Musings over Nothing: Book Review: The Sunlight Pilgrims

Call me a pessimist but I am still wary about the much talked about Doomsday or Apocalypse. I mean who wouldn't want a Hulk or Iron man to save our asses and since I know that it is not gonna happen I will want Constance from this book to be at my side. Apart from being fiery, no nonsense and resourceful she is completely Apocalypse prepared. Not only that she is getting her daughter trained as well. Oh have I not started my review yet? Oops here it goes!

When I received this book from Random House, I was in the middle of reading another book but I couldn't wait out to start this one. Thankfully, this was an e-book so spent my time burning my midnight oil over without being all guilty for a reading a book while another was already being read. But sadly the fervor to complete the book stopped then and here and it took about another ten more days to review. Fret not, I am with a review about The Sunlight Pilgrims: A Novel by Jenni Fagan.

Book Name: The Sunlight Pilgrims: A Novel

Author: Jenni Fagan

Genre: Fiction - Thriller

Characters: Constance, Stella, Dylan, Gunn, Vivienne, Barnacle

Disclaimer: I received this book from the Random House (publisher) free of cost in return for an honest review.

The story set in an 'end of the world' scenario is built around a mother Constance, her daughter Stella (who was her son until a short while ago) and Dylan a young man who has just moved into their neighbourhood. Dylan still grieving the death of his mom and his grandmother, leaves the Babylon movie theatre which was his world until now. He is attracted to Constance, a quirky cool mom who is frowned upon by their mini society for having been in just two relationships in the past 20 years. She is also very protective about her daughter/son Stella, who is being bullied by her former friends.

If you are on the lookout for a complete Doomsday SciFi, then this is not the book for you. Ice Age is a mere backdrop of this well spun story on humans and relationship. In fact, there are inconsistencies in the science and beliefs that we have about ice ages, but those flaws are ignorable for it has some eccentric and interesting characters that make up for it. The characters and the premise are absolutely off the world.

Even with the story moving at a glacial place and despite the fact that I couldn't relate much to the characters, the poetic writing made me sit through the 300 pages. It handles several difficult themes like coming of age, gender confusion, monogamy, Transgender issues, bullying etc that makes the end-of-the-world seem much less important, intentionally or otherwise.

Bottomline: Read this book if you are interested in the themes like gender confusion, monogamy, Transgender issues, bullying, ignore the slow pace and indulge yourselves in the depth of the writing.