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The Unknown Terrorist: A Novel
From the internationally acclaimed author of Gould’s Book of Fish comes an astonishing new novel, a riveting portrayal of a society driven by fear. What would you do if you turned on the television and saw you were the most wanted terrorist in the country? Gina Davies is about to find out when, after a night spent with an attractive stranger, she becomes a prime suspect in the investigation of an attempted terrorist attack. In The Unknown Terrorist, one of the most brilliant writers working in the English language today turns his attention to the most timely of subjects - what our leaders tell us about the threats against us, and how we cope with living in fear. Chilling, impossible to put down, and all too familiar, The Unknown Terrorist is a relentless tour de force that paints a devastating picture of a contemporary society gone haywire, where the ceaseless drumbeat of terror alert levels, newsbreaks, and fear of the unknown pushes a nation ever closer to the breaking point.
335 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 2006
85 people are currently reading
1185 people want to read
About the author
Richard Flanagan
30 books1,660 followersRichard Flanagan (born 1961) is an author, historian and film director from Tasmania, Australia. He was president of the Tasmania University Union and a Rhodes Scholar. Each of his novels has attracted major praise. His first, Death of a River Guide (1994), was short-listed for the Miles Franklin Award, as were his next two, The Sound of One Hand Clapping (1997) and Gould's Book of Fish (2001). His earlier, non-fiction titles include books about the Gordon River, student issues, and the story of conman John Friedrich.
Two of his novels are set on the West Coast of Tasmania; where he lived in the township of Rosebery as a child. Death of a River Guide relates to the Franklin River, Gould's Book of Fish to the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, and The Sound of One Hand Clapping to the Hydro settlements in the Central Highlands of Tasmania.
Two of his novels are set on the West Coast of Tasmania; where he lived in the township of Rosebery as a child. Death of a River Guide relates to the Franklin River, Gould's Book of Fish to the Macquarie Harbour Penal Station, and The Sound of One Hand Clapping to the Hydro settlements in the Central Highlands of Tasmania.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 362 reviews
December 30, 2012
I'd like to report a case of identity theft.
Someone has taken the name of Richard Flanagan, the author of the brilliant Gould's Book of Fish and the very good Death of a River Guide and published a novel, pretending it to be by him. They even used his picture on the back flap. I'm actually a bit worried because the first sentence was so good it sounded like Flanagan actually wrote it:
The idea that love is not enough is a particularly painful one.
This led me to believe that the kidnappers found him at his laptop and rendered him incommunicado. I hope he's safe and that the Australian authorities have been notified.
What followed from that first sentence is dreadful. Made for TV shallow crap. Oh, Casting! Get me a TV journalist without a conscience. Get me a narcotics cop searching for truth. A stripper, please. Give her a female friend with a kid. Some mid-eastern guy with a line of coke. Make sure before every commercial break to pop up another coincidence to show how all these people are interrelated. Make sure everybody's favorite tune is Chopin's Nocturne in F minor. Like what else would a random taxi driver be playing?
I have no idea how Flanagan's kidnapper's thought they could pull this off and have anybody believe Flanagan could or would write such drivel. I only hope he's safe and will be able to write again.
Someone has taken the name of Richard Flanagan, the author of the brilliant Gould's Book of Fish and the very good Death of a River Guide and published a novel, pretending it to be by him. They even used his picture on the back flap. I'm actually a bit worried because the first sentence was so good it sounded like Flanagan actually wrote it:
The idea that love is not enough is a particularly painful one.
This led me to believe that the kidnappers found him at his laptop and rendered him incommunicado. I hope he's safe and that the Australian authorities have been notified.
What followed from that first sentence is dreadful. Made for TV shallow crap. Oh, Casting! Get me a TV journalist without a conscience. Get me a narcotics cop searching for truth. A stripper, please. Give her a female friend with a kid. Some mid-eastern guy with a line of coke. Make sure before every commercial break to pop up another coincidence to show how all these people are interrelated. Make sure everybody's favorite tune is Chopin's Nocturne in F minor. Like what else would a random taxi driver be playing?
I have no idea how Flanagan's kidnapper's thought they could pull this off and have anybody believe Flanagan could or would write such drivel. I only hope he's safe and will be able to write again.
September 15, 2025
Though art is mostly theft, larceny is no guarantee of worth. Whatever resonance this tale possesses, if any, must be rightfully attributed to those men and women who have created our own times.
