The clatter of something falling in the library startled Joyce, who was in the kitchen making a cup of tea. She went to investigate. Through the old wavy glass panes of the French doors that separated the library from the rest of the timeworn house, she saw a large book lying face down in the middle of the room.
It was a completely quiet afternoon - not a breath of wind outside, no music playing inside. No one else was in the house besides her daughter Grace, home from school sick, sleeping in her bedroom. Their cat, Plato, curled in his favourite library chair, seemed unconcerned by the noise or the large book on the floor.
***
One quiet afternoon in 2037, Joyce Denzell hears a thud in her family’s home library and finds a book lying in the middle of the room, seemingly waiting for her―a book whose copyright page says it was published in the year 2200. Over the next twenty-four hours, each of the Denzell family members discovers and reads from this mystical history book from the future, nudged along by their cat, Plato.
As the various family members take turns reading, they gradually uncover the story of Gabe, Mia, and Ruth—a saga of adventure, endurance, romance, mystery, and hope that touches them all deeply. Along the way, the Denzells all begin to believe that this book that has seemingly fallen out of time and space and into their midst might actually be from the future—and that it might have something vitally important to teach them.
Engaging, playful, and thought-provoking, Hope is a seven-generation-spanning vision of the future as it could be—based on scientific projections, as well as historical and legal precedence—that will leave readers grappling with questions of destiny, responsibility, and the possibility for hope in a future world.
***
I am confessing from the outset that I was drawn to this book because of the cute cat on the cover.
Anyone who has been following my blog for more than about a week will know that I can be easily seduced into reading a book solely by the prettiness of its cover. And if it has an animal, books or a pretty dress on then it is in my basket before I can say "whoops."
My son argues that for every new book I bring into the house, I should relieve my overburdened bookshelves of one and send it to the charity shop. Yeah right! Never going to happen! I love my books too much for that, although I do have the occasional cull and donate those books to the library. Anyhow, this book was gifted to me as an early reading copy from the lovely people at NetGalley and, therefore, it does not have to go on my crowded book shelves and so it does not fit his theory.
This is very much a book within a book as it demonstrates various members of a family reading a book which mysteriously appears, and therefore, we also get to read the book verbatim alongside them.
The premise of the book is an interesting one, and I was keen to read it. The idea of a book from the future which explains how the world will progress is an exciting concept. When the book, The History of the World To the Best of Our Knowledge, Researched and Compiled for the Hall of Records by The World Council Committee for Remembrance Published 2220, appears to Joyce from nowhere she, of course, wants to read it.
What I did not quite understand was why the whole family, who find the book at various points, are so reluctant to share it with one another. Perhaps, I just missed the point with that aspect.
However, the actual book, Hope, felt like it was two very different books. The contents of the mysterious book flowed really well and were pleasing to read. Interestingly, the parts with the family felt more stilted, as though they were included solely as a vehicle for portraying the book from the future, but this is more of an observation than a criticism. I almost felt the author would have presented a better book if she had just told the story of the futuristic book.
Having said that, I did love the cat, who has an intriguing part to play. There are some enjoyable aspects of the book and please do not let my earlier comments deter you from reading it. As I have said on many occasions, reading is a very subjective experience. Hope has some good things to offer, so please do read it and I would be very interested in hearing your thoughts.
ISBN: 978 1684631230
Publisher: Spark Press
Formats: e-book and paperback
No. of Pages: 336 (paperback)
About the Author:
G. G. Kellner is a writer, an artist, a poet, and an educator. Her major focus over the last few years has been the completion of her book Hope, A History of the Future in which she envisions a world seven generations into the future in which we have solved the some of the major social, political and environmental crisis of our time.
Her essays, letters, and poems have appeared in Utne Magazine, Orion Magazine, The Loop, The Beachcomber, and The Nature of an Island. Her most recent publications include the poem "Instructions: On Getting Ready to Die." It can be seen on line at everywritersresource.com and her essay How to be Mistaken As an Islander was recently published in the collection, "The Heart of Vashon."
She is currently a regular guest and occasional host on the community radio program The Brown Briefly VOV 101.9 FM. Her paintings and sculptures have been shown at Lopez Library, the Blue Heron Center for the Arts, and the Barnworks. Her work in stone has been shown at the International Museum of the Horse in Lexington Kentucky. She recently facilitated a community art project as part of a local movement to move to a fossil free future.
Gayle lives on an island in the Salish Sea in a home that has been in her family for five generations. She spends most of her time writing, reading, working on artistic interests in painting and sculpture and walking the beaches and forests of her island home with her dog. She is allergic to cats.
(author photo courtesy of Book Sparks
author bio info courtesy of the authors own website
ARC courtesy of NetGalley)
