Joined in 2023 
82 
63 About this deal
The writing is gorgeous and the author presents a pretty horrific scenario, which sets a scene that slowly slowly absorbs you in. The main protagonist is enthralling, the deep emotional layers of the narrative are hard to put into words but you'll run the gamut of all of them at various points then the end will slap you around a bit before releasing you into the aftermath. What a fantastic book, I really didn’t see the twist coming but oh my gosh!’ NETGALLEY REVIEWER, 5* Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Libra Goodreads Librarians are volunteers who help ensure the accuracy of information about books and authors in the Goodreads' catalog. The Goodreads Librarians Group is the official group for requesting additions or updates to the catalog, including: A terrifying portrait of a near future . . . Both thought-provoking and heartfelt, END OF STORY is a unique dystopian mystery about human connection amidst automation, renewal amidst defeat, and the power of writing." - Winnie M Li
I have read Louise Swanson when she has written as Louise Beech and I believe this to be the first Swanson novel of hers. It’s quite different in style to her usual books and is more dystopian in feel, which isn’t usually my style but I loved this one. The writing is simple and flows so well. The concept has been done before (the banning of books) but I liked that this one felt like a normal day and time yet things are quite different. People are overtly watched and monitored and each week they hold a book amnesty for any found fiction to be handed in, only non-fiction is allowed. I hadn't actually read the blurb, I love this author when she writes as Louise Beech and genuinely if you can manage to read this with as little influence as possible I'd recommend doing that. Any description you get couldn't possibly encompass the strange beauty of this story it is entirely its own thing. Five years ago the government banned the writing & disseminating of fiction: physical books are burned, whilst digital copies have been erased, fictional TV shows & films are prohibited, even reading aloud a nonfiction book is considered storytelling. Now in 2035, successful ex-author, Fern Dostoy - her book 'Technological Amazingness' was considered subversive - is now Fern Dalrymple Widowed & childless, she had to move home & change her appearance & now works as a cleaner in a hospital. She has never heard from her fellow author friends & her only acquaintances are her next door neighbour, & the delivery man from FineFayre who sells her tea & biscuits. Fern lives offline as much as possible as she knows that even something an innocuous as a fridge is used to surveil the population, & she receives regular visits from two men, government officials, who search her home & question her about her activities. Initially, I was not convinced that this was the book for me. I have never been a huge fan of futuristic fiction. Yet, there was something that kept me reading. I needed to know what was going to happen to Fern. Not giving up on this book proved to be a good choice. This story turns out to be an emotional read that leaves you loving it. Admittedly when I finished this utterly amazing novel I bawled like a baby for a good hour. I mean really, you should all read it and share the completely honest trauma.Despite being slow-paced, the story had enough going on to keep me hooked. (It is literary fiction and thus heavily character-oriented. So the slow pace is to be expected.) I am not a dystopian fiction lover, especially of one set in the real world. I feel very uncomfortable and claustrophobic when I read scenes that might just happen in reality. This book too made me very anxious in between. However, as it led to an ending that proceeds so well from the main plot, I couldn’t help but admire the brilliance of the author. ( I am SO going to look up more of her works!!!) This is a book about the importance of storytelling, and it's little bit magic, a little bit dark, and a lot emotional. I adored it." - Amanda Prowse Thank you to Louise Swanson, Hodder and Stoughton and NetGalley for an advanced copy of the audiobook. She is mourning her lost life and is going through the five stages of grief-Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.
Some part of the final reveal feels a bit dragged, though I do see why they were necessary in the broader sense. I guess I was just impatient to find out more as soon as possible! Fern is childless, and wrote a bestselling novel that catapulted her to the heights of literary stardom after losing her husband to COVID in 2020 and using her grief to write a powerful satire that was one of those heralding the start of sweeping reforms. Overall, this is a very different and creative read and I admire what Louise Swanson has produced here. A compelling novel with an intriguing premise and a genuine didn't-see-it-coming twist. It made me think about how we tell stories, how we occupy them and how stories can ultimately change us." - Araminta HallIf you are looking for something different to sink your teeth into, a book that is not what it appears to be, then I cannot recommend this one highly enough. What I am trying to say is, this book isn’t only for dystopian fiction fans. So don’t disregard the book by its genre if you don’t read dystopian works. ( In fact, a part of me feels it will not work as well for dystopian book lovers.)
Great Deal 
New Comment