As Shakespeare ----- who rarely created his own plots and so well quarried such sources as,
Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles wrote in Henry V:
"Wisdom cries out in the streets yet know man regards it."
- a most beautiful line from Proverbs.
Richard Flanagan
As Shakespeare ----- who rarely created his own plots and so well quarried such sources as,
Raphael Holinshed's Chronicles wrote in Henry V:
"Wisdom cries out in the streets yet know man regards it."
- a most beautiful line from Proverbs.
Richard Flanagan
January 3, 2011
A taut, fast-paced thriller that owes a huge and well-acknowledged debt to Böll's Katharina Blum. The similarities are obvious: both protagonists spend a night with an attractive stranger who turns out to be a wanted criminal, and then find themselves tried and sentenced by the unscrupulous media. Each of them ends by murdering the journalist they see as responsible for the destruction of their personality. The differences are interesting: Böll's novel is set in the time of the Red Army Faction, and pillories the populist 'Bild' newspaper, Flanagan is right up to date with the kind of hysterical response to the terrorist threat after 9/11, and has much to say about the role of fear in our Western societies. It's quite different to the other books I've read by Flanagan, but that doesn't detract from my enjoyment of it. I am full of admiration for a writer who does not stick to a winning formula but tries out a different genre, especially when it is so well executed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 17, 2014
This book is utterly unlike Richard Flanagan's other literary fiction novels. If this is the first and only book you have ever read by this Australian writer, don't make the mistake of dismissing him as a writer of polemic not-very-convincing thrillers. His other books, Death of a River Guide, Gould's Book of Fish and Wanting are brilliant, intriguing, complex novels that will reward every millisecond you put into reading them.
September 22, 2018
If you like polemics as well as bad American summer movies, this is the ideal book for you. I however, as a huge fan of Richard Flanagan, found this novel painfully disappointing for a variety of reasons. These flaws stood out much more starkly for me because after having read Gould's Book of Fish: A Novel in Twelve Fish,Death of a River Guide and The Sound of One Hand Clapping, I have proof that he should know better. I hate to think that anyone would read this, his fourth novel, and base their opinion of him on what is quite a departure in terms of subject matter as well as quality. That first one, Gould's, is not just good. It's One Hundred Years of Solitude good.
But this. This is an angry book, and I think he let it get the better of him. While he attempts to keep the narrative voice to a terse noir-ish cool, occasionally he loses control. One particularly over-the-top example is when some media elites are living their swimming pool and Mercedes lifestyles, building a life of luxury and privilege on lies and sensationalism while riling up the public with fear and hatred. Flanagan starts speaking for them in a wildly unself-conscious "We" as they brag (to whom?) about how deliciously decadent they are in terms so bald even outright sociopaths would cringe and look for euphemisms. It was Flanagan inserting himself with embarrassing obtrusiveness to render a scene that was not only unnecessary to the plot but was redundant thematically, pounding away at a point even the densest reader would have gotten many pages ago.
Occasionally, however, when he gets carried away it is campy fun. For example, The Doll (the stripper who is mistaken for a terrorist) concocts an act where she appears onstage to twangy Middle Eastern music shrouded in the head-to-toe black of a chadoor with conveniently removable panels that she teasingly unlaces (?!) while her ever-more-naked flesh is crossed with the flickering loops and slashes of Arabic script that is being flashed on her body with a projector. Whoa. Settle down, dude.
At the heart of the book is a coincidence of such jaw-dropping, head-slapping brazenness that is so insulting to the reader I almost felt like putting that spoiler at the very top of this review as revenge.
Despite all this, I'm still a fan and would encourage anyone to Read Richard Flanagan; just not this one.
But this. This is an angry book, and I think he let it get the better of him. While he attempts to keep the narrative voice to a terse noir-ish cool, occasionally he loses control. One particularly over-the-top example is when some media elites are living their swimming pool and Mercedes lifestyles, building a life of luxury and privilege on lies and sensationalism while riling up the public with fear and hatred. Flanagan starts speaking for them in a wildly unself-conscious "We" as they brag (to whom?) about how deliciously decadent they are in terms so bald even outright sociopaths would cringe and look for euphemisms. It was Flanagan inserting himself with embarrassing obtrusiveness to render a scene that was not only unnecessary to the plot but was redundant thematically, pounding away at a point even the densest reader would have gotten many pages ago.
