optimistic personality. Whereas, Mary M. - who plays multiple roles in the storyline - swears often and has a "my-way-or-the-highway" attitude. In addition, Prof., who is a scientist, and Grunge, a solicitor - along with several of the other male characters - seem to be preoccupied with fulfilling their salacious desires. Furthermore, the author, Tara Basi has a remarkable way with words, painting vivid images in a reader's mind's eye by using metaphors such as: "Grunge is a shadow ahead. Zero is a ghost behind. And I am the shade in between." Personification is also used, as evidenced by this sentence: "I lengthen my gait, ignoring my miserable knees, complaining back and angry ankles to close on the slow-moving Grunge."

There was not much I disliked about Seven at Two Past Five. The only criticism I could think of was that the complex vocabulary sometimes seemed a bit tedious and distracting. Apart from that, the book was highly entertaining. By the end, most of the burning questions were answered, and readers realize that things are not what they initially seemed to be. The allegories and symbolism was revealed at last. However, there was room for interpretation.

There were almost no grammatical errors in this book; the editing was excellent. As for violence, there were a few bloody references, but there were no long and detailed descriptions of violence. The book contains slight obscenities, and sexual innuendos can be found throughout the story. However, it should be noted that implied curse words are often used rather than actual curse words. Major themes present in the story include: doubt, fear, anxiety, frustration, confusion, mystery, philosophy, and theology.

Ultimately, I enjoyed this weird, yet wonderful tale. Therefore, I award Seven at Two Past Five a rating of 4 out of 4 stars. This book contained all the elements of a good story: comedy, suspense, creativity, memorable characters, and a satisfying ending. At times, the tale was dark and mysterious; at other times, it was humorous and relatable. I really felt like I was being taken on a journey along with Abi and Zero. Each leg in Abi's arduous odyssey left me reeling, wondering what would happen next and guessing what each clue in the mystery really meant. The irony and ridiculousness of Tara Basi's wondrously fabricated world was simultaneously confusing and delightfully entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in dystopian and/or surrealist literature. I would also recommend it to those who enjoy reading of difficult quests. Persons who are deep-thinkers, fascinated by topics of philosophy and theology should also find this book mentally stimulating. Christians who are very sensitive about their religious beliefs or those offended by lewd and/or dark humour probably won't be so amused.

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Seven at Two Past Five
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This is a nicely written review. You did a great job with the synopsis. I also enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as you. I did think the characters were incredibly well done and were instantly recognizable.

esp1975 wrote: ↑06 Sep 2019, 10:40 This is a nicely written review. You did a great job with the synopsis. I also enjoyed this book, though not quite as much as you. I did think the characters were incredibly well done and were instantly recognizable.

Thank you so much. I appreciate the encouragement.

I was drawn to the cover of this book. The review was well done and very informative. Thank you. The surreal world of Abi, makes me want to grab hold of the book and read it in one sitting.

After reading your review, I would like to travel with Abi and Zero in the world created by Tara Basi. I have always been fascinated by theology and philosophy. I am adding this book to my bookshelves. Thank you for this detailed review. You left no stone unturned.