Official Review: The Book of Strange New Things

[romymaria]

The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber is a novel that takes the reader through a journey of humanity, love and loss. I was skeptical to read this book because the “The Book of Strange New Things” is what the author calls “The Bible.” The book surrounds around the Christian faith, and I thought it would be overdone, yet to my surprise I really enjoyed this book.

The novel is from the point of view of Peter, a married Christian man who travels to a foreign planet to teach the word of God to a group of alien natives, or “Oasans.” He leaves his wife behind on Earth, where things become disastrous in his absence. Throughout the novel, the couple writes to each other, revealing the human condition and how we react when love is tested by not only space but time. The writing flows effortlessly and how the author managed to create a whole new species and language baffles me.

The book was like a roller coaster for me. Despite the amazing style of writing, there are some parts that are just plain boring. The author tends to elaborate a lot on irrelevant things or linger on a scene that is not as monumental as the others. On the contrary, there are chapters of the book that I couldn’t put down; parts that sucked me in and spit me out on the ground of the Oasan base.

I’d recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading about love and the human condition. The book elaborates a lot on faith and “The Book of Strange New Things.” Even for those who are not religious, the novel hits home in a variety of ways. It will leave you with pen in hand, underlining phrase after beautiful phrase.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars.

[Levi]

I really like your review Romymaria, as this book does sound intriguing regardless of belief, and I think you did a good job to assuage any fears someone may have. I love the concept of space and other species and new languages so you're review drew me in asks made me want to read this story. "The book of strange new things" that made me smile too thinking of aliens with any new concept.

[Lovely_Loreley]

Excellent review! This definitely sounds like a unique story-line with powerful messages I'll be sure to check it out!

[suzanneseidel]

The thing that stuck out to me the most about this book, and what I still think about weeks after finishing, is Peter's experience coming back to the base after having been with the aliens. It reminds me so much of my experience with reverse culture shock and I have never heard/read it described so accurately. I have lived in the Dominican Republic for almost four years and every time I visit the States I feel a lot of what Peter felt coming back to the air conditioned building full of humans. The general fatigue and the feeling out of place I can relate to. You think he'd be excited to once again enjoy air conditioning and running water and yummy food, and on some level he does, but now accustomed to the aliens' ways a large part of him views those ways as superior or at least more comfortable.

In one conversation with the other humans someone criticizes the aliens' lack of crops. Peter starts to correct the critic, to explain their system, but decides it's too much work. Where do you start when you have a whole culture to explain?

Interestingly, that's about where my connection with Peter stops. I'm pretty much a missionary, so I thought I'd relate to him more. On the contrary his communication with his wife really frustrated me. He sounded like so many other religious people with their surface level "pray about it" and memorized bible verses. In the midst of so much tragedy (a little too much, if you ask me - Faber really went for it with the earthside tragedy) those kind of answers just aren't helpful. So overall Peter annoyed me, but I enjoyed the book. I agree with romymaria that there were boring sections, but just as many exciting ones, if not more.

I think Faber should write a sequel about the next missionary who comes to the planet but from the aliens' point of view. I still have so many questions about their way of life!