The Recently Read posts are not typical book reviews. As a writer, I do not believe I should be reviewing the hard work of other writers. These posts are simply books I have recently read and enjoyed and will share with you. They will not always be crime books as I am trying to widen my reading selection. I hope you enjoy some of these with me.
The Humans by Matt Haig.
It’s hardest to belong when you’re closest to home . . .
One wet Friday evening, Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world’s greatest mathematical riddle. Then he disappears.
When he is found walking naked along the motorway, Professor Martin seems different. Besides the lack of clothes, he now finds normal life pointless. His loving wife and teenage son seem repulsive to him. In fact, he hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton. And he’s a dog.
Can a bit of Debussy and Emily Dickinson keep him from murder? Can the species which invented cheap white wine and peanut butter sandwiches be all that bad? And what is the warm feeling he gets when he looks into his wife’s eyes?
My Thoughts;
I absolutely loved this book. I finished reading it a couple of weeks ago but put off writing a review for fear I couldn’t do it justice and I’m still not sure I can now.
Professor Andrew Martin has solved the Riemann theory and aliens from many light years away don’t believe that human kind are capable of dealing with what this will bring, so here starts the story.
Alien takes over Andrew Martins body to eliminate all evidence of this theory being solved. The book starts hilariously funny as the alien, in Andrew Martin form, lands naked in public and fails to understand this isn’t how humans behave. This fairly brief but integral start is literally laugh out loud funny as he wanders around oblivious to social norms and ends up being taken to a place of safety under the mental health act.
He quickly starts to pick up speech and acceptable behaviour and finds he has a wife and teenage son whom he has to go home with. He does this with the purpose of finding out what they know of Martin’s last day and destroying evidence.
The book moves into the complexities of human relationships. Husbands and wives and fathers and sons – troubled sons. And our alien friend finds himself in a strange place he didn’t expect to be.
The insight of human foibles, issues and warmth is stunningly sharp by Haig. Each sentence written is needed and clean.
It’s a warm, witty, heartwarming book that I’d recommend to anyone as a must read, no matter the genre you usually read in. Just brilliant.
Sounds like a gem, Rebecca. Thanks for sharing 🙂
It really is a wonderful book. 🙂
Nice choice, Rebecca. I like the element of sf in this very human story. Thanks for the review.
It was extremely well woven Prashant. Brilliant 🙂
Rebecca – What an innovative way to explore human nature! It does sound funny and yet it also sounds as though there’s a lot of depth to it as well. An excellent review, so thanks.
It was a really deep and yet funny book Margot. I loved it!
That sounds wonderful. I must see if it’s on my Vine list.
If you can possibly read it, you should. It really is something slightly different, but great. I’d love to hear what you thought.