Review of Seven at Two Past Five

[Chi Chiu Michael Mak]

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

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5 out of 5 stars

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Seven at Two Past Five by Tara Basi is a weird story. Abi, the main character, is a button maker. She follows her routine to the extreme. Every day, she goes to sleep at precisely nine past nine, has nightmares until she wakes up, wakes up well before two past five, leaves for her workhouse at precisely two past five, and meets her faithful companions. However, a single day destroys Abi’s beloved routine, filling her heart with a sharp anxiety never known before. One of her inanimate companions, the blue envelope, is missing. It is replaced by a sinister black envelope delivering bad news. Abi is judged because her buttons have Disturbance Potential. What kind of crime is this? What does it have to do with buttons? What are Abi’s nightmares? Will Abi be free from punishment?

The world of Seven at Two Past Five is deliberately crafted to be absurd. Strange things happen to the most mundane of people, particularly the button maker. Said button maker is threatened with disproportionate retribution for the most trivial of actions, such as shedding tears onto someone's desk. Absurdity breeds comedy, and it is natural if you find yourself chuckling because of the events of the book. In this whimsical setting, processes like court proceedings, appeals, and loan applications take a lot of surreal twists and confusing turns, as if they are designed to frustrate those getting the short end of the stick. This portrayal resonates with readers because many of them experience the real-life frustrations of dealing with bureaucracy and the feeling that systems are intentionally obstructive. Reality is stranger than fiction. If a fictional work like Seven at Two Past Five does not make sense, then it is surely a mirror of reality.

To sum up, Seven at Two Past Five appeals to readers who are interested in satire, ambiguity, mystery, and parodies. Although I find some paragraphs of the book to be a little tedious, especially the ones in the first chapter, this is a small drawback that does not affect my rating. The book is strong because there is comedy and insight amidst absurdity. Besides, I only found one spelling error while reading, so the editing is great. Therefore, I rate this book 5 out of 5 stars.

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Seven at Two Past Five
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[Priya Murugesan]

I would love to read this weird story. It sounds interesting! Thanks for this wonderful review!

[Gerry Steen]

I have not read a satirical book for quite a while. Your review of this one makes me want to read it. You are right, reality is stranger than fiction; I will add this one to my bookshelves.

[Neha Panikar]

Love your review! I'm intrigued by the strangeness of the plot and can't wait to read this book! Thanks for sharing!!

[Julie Marie Basil]

This sounds like a very intriguing story, thank you for sharing your thoughts!

[Seetha E]

Sounds like a timely story indeed. This story effectively highlights the challenges of navigating bureaucracy and also the perception that systems may be intentionally obstructive. The powerful and wealthy are more than often treated more leniently.

[NetMassimo]

A mystery with a strong satirical element set in an absurd world is new for me, so I'm curious. I read a book by Tara Basi some time ago, and I liked it, so I'm positive about this one. Thank you for your great review!

[Anu Anand]

This seems like a strange but clever story that shows how silly rules and systems can feel in real life. I like how it uses humor and absurd events, like a button maker being punished, to highlight the confusion in everyday bureaucracy.