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Title: The Book of Strange New Things
Author: Michel Faber
Narrator: Josh Cohen
Format: Unabridged
Length: 19 hrs and 27 mins
Language: English
Release date: 10-06-14
Publisher: Canongate Books Ltd
Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 12 votes
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
Publisher's Summary:
'I am with you always, even unto the end of the world . . .'
Peter Leigh is a missionary called to go on the journey of a lifetime. Leaving behind his beloved wife, Bea, he boards a flight for a remote and unfamiliar land, a place where the locals are hungry for the teachings of the Bible - his 'book of strange new things'. It is a quest that will challenge Peter's beliefs, his understanding of the limits of the human body and, most of all, his love for Bea.
The Book of Strange New Things is a wildly original tale of adventure, faith and the ties that might hold two people together when they are worlds apart. This momentous novel, Faber's first since The Crimson Petal and the White, sees him at his expectation-defying best.
Members Reviews:
Bad story, good narrator.
Would you say that listening to this book was time well-spent? Why or why not?
It was okay, but not mind-blowing.
What was most disappointing about Michel Fabers story?
It had a lot of potential that remained unexplored. The way I understand it, the author took on a very limited point of view of emphasise that it was Peter's outlook and priorities that counted, but then a first-person narrative would have suited this novel much better. As it is, the reader is left with the feeling that many important issues have remained unexplored.
What does Josh Cohen bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you just read the book?
He brings an boyish enthusiasm to Peter that fits his personality, and the way he reads the Oasans is also good (and not easy to pull off).
If this book were a movie would you go see it?
No, unless they fixed the plot holes in the novel.
Not sure Michel Faber does resolution...
If you are familiar with Michel Faber's works you won't be too surprised by the ambling nature of the novel. An evangelistic pastor is recruited by a mysterious corporation to bring the gospel to an alien race on a planet they wish to colonise. It's less about a plot than an exploration of a set of possibilities and human nature in extreme circumstances. I think I enjoyed it even though the pronunciation of the "alien" speech was absolutely tortuous and made me glad the narrator wasn't with me in person to cover me in spit.
Thought provoking and given the recent extreme weather in Vanuatu possibly prescient.
Slow and without resolution.
This book had a few interesting concepts, none of which were explored. The ending was particularly poor, I think a better ending May have saved the book, unfortunately not the case.
A really interesting adventure
If you could sum up The Book of Strange New Things in three words, what would they be?
original, interesting, creative
What did you like best about this story?
the moral dilemmas that Peter faces is very real and relatable despite the fantasy setting of the story.
What does Josh Cohen bring to the story that you wouldnt experience if you had only read the book?
I really liked his interpretation of the Oasians voices and pronunciation
Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?
the fear that the Oasians felt when Peter hurt himself, really brought home for me how important it was to them to have a religious leader, and the bond they felt with this man.
Any additional comments?
I am a huge fan of The Crimson Petal and the White.
