Individutopia is a novel set in a neoliberal dystopia with Renee as the main character.
From the first page I knew I’d love this novel. I had a feeling that it would evoke emotion and re -awaken the radical in me.
And I was right because that is exactly what it did.
And it might just do the same for you;
Have you ever sat there and looked at what ‘society’ has become?
Ever wondered about the erosion of community?
Ever wondered how it all changed, where it all started?
Do you ever look around at people chained to their phones, not interacting with one another and think to yourself ‘where will this all end?’
I know I have. And if you have too, then this story is for you.
It creates a fictional future by combining features of the worst aspects of our present day with the building blocks of Thatchers vision of individualism and neoliberalism back in 1979.
With this, Joss Sheldon has created a neoliberal dystopian future.
It takes us on a journey that is so horribly unimaginable but scarily feels possible in some way.
It’s fiction. But it’s believable and it feels like a glimpse into the future.
When 1984 by George Orwell was released, I am pretty sure that most people at that time thought it was far fetched and could ‘never happen’. Yet here we are today with many features of the novel now part of our lives…. and then some!
I sympathised with the main character and the hopelessness of her situation. The way she is a slave to the system is portrayed so realistically.
While I lived through Renee’s plight, there were points where I felt compelled to shout “wake up and see what’s around you , break the mould, don’t be a slave to the system” but as I found myself willing Renee to do these things , I started to question myself too.
It struck a chord with me about living life to the fullest and I guarantee that if you read this it will with you too; because we are all Renee to some extent.
I did not want this story to end.
I grew attached to the main character. Her hopes, dreams and fears were easily identifiable.
It’s certainly thought provoking and it is one of those stories that will stay with me.
For me it was an epiphany in a book!
The book is on general release today. Read and enjoy this masterpiece and take a little bit of it away with you too.
Is this the modern day 1984? Read it and decide for yourself!
The Avenger 