Prophet Song (WINNER OF THE BOOKER PRIZE 2023) Paperback – 10 September 2023

Excellent book and relevant to today's world where "authoritarian" regimes are gradually ruling the roost. And the last scene is poignant in its reflection of the deepening refugee crisis in the world.

"Prophet Song" leaves you breathless and reeling. It's not just a dystopian nightmare, it's a terrifying echo of today's headlines. We follow Eilish Stack, a mother clawing to keep her family afloat as Ireland descends into tyranny. Her husband vanishes, her son disappears, and every knock on the door is a potential threat. The lack of paragraph breaks mirrors the frantic pace, pushing you through the escalating danger. This isn't just a political thriller; it's a raw portrait of resilience, sacrifice, and the desperate love that binds a family together. You'll be haunted by "Prophet Song" long after you turn the last page, questioning what you'd do to protect your loved ones when the world goes mad.

In an extraordinary literary feat, Paul Lynch's novel "Prophet Song" clinches the prestigious Booker Prize for 2023. The narrative unfolds when Larry, a trade union leader, bravely joins a teachers' march against a totalitarian government. However, his sudden disappearance leaves his wife Eilish and their four children grappling in the dark about his fate. What follows is a gripping tale of a determined mother's struggle to shield her family amid a nation torn by conflict.Lynch's prose, delivered beautifully and lyrically, paints the pages with a chilling portrayal of a society succumbing to the tightening grip of a power-hungry regime. As the fascist government asserts control over key institutions, including the judiciary, police, and media, citizens find their rights eroded and dissent met with harsh crackdowns. The novel unveils a world where a false narrative of nationhood is imposed, and citizens are forced into awkward situations as the national anthem echoes in unexpected places. Brainwashed fanatics shame those who resist the encroaching right-wing ideology.The story unravels with a heartbreaking intensity, as Eilish confronts the devastating consequences of a government that devours her family members one by one. Despite the opportunity to flee the country, she steadfastly refuses to accept her husband's permanent absence, clinging to hope amid the turmoil. In the backdrop, a war between the oppressive regime and rebels ensues, causing a complete breakdown of democracy and plunging the nation into a profound crisis.As a mute world watches the televised spectacle of war and bloodshed, "Prophet Song" becomes a poignant reflection of contemporary times. The novel's haunting narrative and profound themes make it a compelling read, leaving a lasting impact on the reader's mind. Joining the ranks of my favourites, alongside works like Khaled Hosseini's "Kite Runner," Lynch's masterpiece stands as a powerful exploration of resilience, love, and the human spirit in the face of tyranny.

If grief had a face, hands down it would have been this one. I took more time to complete this novel, than I normally would. Reason being, every paragraph in this novel felt hauntingly ladled with grief. There is only so much of sorrow a human being can bear at one point of time. Inspite of it, there was no way, I could slam this book shut and shelf it.Based in Ireland, the scenario is about the authoritarian National Alliance Party coming to power and has passed a new Emergency Power Act. They have a secret police force Garda National Service Bureau (GNSB). But the author doesn't delve into the workings of this political rise. Instead I found myself in the living room of Mrs. Eilish Stack and her family.The horrors that I witnessed of this mother trying to hold the family together and keeping them alive, will stay with me for long. After her husband disappears, and the rumours spread about his abduction by GNSB, she weathers through all kinds of storms to keep her four children alive.It felt uncanny to read this at a time so much like our present times. With the war happening right under our very noses, the surreal scenes seemed all too real. Grief, loss, longing flood through chapter after chapter. The evocative imagery heightens every message that the author wants to convey. A literary fiction story that I was simply blown away by. A must read for all.

The story could well be of the times but I have been served with the likeness of it on so so many accounts either in the form of writing or visual narratives, that the book just read average despite the glaring human condition it describes in heartbreaking details.I don't really know if that's decadence in my character or in the prevailing times. However, the story of existence shrinking under totalitarianism has been told in far better ways. I don't know when authors gave up on writing books and took up writing screenplays instead. This actually read like a good OTT series.