The Gilmore Guide to Books

Connecting Books and Readers One Review at a Time

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Reviews
    • Reviews by Author
    • Reviews by Title
    • Reviews by Genre
  • More Books
  • Policies
    • Review Policy
    • Privacy Policy

Foe: A Novel by Iain Reid

September 6, 2018

Foe by Iain Reid
Published by Gallery/Scout Press
Publication date: September 4, 2018
Genres: Book Clubs, Contemporary, Fiction, Literary, Science Fiction
four-stars

foe

Junior and Henrietta live on a small farm. They are isolated from everyone, but close to each other. When Terrance arrives and tells them that Junior has been selected to participate in a program building a much-needed space community they are puzzled by the news, but accept Terrance’s assurances that it is an amazing opportunity. He tells them they have two years before Junior needs to leave, but that he will be gone for years after that. Which is not great, except he promises that modern technology means Henrietta won’t be left alone. Which is as much of the plot as can be shared in Iain Reid’s unnerving new novel, Foe.

Foe is a novel of questions. Junior and Henrietta have some, but not as many as you might think. Even if they’re not happy about it, they accept that Junior has been chosen from data collected from their individual screens—devices that sound much like tablets/iPads. Their lives are simple and quiet and Junior, in particular, is not a man that questions.

I’m not an observant person. I see what I see, and the rest doesn’t matter. What’s the point? Why bother taking notice of everything going on around you, filling up your mind with irrelevant details and excess information? What’s going to happen will happen regardless.

But while Henrietta doesn’t question, she does seem off to Junior. Rather than move closer in the time they have left she becomes distant. When Terrance reappears in their lives for Junior’s final preparations before leaving, things become even more strained.

Foe is a small book—under 300 pages, but I read it in one sitting. Reid’s sentences are short, clean, and neat and Foe’s chapters brief and to the point. All things that should evoke a sense of calm and certainty. But from the novel’s opening sentences there is nothing but a growing sense of unease. Even if the words being spoken and the actions taken seem innocuous on the surface, they feel freighted with meaning underneath. Reid fosters this feeling of something-not-right by seasoning Foe with terminology that is immediately recognizable to readers as current hot topic subjects: data collection, virtual reality, 3-D printing, algorithms, industrial farming, and the need to find another place for humans to live.

The large scale uncomfortable feeling is readily apparent in Foe, with things like a corporation that can conscript people to work in outer space and monitor private conversations. But it’s Reid going smaller that makes Foe an onion novel, with each layer revealing more of the truth while still hiding another layer. One layer is straightforward science fiction, but another is a disquieting look at marriage and how well we can ever know another person. A simple monologue from Henrietta to Junior

“There are so many instances when I’ve expected you to understand how I’m feeling, and it just doesn’t happen. It’s so discouraging, draining…Honestly, I rarely feel happy. And I don’t want to have to tell you everything. I shouldn’t have to. Not if you’re paying attention, even just a bit, considering me in a way that’s not just superficial.”

feels almost as unsettling as Junior’s sessions with Terrance in preparation for his departure.

A quick read that will engender a lot of conversation, I’d strongly recommend Foe for anyone in a book club. Understated in setting, characters, and plot, the novel expands exponentially with suspense. Reid manages to keep the reader off-balance from beginning to end, subtly creating tension in a way that is chilling. No matter how you slice Foe it is a gem of a novel.

four-stars

Related Posts

  • Related Posts
  • Same Genre
  • 4 Star Books
endless
Our Endless Numbered Days
The Sandcastle Girls
The Sandcastle Girls
homeland
Homeland Elegies: A Novel
new neighbor
The New Neighbor
february
February Reading Wrap-Up
son
Everybody’s Son: A Novel
fun age
Such a Fun Age: A Novel
moment of everything
The Moment of Everything
well tempered heart
A Well-Tempered Heart
falcons
The Affairs of the Falcóns: A Novel
amitysorrow
Amity & Sorrow
dear fang
Dear Fang, With Love
falconer
The Falconer by Dana Czapnik
olive
Olive, Again by Elizabeth Strout
vintage
Vintage: A Novel

14 Comments
Filed Under: Book Reviews, Fiction Tagged: book clubs, literary, marriage, science fiction, Scout Press

Comments

  1. Lauren says

    September 6, 2018 at 2:22 pm

    As an adorer of I’M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS, I have been highly anticipating this one. Although I have no idea when I might get to it, I’m so happy to hear it may provide a similar level of enjoyment.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      September 6, 2018 at 4:30 pm

      How fabulous- we’ve each provided the other with an unqualified recommendation! I love when that happens. I have I’m Thinking of Ending Things sitting right here on a shelf but haven’t read it. I’m pushing it to the top of my November TBR (provided the fall releases don’t kill me).

