Elizabeth Stead Review The Chrysalids by John Wyndham Iâd had this on my shelf for a couple of years, a reward of a past relationship that, if Iâm being honest I had kept entirely out of spite, I didnât want to give it back but I couldnât bear to throw away a book either. The chrysalids (American title- re-birth) is from science fiction author John Wyndham, itâs his only coming of age tale and also the only story thatâs set far into the future. Whilst it is markedly different to his other novels, including The Kraken wakes and perhaps most famously Day of the Triffids it is said to be his best. As with most of Wyndhams popular novels, The Chrysalids was adapted for BBC radio in 1982 and again in 2012. It was later transformed and re-written for the stage by playwright David Harrower in 1999. As soon as I started reading I began to realise this was no ordinary book. The style of writing was different to anything I had read before; a strange but immensely enjoyable fusion of old and new styles of writing and it was all told from the perspective of a young boy. Seeing the world through a young boyâs eyes was not what I was expecting when I picked this up. From the very beginning the book envelopes you into a post apocalyptic world, full of religious zealots all ignorant and fearful of the world surrounding them, with the exception of few. Any slight differences must be eradicated; meaning a âfour legged chickenâ or child born with an extra toe âmust be disposed of. This is all due to the characters believing themselves to be living in the âtribulationâ. A biblical term referring to a short space of time in which those who believed in and followed God would be persecuted, ultimately resulting in the individualâs purification and strength. Our protagonist, David Strorm just so happens to be a little different to everyone around him. He has the power of telepathy. After meeting a girl with one extra toe who is soon sent away he realises how important it is to keep his own secret. As the reader you grow up with him and a group of children, also mind readers, who question the motives of the adults around them. Their strange abilities are down played in the story, the fact they can communicate without talking is completely understated despite this being their biggest threat, which could ultimately lead to their death. It becomes clear that the powers they each possess are the means of their escapism rather than the bulk of the narrative itself. This same nonchalant tone is applied to the relationship between two cousins planning on marriage. This isnât a story about a group of superhero like characters; rather it is a story of the underdog, the âdifferentâ child trying to both blend in and make his own way in life. As a reader you are totally immersed in the dialogue, you quickly connect with the children and feel a sort of affinity with them; I was left not wanting to put the book down. Itâs one of few books that left me thinking about the individual characters long after finishing it. In just 200 pages a lot is covered and it could easily be a lot longer, though this may just be wishful thinking. A short succinct and easily readable book thatâs hard if not impossible to put down. I couldnât recommend this enough, although perhaps if youâre a deeply religious person, this is not the book for you. An understated and in my humble opinion under appreciated and timeless classic, dealing with subject matter that still resonates today. Itâs a book that once finished will always stay with you.
stormborns
2087
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