That Just Happened!

Beckett, Bernard. Genesis.  McClelland & Stewart and Tundra Books (2009).

It’s late in the 21st century and the island Republic has emerged from a ruined, plague-ridden world, its citizens safe, but not free, and living in complete isolation from outside contact.  Approaching planes are gunned down, refugees shot on sight.  Until a man named Adam Forde rescues a girl from the sea.

From the Library Website

I read this towards my 2010 YA Challenge.  I thought this book was okay.  The author combines Brave New World with Christian Creation stories to get Genesis.  The narrator of the story is a woman trying to get into ”The Academy” and she is giving her thesis to the Examiners.  Her thesis focuses on Adam Forde.  It was a bit more technical than I was expecting, but the premise is interesting.  After our current era ends (due to war and pestilence, of course) the old ways combine with the new to establish a “Utopian” society (called the Republic, like Plato’s Republic, which is a must read for all philosophy/justice in society lovers, though not young adults).  In fact, there is reference to a man named Plato in the book). There are definite parallels to the Christian Bible (this is a creation story of Adam). I think the ending made it a bit a more interesting read. No worries, I won’t include a spoiler!

The more you think about it after you finish reading it, the better the book seems; however, I wouldn’t say it is my favourite ever.  This review is kind of short because I feel so indifferent to it.  However, I have read on other sites that the Reader loved it, so maybe I just wasn’t in the mood.  I would say this was a “If You Have Nothing Else to Read…”