2: masterpiece of young adult fiction
It's too bad that fiction written for young adults is also written off by literary critics - if not, I couldn't imagine a work deserving higher praise than Christopher's "Empty World," which accomplishes the near-impossible task of rejuvenating the stale genres of coming-of-age novel, apocalyptic novel, and survival novel, all wrapped up into a touching, insightful, and compelling story.The power of Christopher's fiction relies largely on a simple device: his heroes are never the biggest, strongest, or even smartest in their environments. They are usually quiet, unassuming, and have the great misfortune to be witnesses and unwilling participants in Events (often catastrophic). In the most heartbreaking scene in "Empty World," the hero finds another boy his age who has just committed suicide, only to realize that that boy was otherwise more intelligent and more capable of survival than he. With these kinds of realizations generating the plot, you can see that this is no ordinary teen fiction. In "Empty World", the hero is emotionally dead long before a devastating virus sweeps the planet clean - and he begins to come alive (metaphorically) only after the rest of the world dies off (literally). His quest to find survivors turns into a near-parody of Sartre's "Huis Clos," as they struggle with their ability - or inability - to live together at all. It's an amazing work from start to finish, full of beautifully painted atmosphere, well-drawn characters, leisurely pacing, and a helluva emotional wallop. Such a pity that the book is so difficult to find anymore. :-/
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3: Great Book
Read this first as a 14 year old and at that age it made a real impression on me, more so than the classics you get fed at that age. I was reminded of this great book a while ago when I moved to Dulwich (the setting of the family home for the lead character)
Just having turned 30 and with a stressful job in the city I felt the need to be 14 again for an evening. I went in search of a copy yet was disappointed to find the book out of print and not in any library close-by. The copies available from booksellers came at a price but I parted with my hard earned cash and once again enjoyed Empty World. I would highlight the parallels between adolescence / turning 30 /standing looking out on the threshold of responsibility, feeling lonely and vulnerable but there are people who could do a much better job then me. To sum-up, well, its a great book.
I will be lending my copy to mates if I see them getting wound too tight, but only if they can promise not to bend the page edges...
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