Occasionally, however, when he gets carried away it is campy fun. For example, The Doll (the stripper who is mistaken for a terrorist) concocts an act where she appears onstage to twangy Middle Eastern music shrouded in the head-to-toe black of a chadoor with conveniently removable panels that she teasingly unlaces (?!) while her ever-more-naked flesh is crossed with the flickering loops and slashes of Arabic script that is being flashed on her body with a projector. Whoa. Settle down, dude.
At the heart of the book is a coincidence of such jaw-dropping, head-slapping brazenness that is so insulting to the reader I almost felt like putting that spoiler at the very top of this review as revenge.
Despite all this, I'm still a fan and would encourage anyone to Read Richard Flanagan; just not this one.
May 27, 2008
Gina Davies, or "The Doll", is a pole-dancer working in a club in King's Cross, Sydney. Her life is simple, she works to save money for her own apartment and has nearly $40,000 already. She has no interest in politics or any issues that don't directly relate to her.
On the night of the Mardi Gras, she bumps into a young man, Tariq, who, the day before, had saved the little son of her best friend, Wilder, from drowning at Bondi. He's attractive, and they start dancing before going back to his place. He tells her all about his boring job, they have a wild night, and in the morning he's gone.
The Doll leaves his building just before the police cars turn up, surrounding it. She thinks nothing of it. It's only later, when footage from the security cameras of her walking in with Tariq are all over the tv stations, that she freaks. The media quickly spin the story, turning it into a hunt for "the unknown terrorist" Gina Davies. Her life story is retold on the telly, and she is made out to be what they want her to be: a terrorist.
This is inspired by true stories of people being followed and shot by police because they were carrying a backpack, or of the PhD student who was interrogated after borrowing certain books from the university library for his thesis. It's not far-fetched. It's a story that starts in one place and then starts spinning out of control. It takes place over just 5 days, and the pace is quick, the writing style reflective, introspective, thoughtful and omnipresent. It picks you up and sweeps you along to the inevitable conclusion. It's timely, especially in light of the whole Maher Arar situation.
On the night of the Mardi Gras, she bumps into a young man, Tariq, who, the day before, had saved the little son of her best friend, Wilder, from drowning at Bondi. He's attractive, and they start dancing before going back to his place. He tells her all about his boring job, they have a wild night, and in the morning he's gone.
The Doll leaves his building just before the police cars turn up, surrounding it. She thinks nothing of it. It's only later, when footage from the security cameras of her walking in with Tariq are all over the tv stations, that she freaks. The media quickly spin the story, turning it into a hunt for "the unknown terrorist" Gina Davies. Her life story is retold on the telly, and she is made out to be what they want her to be: a terrorist.
This is inspired by true stories of people being followed and shot by police because they were carrying a backpack, or of the PhD student who was interrogated after borrowing certain books from the university library for his thesis. It's not far-fetched. It's a story that starts in one place and then starts spinning out of control. It takes place over just 5 days, and the pace is quick, the writing style reflective, introspective, thoughtful and omnipresent. It picks you up and sweeps you along to the inevitable conclusion. It's timely, especially in light of the whole Maher Arar situation.
August 2, 2016
Ζούμε σε μια εποχη φόβους . Επίπλαστου ή αληθινού λιγη σημασια εχει . Μας αρέσει ο φόβος -τρεφόμαστε απο αυτόν -αλλα ποιο πολυ αρέσει ο φόβος μας σε αυτους που τον δημιουργούν και που συνεχίζουν να τον τρέφουν .
Αν σκεφτούμε για λιγο ποσο αληθινές ειναι; Ιι αλήθειες που μας σερβίρουν- σαν ζεστό καλομαγειρεμένο φαγητο -ίσως τρομάξουμε περισσότερο : με την αφέλεια , την τυφλή εμπιστοσηνη , την ανάγκη μας για ασφάλεια . Εχουμε μπει σε μια εποχη που " φοβόμαστε να μην φοβηθούμε" , αλλα γουστάρουμε τον φόβο . Και επειδη ζούμε σε μια δυτική καπιταλιστική κοινωνία -που ολα ειναι για πούλημα και ολα αγοράζονται -μας πουλάνε ο,τι γουστάρουμε : φόβο , τρόμο και έναν Αποδιοπομπαίο τράγο .
