What is it about : In this story set in the near future, when a Lottery System will randomly pick out individuals to migrate to a distant planet and those who have been picked, will have no say whatsoever over this forced removal from Earth. Our man, Junior thus had to leave behind his wife, Henrietta, his barn and his chores of feeding chickens and ploughing the land; except in his case, this removal from Earth will only be for a few years, as he is only joining in the pilot program. Moreover, a Cyborg who looks identical to Junior and has intimate knowledge of all details and manners great and small about Junior, will be staying at the farm to accompany Henrietta whilst he is away. Junior still has a few years to go before his departure but he is feeling that his relationship with Henrietta is deteriorating and matters have been complicated even more as Terence, the Agent in charge of his removal case, starts living at the farm and observing Junior's every action, mood swing and little eccentricities. Junior began questioning his values, his very own identity and the whole debacle of his imminent departure. And so the fun begins ...
Some thoughts after having read the book : Overall a good plot, if somewhat drawn out and implausible. It was hard going to go through 200 pages with just the few characters (Junior, Henrietta, Terence, a few beetles and a couple of chickens), the farm and a few melo-dramatic set pieces to entertain. Even the supposedly stunning ending felt a bit forced and felt very much an anti-climax. Perhaps making this novel into a film with sights, colors and sounds will fill in the many voids.
Would I recommend this book to you : My enthusiasm in picking out this book, is very much based on my viewing of the adapted film by this author - I'm Thinking Of Ending Things. As in that film, this book, Foe, offers similar quiet menace, expectancy and mystique. Yes, I recommend this book to while away a few days by the pool.
