Sea Now by Eva Meijer - A Review
Sea Now by Eva Meijer: A Novel of Disaster and Identity
This book is a novel about the consequences of climate change if we leave it unchecked (spoiler alert: we will!)
Set in Netherlands, Sea Now tells the story of the country, notoriously flat and slightly below sea level, succumbing to the North Sea in a sudden rising of the tide in the near future. Told in two parts, the first detailing the quick flooding of the country and the second a journey based, I feel, on the Odyssey.
The tale, at least the first part, is told in a quite nonchalant style, often witty as the inhabitants of Netherlands, along with their quite inept government, at first try to ignore the issue, then attempt to build dykes which seem to be as effective as King Canute. Finally, admitting defeat, the whole country leaves to make their way to other countries (an ironic reversal of the immigration "crisis" the Right Wing in Netherlands harp on about in current times.) Whilst the first part is quite funny in places, Meijer does rug pull quite often with a sudden death or an action you just don't expect.
The second part is a tale of three young women(a scientist, an activist and a teenage girl) who take a boat and sail back into the country, each person searching for something they've lost in the flood and meeting strangers who have stayed behind along the way. It reminded me of the Odyssey mixed with Waterworld, which is, in itself, a nod to Homer. The ending is quick and blunt, but somehow fitting.
The tale, at least the first part, is told in a quite nonchalant style, often witty as the inhabitants of Netherlands, along with their quite inept government, at first try to ignore the issue, then attempt to build dykes which seem to be as effective as King Canute. Finally, admitting defeat, the whole country leaves to make their way to other countries (an ironic reversal of the immigration "crisis" the Right Wing in Netherlands harp on about in current times.) Whilst the first part is quite funny in places, Meijer does rug pull quite often with a sudden death or an action you just don't expect.
The second part is a tale of three young women(a scientist, an activist and a teenage girl) who take a boat and sail back into the country, each person searching for something they've lost in the flood and meeting strangers who have stayed behind along the way. It reminded me of the Odyssey mixed with Waterworld, which is, in itself, a nod to Homer. The ending is quick and blunt, but somehow fitting.
Comments
Post a Comment