Universality
About the book
Author: Natasha Brown
Publisher: Random House
More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.
Buy and support indie bookstores (+ I earn a small commission):
Bookshop.org (print or ebook) | Libro.fm (audio)
My review
If it hadn’t been longlisted for the Booker Prize, I’m not sure I would have picked up Universality. That said, while it’s not a new favorite, I’m definitely glad I read it because this little book packed a timely punch.
The novel is split into five parts, the first being a fictitious long-form news article and the others being told from the POV of people in the article. I won’t say more because I think the way it unfolds is really what makes the book successful, but just know going in that everyone is an awful person (and that’s kind of the point).
I think the length of this book — only about 4 hours on audio — was perfect. Any longer, and I think my tolerance for spending time with awful people would have been all used up. But at this length its themes — especially the position that healthy skepticism about what you read in the media is warranted because everyone has their own agenda — came through perfectly.
If you’re looking for a quick read to get you thinking (and don’t mind reading about insufferable people), pick this one up!
Content and trigger warnings
Classism
Racism
Violence
Infidelity
