The Wonder by Emma Donoghue - Book Reviews

T.K.s Book Rating 5/5

Set in a small Irish hamlet in the mid 19th century some seven years after the 1845-1852 potato famine, ‘The Wonder’ depicts an era of poverty, superstition, Catholic doctrine and conviction, and, not least, that unfathomable chasm dividing believers and sceptics. It is an all-encompassing, cinematographic contemplation of an innocent eleven-year-old girl’s consummate trust in the impetus of fasting and prayer; her profound, obsessive and selfless tenacity to redeem her dead brother’s soul from purgatory infiltrates every grain of this compelling, harrowing narrative. Lib Wright -with her experience of nursing alongside Florence Nightingale in the Crimean war, and sister Michael -a Catholic nun, embark on a complex quest to ascertain the truth; within the confines of Anna's chamber, they alone must determine whether her purported phenomenal ability to remain alive for four months without food is indeed a miracle or a dastardly hoax. Such constructs the foundational plot -sufficient in itself; however, entwined within, tendrils of loss, abuse, suspicion, suspense and mystery slowly emerge as secrets unfold. The question, “Will Anna be saved?” by either Divine or earthly intervention, silently and meticulously engages the reader from the very outset. The swift pace and imagery, within a setting depicting the pitiful historical frame, establish a robust discernment of wonderment and speculation from the early pages. There is much to charge the muskets of rage and intense desire for the truth, compounded by a humane necessity for revenge and punishment. The poverty of the family’s dwelling, the mystery of their Catholic conviction and subsequent suspicion of strangers, serve to intensify Lib’s antagonism and ever evolving theory of conspiracy; such extends to the child herself with whom her embryonic relationship is one of instant antipathy. However, her blossoming relationship with the newspaper reporter Byrne prompts an instantaneous transition; the momentum amplifies as this journey into the unknown propels one deeper and deeper into the complexities of intrigue and the role of the Church in such. Donoghue judiciously weaves a multifaceted portrait of the inhumanities of the world: the marginalisation caused by poverty and religion, and, the Church’s role in historical sexual abuse litigation. She executes the dangers of indoctrination sensitively and authoritatively, as with the familiar ‘Science versus Faith’ challenge; the theme of conflict, both universal and intensely personal, evokes a profound compassion for Anna -the personification of innocence, and Lib herself who learns to process her own historic losses. Byrne’s character provides a stabilising and uncomplicated perspective to the narrative in relation to Anna and Lib. The need for emotional feeding in conjunction with the physical also highlights the development and transformation of the master players in this unique melodrama. This enthralling, captivating narrative with its esoteric family and naturalistic supporting characters, enveloped within consummate imagery and an almost overwhelming pace, portrays magnificent penmanship. I unreservedly recommend it.

Louise's Book Rating 4/5

I wouldn’t normally read historical fiction, but enjoyed reading something different thanks to book club. I found the novel easy to read, with enough suspense to make it a page turner. The author evokes a strong sense of time and place, with some haunting images; such as the family picture with the dead son. At the heart of the mystery is the tension between science and religion. Is there a rational explanation for the survival of the fasting girl or is she a walking miracle? The nurse Lib embodies a logical and scientific approach and is determined to expose the fasting as a hoax. Lib starts her watch from a position of superiority, lacking any trace of humanity or empathy towards her charge. The redemption in the book is not of the child, but is the alteration in Lib as she becomes capable of loving again as both a wife and a mother. Another interesting theme in the book is the uncomfortable truth that doing nothing in the face of evil, makes you complicit in the evil itself. This has strong parallels with current events on the world stage. (**Spoiler alert**) The finale was similar to Emma Donoghue’s other famous book, The Room, where the maternal character and child were rescued from their oppressive four walls to live another day. However, I felt that Anna’s self-imposed fasting, caused by religious mania, family indifference and child abuse would not be so easily cured by a change of scene, so the ending of the book felt a little unrealistic as I think she would have needed a whole lot of therapy! Overall, it was an interesting book that made me think.