Another excited reviewer of Delirium. This one by Irene @the.cluttered.bookcase
https://www.instagram.com/the.cluttered.bookcase/
July 20, 2023
What do you do when society collapses at the tail-end of a global pandemic? The answer for Anton Kratochvil is, of course, play the violin and chug brandy in the burning streets of Prague. At least they were cheerful tunes.
When Anton sees a doctor he knows in the distance being chased by an angry mob, his obligation to offer support in the form of what, at first, might to be not much more than physical proximity, takes him on a journey through a country where society has collapsed, in search of a safe haven based on at best hear say, possibly on hallucinations. Does that safe haven exist at all, and how safe will it actually turn out to be?
Delirium is not an easy or a comfortable read. It hits a bit close to the bone, with our own pandemic and some very early, albeit mild symptoms of societal collapse still very fresh in our memories.
The language of the book, although eloquently written, is reflective of the fraught nature of the plot, so again, not an easy page turner and as such it might not appeal to all. The story is set in the Czech Republic, with characters bearing Czech names. This further adds to the otherness and detachment that the story creates, I’m sure intentionally, for better or worse.
Upside: ‘the Last of Us’ vibes of a post-pandemic society and human nature, as the possibile dawn of society. Topical. Consistent characters and interesting dialogue. Well described, vivid settings.
Downside: a rather long initial section of the book introduces many characters, whom we don’t immediately get to know in great depth. Aside from creating some confusion, I felt that this added to the sense of detachment. This might have been the point, but for me personally made the story a bit harder to engage with.
In summary, Delirium is one to pick up if you like gritty, slow- burn dystopian novels, centered around those left behind, and a reflection on human nature and society. Probably not a beach read, best savoured on dark Winter evenings.
I recently saw someone refer to certain types of books as ‘palate cleansers’. With that in mind, I would think of Delirium probably more like a Cabernet Sauvignon. But if you’re a fan of dystopian fiction and you’re looking for a thought provoking read rather than one to binge in half a day, this will hit the spot.
For full disclosure, this review is provided as part of the Bookstagram Tour and I was gifted the paperback edition.
Available at:
Alexander Fisher 