      Reply
      • Lauren says

        September 6, 2018 at 5:48 pm

        Here’s how long my week has been: I was going to reply “Unqualified?!?! We are the f’ing MOST qualified!” Then the lightbulb went on. Ha. I hope you enjoy ITOET as much as I did, it was a super eerie creepfest that burned my brain in the best way.

        Reply
        • Catherine says

          September 7, 2018 at 7:16 pm

          We are indeed. If only from the sheer number of words we’ve processed through our brains since starting our blogs. I’m sure by November I’ll be ready for full on creep mode, although I’m getting f’ing creep overload from this SCOTUS nominee. Sigh.

          Reply
  2. Sarah's Book Shelves says

    September 7, 2018 at 5:01 am

    Well, I think you nailed it. I wrote my draft mini review awhile back, but I don’t really think I need to publish it now – haha!
    My very favorite thing about this one was how he delved into the regular issues of marriage in the midst of this kind of sci-fi-lite stuff.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      September 7, 2018 at 7:13 pm

      Right?! I think that aspect is what tipped it over the top- from good to great- for me.

      Reply
  3. Amanda says

    September 7, 2018 at 12:06 pm

    Oh I’m so curious. I hate picking new releases for book club because we all try to library but you’re really tempting me.

    Reply
  4. Susie | Novel Visits says

    September 7, 2018 at 9:52 pm

    I JUST finished, Foe and had to come read your review. I agree with Sarah that you nailed it! Though I actually liked I’m Thinking of Ending Things more, I thought Foe was a really interesting/creepy story on so many levels. I was also fascinated with the writing. Did you notice how he switched up the way he was using quotation marks at the very end (at Terrance’s final visit)? It made me think that perhaps the real Hen had been replaced.

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      September 9, 2018 at 8:45 pm

      You’re the second person to recommend his debut so I’ll make sure to read it when I hit backlist books towards the end of the year!

      I definitely think his stylistic choices were clues in the novel. Which made me love it even more when I first noticed it!

      Reply
  5. mrshallbergAndrea says

    September 7, 2018 at 11:54 pm

    Ooooh! This sounds really intriguing- I hadn’t heard about it, thanks for the heads up!

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      September 9, 2018 at 8:46 pm

      It is such a quick read, you should try it. I love that he went far beyond the creepy sci-fi, dystopic feeling into the very real aspects of marriage.

      Reply
  6. Renee (Itsbooktalk) says

    September 8, 2018 at 5:47 am

    I wasn’t as interested in the science fiction aspect of this but I like what you said about the marriage angle and the subtle tension. I’ve got this on my library holds list so I’ll be sure to suggest it for my book club

    Reply
    • Catherine says

      September 9, 2018 at 8:48 pm

      I think you and your book club would like it because, really, the sci-fi is somewhat subtle. It’s about technology that we’re all aware of so doesn’t seem that far out there. And their lives are very basic- he works in a grain mill. The fact that it is all so basic is one of the things that makes it so creepy!

      Reply
  7. susan says

    September 11, 2018 at 3:00 pm

    Wow you sold me on this one. I’ll have to check it out. thx for the tip. both his debut and this one are now on my list.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter

Save time and subscribe via email

No time to keep checking for new reviews? Enter your email address to subscribe and receive notifications of new posts by email. No spam!

Currently Reading

Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
Burnout: The Secret to Unlocking the Stress Cycle
by Emily Nagoski
The Dutch House
The Dutch House
by Ann Patchett
Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me
Wild Game: My Mother, Her Lover, and Me
by Adrienne Brodeur

goodreads.com

Affiliate Disclosure

I’m an affiliate for Indiebound and Amazon. If you click on a link that takes you to any of these sites and make a purchase I’ll earn a small fee, which goes towards the costs of maintaining this site. Your support is appreciated. Thank you!

Archives

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 United States License.

Theme Design By Studio Mommy · Copyright © 2021

Copyright © 2021 · Beyond Madison Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in