A Children's Bible: A Novel

Intriguing speculations but a disorganized plot

Bought the book but it won’t open. Can this be fixed?

I picked up this book because 1) it is a finalist for the National Book Award 2) it is short and 3) it sounds bonkers.

A group of college friends rent out a mansion near the ocean with their children for the summer. The novel is narrated by Eve one of the older girls who takes care of her brother Jack. The children play games while their parents drink and relax in the giant house. The kids row down the river to the ocean where they meet people from a yacht. When a huge storm arrives and floods the residence, the children leave to find safety while the parents take ecstasy.

This novel is a fable, a parable, a warning. In some ways it’s a scathing indictment of parents who are addicted to technology, drugs, comfort, leaving the children to deal with their problems. I thought this book might go into “Lord of the Flies” territory, but it never did. The children had a fun and funny rapport and they generally cared for and protected each other. Though way more precocious than most teens, you can see these teen reflecting young activists like Malala, Greta, and the kids from Parkland. In many ways, this extended allegory is very heavy handed. It reminded me of the film “Mother” which beats you over the head with its message. But for the most part the novel works. The writing is at once serious and irreverent, capturing the view of tragedy through the eyes of the children.

I couldn’t stop reading the book, though I wish it was a little less “The Walking Dead” and a little more subdued in some ways. I liked the ending a lot. If you are not a fan of high concept books, or you don’t like any ambiguity in your stories, this is not for you. But if you’re looking for a fast, engaging, quirky read, I highly recommend this novel. ★★★★★ • Hardcover • Fiction - Literary • Published by W.W. Norton & co. on May 12, 2020. ◾︎