Για ολα αυτα μιλάει αυτο το βιβλιο . Και για την αγαπη -μίσος -αγαπη ( που ειναι και δεν ειναι αρκετή ) .
Λεει επισης πως ολα τα μεγάλα τερατώδη, προπαγανδιστικά ψέματα ξεκινάνε απο έναν κόκο αλήθειας . Αντανακλά απόλυτα την εποχη μας και γι'αυτο αξίζει πρώτα απ'ολ να διαβαστεί .
Αν σκεφτούμε για λιγο ποσο αληθινές ειναι; Ιι αλήθειες που μας σερβίρουν- σαν ζεστό καλομαγειρεμένο φαγητο -ίσως τρομάξουμε περισσότερο : με την αφέλεια , την τυφλή εμπιστοσηνη , την ανάγκη μας για ασφάλεια . Εχουμε μπει σε μια εποχη που " φοβόμαστε να μην φοβηθούμε" , αλλα γουστάρουμε τον φόβο . Και επειδη ζούμε σε μια δυτική καπιταλιστική κοινωνία -που ολα ειναι για πούλημα και ολα αγοράζονται -μας πουλάνε ο,τι γουστάρουμε : φόβο , τρόμο και έναν Αποδιοπομπαίο τράγο .
Για ολα αυτα μιλάει αυτο το βιβλιο . Και για την αγαπη -μίσος -αγαπη ( που ειναι και δεν ειναι αρκετή ) .
Λεει επισης πως ολα τα μεγάλα τερατώδη, προπαγανδιστικά ψέματα ξεκινάνε απο έναν κόκο αλήθειας . Αντανακλά απόλυτα την εποχη μας και γι'αυτο αξίζει πρώτα απ'ολ να διαβαστεί .
February 15, 2018
„Tańczcie. Już czas, żebyśmy wszyscy wrócili do tańca”.
3.5/5
Przede wszystkim: Jeśli chcecie przeczytać „Nieznaną terrorystkę” to tylko przy nokturnie f-moll Chopina.
To nie jest typowa dla Flanagana książka, ale to, co uwielbiam w jego twórczości się nie zmienia: brutalna szczerość w ukazywaniu świata, brak strachu przed poruszaniem tematów tabu, a przy tym wręcz nieznośna lekkość pióra.
I potrafi w ostatnich zdaniach całkowicie zmienić wymiar książki.
3.5/5
Przede wszystkim: Jeśli chcecie przeczytać „Nieznaną terrorystkę” to tylko przy nokturnie f-moll Chopina.
To nie jest typowa dla Flanagana książka, ale to, co uwielbiam w jego twórczości się nie zmienia: brutalna szczerość w ukazywaniu świata, brak strachu przed poruszaniem tematów tabu, a przy tym wręcz nieznośna lekkość pióra.
I potrafi w ostatnich zdaniach całkowicie zmienić wymiar książki.
February 18, 2008
The cover art and the description of the book on the back cover are, unfortunately, the best part of this book. The author seems to want to make the point that people are sheep who enjoy being terrorized and who willingly submit themselves to manipulation by the government and mass media to that end.
To make that point (which was, even by WW2, utterly a cliche), the author relies on lofty sounding phrases that are utterly empty and two dimensional characters, none of whom are sympathetic. I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated as I read, because the lack of strong editing meant that the author repeatedly (as in, about every 30-40 pages) using the construction, "All of a sudden, she realized that everything was X. And so it seemed to her it had always been. But the more she thought about X, the less true it seemed that everything was X."
Plutarch made the point thousands of years ago that one of the best ways to unify a people is against a common enemy, even if you have to create one. If that's thematically appealing to you, avoid this book and read Plutarch instead.
To make that point (which was, even by WW2, utterly a cliche), the author relies on lofty sounding phrases that are utterly empty and two dimensional characters, none of whom are sympathetic. I found myself becoming increasingly frustrated as I read, because the lack of strong editing meant that the author repeatedly (as in, about every 30-40 pages) using the construction, "All of a sudden, she realized that everything was X. And so it seemed to her it had always been. But the more she thought about X, the less true it seemed that everything was X."
Plutarch made the point thousands of years ago that one of the best ways to unify a people is against a common enemy, even if you have to create one. If that's thematically appealing to you, avoid this book and read Plutarch instead.
