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Greetings Book Clubbers! Another month, another scramble to read a book by a certain date that seems like it must be ages away until it’s suddenly next week. Now admittedly, I once again failed to start this month’s book on schedule (i.e. earlier than I did last month, and the month before that) but… but… BUT, I have FINISHED this book with a week to spare because once we were rattling along, I simply could not disembark. Tell me! How did you find your journey through the wasteland???
Sarah Brooks’ The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wasteland takes place in an alternate world that I can only describe as Ghibli-esque. In fact, so strong was the Miyazaki vibe of this novel for me, I have subconsciously convinced myself that this will definitely be his next project, so when I checked on IMDB and saw that it was not, I was annoyed about it. But really, this would be the perfect project for the studio and includes so many of the elements that would translate perfectly to their style; the focus on the industry of transport, the young heroine with a pure heart and the life-changing friendship that finds her, the uniformed threat of The Company, a chaste romance and ultimately, the respect and wonder for the peaceful co-existence of nature and science. I’ll stop talking about Studio Ghibli now, incase you’re not familiar with their films, but let me tell you - this comparison is a compliment of the highest order, and it’s not one I’ve ever made before.
Shall I caveat by saying I don’t read much fantasy? I don’t think there’s much point; even if we categorise this novel as literary-fantasy, or narrow it down to steam-punk because it’s about a train, it doesn’t give you any real sense of the subtle charms of this particular book; the elegance of the pacing and the beautiful details of the visuals that are conjured. As a book that I’ve read and been uniquely delighted by, it doesn’t then make me any more interested in the wizards and spells that I tend to avoid when thinking about fantasy as a genre (don’t @ me). As with all speculative fiction, I welcome any book that bends the rules of the real world, and in any genre, I simply demand that the standard is as high as it is here.
I can’t wait to hear what you thought about The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wasteland; I honestly thought it was fantastic (both ways). I loved the clever set-up of the restricted location - the Cluedo style characters, the Agatha Christie nature of the danger on the train, updated with the looming threat of everything that was outside - the fear of the unknown, and the fear of it being everywhere - Thing-like (as in, The Thing). And then, when the outside found its way in it reminded me of the The Last of Us (which I only know as the TV adaptation - sorry!) with the terrible growths and the blooming spores - the gorgeous botanical nightmare of it all. I’m sorry I keep comparing it to other things when my point is that it felt so fresh. But what felt most refreshing was the way it kept surprising me with its restraint. Even in the crashing finale, when all of the action is huge - it never labours under its own vision. The writing remained tight, the descriptions clean and vivid, the actions of the characters stayed true and understandable. In a world where senses are always being abandoned in favour of set-pieces and twists, it’s such a relief to read a book that kept so firmly on schedule to its final destination, arriving in perfect time, and in perfect style. I’ll admit I had a little cry at the end of the book, which really took me by surprise, but I am often very moved by quality…
I’d love to hear what you thought of The Cautious Traveller’s Guide to the Wasteland. Is this a book you’d have picked to read if it wasn’t a book club choice? Did it really make you want to book a train journey, or get a tattoo? Meet me in the comments to discuss.
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