I found this a much deeper and far more nuanced story than I had been expecting from the publisher’s synopsis. In Nova, Kate and Tony the author created three fascinating characters and his depictions of their individual personalities and their complex interactions is, for the most part, psychologically credible. There are some lovely light moments in the development of the story, most of which are generated through Nova’s delightfully lively, and rather idiosyncratic attitude to life. However, there is an increasing tension and darkness as the story develops and although there were moments when it felt almost unbearable to continue reading, an investment in the fates of the two female characters provided a compelling impetus to stay with them as they struggled to adapt to their new circumstances. The author’s exploration of hidden abuse was both chilling and entirely convincing, as were his depictions of the growing intensity of the relationship between his two female characters and Tony’s obsessional behaviour .
As the title would suggest, central to this story is the theme of how we learn to see, a complex process which for sighted people begins at birth and develops naturally; it’s a skill we have no recollection of acquiring and so just take for granted. However, through Nova’s eyes the author takes us through what a complex and utterly confusing process this must be for person who acquires the sense of sight in adulthood. Nova makes up rules in order to explain, understand and assimilate the different shapes, dimensions, colours and objects she is now confronted with on a minute by minute basis; essentially it is like having to learn another new language. It is through her “rules” that Joe Heap enables his readers to recognise what an extraordinarily difficult, confusing and, at times frightening process this is; a process which is so firmly imprinted in most of us that we never have to give it a moment’s thought. On a lighter note, it is through these rules that some of Nova’s dry sense of humour leavens some of the more disturbing aspects of the story!
There are times when Nova is not convinced that being able to see is necessarily something positive; she asks herself whether she really wants to continue to strive for something which is not only such hard work, but which seems to be undermining the self-confidence she had when she was blind. With her usual frames of reference removed, the world feels a much more frightening place to negotiate, a place where she doesn’t understand any of the “rules” sighted people take for granted; consequently, she makes many mistakes in her interactions. Her reflection that she was experiencing her new vision as a malevolent parasite, “eating away at every part of her”, offered a powerful insight into the struggles she was facing.
An interesting parallel theme in the storytelling was the author’s exploration, through Kate’s story, that sighted people can be blind in a different way and, if they are to face up to what is “staring them in the face”, they will have to start to see the world in a different way and be prepared to take the necessary risks to change their behaviour. The fact that both Nova and Kate were facing similar fears, even though the origins were so different, allowed the author to explore the power of a mutually supportive friendship, as well as the fluctuating nature of such a relationship as it follows people’s changing needs and expectations.
It sounds rather clichéd to say that having read this story I will never again take my sight for granted, but Nova’s “Rules of Seeing” and the power of Joe Heap’s writing have made me appreciate, in a much more conscious way, what a fascinating process the acquisition of sight is. I think this is a remarkable debut novel and I await his next story with interest.
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
As the title would suggest, central to this story is the theme of how we learn to see, a complex process which for sighted people begins at birth and develops naturally; it’s a skill we have no recollection of acquiring and so just take for granted. However, through Nova’s eyes the author takes us through what a complex and utterly confusing process this must be for person who acquires the sense of sight in adulthood. Nova makes up rules in order to explain, understand and assimilate the different shapes, dimensions, colours and objects she is now confronted with on a minute by minute basis; essentially it is like having to learn another new language. It is through her “rules” that Joe Heap enables his readers to recognise what an extraordinarily difficult, confusing and, at times frightening process this is; a process which is so firmly imprinted in most of us that we never have to give it a moment’s thought. On a lighter note, it is through these rules that some of Nova’s dry sense of humour leavens some of the more disturbing aspects of the story!
There are times when Nova is not convinced that being able to see is necessarily something positive; she asks herself whether she really wants to continue to strive for something which is not only such hard work, but which seems to be undermining the self-confidence she had when she was blind. With her usual frames of reference removed, the world feels a much more frightening place to negotiate, a place where she doesn’t understand any of the “rules” sighted people take for granted; consequently, she makes many mistakes in her interactions. Her reflection that she was experiencing her new vision as a malevolent parasite, “eating away at every part of her”, offered a powerful insight into the struggles she was facing.
An interesting parallel theme in the storytelling was the author’s exploration, through Kate’s story, that sighted people can be blind in a different way and, if they are to face up to what is “staring them in the face”, they will have to start to see the world in a different way and be prepared to take the necessary risks to change their behaviour. The fact that both Nova and Kate were facing similar fears, even though the origins were so different, allowed the author to explore the power of a mutually supportive friendship, as well as the fluctuating nature of such a relationship as it follows people’s changing needs and expectations.
It sounds rather clichéd to say that having read this story I will never again take my sight for granted, but Nova’s “Rules of Seeing” and the power of Joe Heap’s writing have made me appreciate, in a much more conscious way, what a fascinating process the acquisition of sight is. I think this is a remarkable debut novel and I await his next story with interest.
With thanks to the publisher and Readers First for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.