October 23, 2010
Flanagan states the thesis of this novel--for it is a novel in service of an idea--right up front: "The idea that love is not enough is a particularly painful one. In the face of its truth, humanity has for centuries tried to discover in itself evidence that love is the greatest force on earth."
I thought The Unknown Terrorist was terrific, but not at first. It was more than just well-written. Flanagan is a dynamite writer, but it seemed to me it was all set up perfectly and it was clear what would happen. True enough. Then about half way through, having left the book idle for weeks on the bedstand, I picked it up again and suddenly couldn't stop. True enough it played out as I expected (and it turns out Flanagan says he took the plot from The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll) but the text and the commentary on trust and truth and love in our culture was phenomenal. Far more powerful than any political tract.
The main character is "the Doll" or "Krystal", a pole dancer at a gentleman's club called The Chairman's Lounge in Sydney. Her real name is Gina Davies. She's in her 20ies, living a completely materialistic life dressed in designer clothes, eschewing banks and stashing cash to the amount of nearly $50,000 for a down payment on a apartment. She's chosen to exploit her body because she can make real money and buy some respect--more than she got of either at a call center. One night she meets the handsome Tariq at a Carnival and spends an passionate night with him.
At the same time Richard Cody, aging TV anchorman in danger of being eclipsed, recognizes her in a surveillance photo with Tariq who's become a suspect in a failed stadium bombing that has scared the population and made it necessary for the perpetrator to be caught and punished. Cody recognizes her because she snubbed him outside The Chairman's Lounge. As security and news and government personnel seek to find the would-be terrorist, they latch onto Tariq largely because he's disappeared, though they later find he's been in and out of Pakistan (where he has relatives and where he's gone to collect drugs). Richard Cody identifies Gina in the photo and decides to consider her an "accomplice" to the "terrorist". As the authorities pull out all the stops to find her, Cody plans a TV exclusive that will show the government at work to catch the dangerous terrorists--and fast. He ignores the possibility that Gina--and even Tariq--might be innocent.
When Tariq's body turns up in a trunk, Gina becomes "the terrorist" and a likely murderer as well. By that time the government, the security services, and Cody and his TV network have too much at stake to care about the truth. After all a programmer cum low-level drug dealer and a pole dancer are just the sorts you want to accuse of being "homegrown terrorists" if you have to accuse anyone--and of course they do in order to ally public fears and remain in control.
As she flees, the reader learns more and more about Gina, both why her background makes her the perfect "fall guy" and why she is afraid to try and clear her name by going to the police.
I've read two others by Flanagan: Gould's Book of Fish and Wanting, both of which I liked and both of which were rich in the kind of cultural observation that really makes sense to me, but neither with the sheer power and single-mindedness of this one. I'm not saying that makes it a better novel, but it makes it maybe the best political argument I've read in a long time. I will recommend that everyone read it.
I thought The Unknown Terrorist was terrific, but not at first. It was more than just well-written. Flanagan is a dynamite writer, but it seemed to me it was all set up perfectly and it was clear what would happen. True enough. Then about half way through, having left the book idle for weeks on the bedstand, I picked it up again and suddenly couldn't stop. True enough it played out as I expected (and it turns out Flanagan says he took the plot from The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum by Heinrich Böll) but the text and the commentary on trust and truth and love in our culture was phenomenal. Far more powerful than any political tract.
The main character is "the Doll" or "Krystal", a pole dancer at a gentleman's club called The Chairman's Lounge in Sydney. Her real name is Gina Davies. She's in her 20ies, living a completely materialistic life dressed in designer clothes, eschewing banks and stashing cash to the amount of nearly $50,000 for a down payment on a apartment. She's chosen to exploit her body because she can make real money and buy some respect--more than she got of either at a call center. One night she meets the handsome Tariq at a Carnival and spends an passionate night with him.
At the same time Richard Cody, aging TV anchorman in danger of being eclipsed, recognizes her in a surveillance photo with Tariq who's become a suspect in a failed stadium bombing that has scared the population and made it necessary for the perpetrator to be caught and punished. Cody recognizes her because she snubbed him outside The Chairman's Lounge. As security and news and government personnel seek to find the would-be terrorist, they latch onto Tariq largely because he's disappeared, though they later find he's been in and out of Pakistan (where he has relatives and where he's gone to collect drugs). Richard Cody identifies Gina in the photo and decides to consider her an "accomplice" to the "terrorist". As the authorities pull out all the stops to find her, Cody plans a TV exclusive that will show the government at work to catch the dangerous terrorists--and fast. He ignores the possibility that Gina--and even Tariq--might be innocent.
When Tariq's body turns up in a trunk, Gina becomes "the terrorist" and a likely murderer as well. By that time the government, the security services, and Cody and his TV network have too much at stake to care about the truth. After all a programmer cum low-level drug dealer and a pole dancer are just the sorts you want to accuse of being "homegrown terrorists" if you have to accuse anyone--and of course they do in order to ally public fears and remain in control.
As she flees, the reader learns more and more about Gina, both why her background makes her the perfect "fall guy" and why she is afraid to try and clear her name by going to the police.
I've read two others by Flanagan: Gould's Book of Fish and Wanting, both of which I liked and both of which were rich in the kind of cultural observation that really makes sense to me, but neither with the sheer power and single-mindedness of this one. I'm not saying that makes it a better novel, but it makes it maybe the best political argument I've read in a long time. I will recommend that everyone read it.
January 4, 2014
I hope Flanagan isn't going in this thriller direction again. Really miss his previous style. The one saving grace was that it forced me to listen to Chopin's Nocturnes.
29/11/2013 1 0f 20 books for $10 the lot
29/11/2013 1 0f 20 books for $10 the lot
January 29, 2015
Και επίκαιρο και καφκικό και πολιτικό θρίλερ και καταιγιστικό και στοχαστικό, κάποιες φορές ρέπει προς τη φλυαρία και λίγο (πολύ λίγο) προς τον εύκολο διδακτισμό, ωστόσο είναι σχεδόν αριστούργημα.
January 9, 2018
A solid three star book about a stripper who gets tangled up with a suspected terrorist, therefore becoming a suspect herself. The writing is fairly good, the dialogue lacks in parts, and sometimes the plot is a bit too far-fetched for my liking, but Flanagan delivers nonetheless an enjoyable read.
Note: This is my 900th shelved book on Goodreads.
Note: This is my 900th shelved book on Goodreads.
April 3, 2024
Although it is very different in tone and style and subject matter, my experience reading this book reminded me a little of how I recently felt reading "An Arsonist's Guide to Writers' Homes in New England". The narrator of that book did one stupid thing after another and the reader was supposed to accept these actions as reasonable because the character is described/defined as a bumbler. In real life of course people do not fall quite so neatly into such categories. Someone may bumble most of the time in certain areas but navigate smoothly through other sets of circumstances. As Chris Rock noted in one of his comedy routines when describing his political leanings - "I have some things that I'm conservative about, and some things that I'm liberal about". Nobody is always liberal or always conservative or always a bumbler, though it is true that some people act a certain way far more often than not. The "title" character of The Unknown Terrorist is a fairly complex one with a well fleshed out background, and the story line is fueled by much bigger ideas than the comical Arsonist book. But I couldn't shake the feeling as I sped through its pages that the actions of pivotal characters were specifically intended to promote strong opinions held by the author and nothing but. He wanted to make certain points about politics and the media and about how easily the sheep like masses can be led to a prefabricated conclusion. If at any point one of the major characters in this reasonably well written book responded to incidents in a way that I personally believe would have been more realistic, the book would completely fall apart because little else was holding it in place. The wrongfully accused woman needs to be so paranoid from the get go (her drug use helped in this regard) and distrustful of authority that the only thing she can think to do is run and hide even before she's really being chased. The decision makers in the media need to be so obsessed about breaking a big story that not only does truth become irrelevant, but so does having supporting evidence of any kind. The author is OBVIOUSLY cynical about our post 9/11 world, and anyone who does not have their head shoved deeply in the sand can recognize why this might be so, but I found myself torn between wanting to follow the story line to where it was blatantly leading and wanting the characters to break free of the author's plot machinations and act in a common sense manner that would likely clear matters up within a few pages of text. Despite such frustration with plausibility, this was definitely a gripping and smooth flowing read.
July 6, 2021
Looking through the Goodreads reviews this seems to be quite a divisive book. I have a big literary crush on Richard Flanagan but haven't always enjoyed his novels (Death of a River Guide and First Person were not among my favourites) but I really enjoyed this book. While the idea of a stripper in Sydney waking up one day to find she has been accused of terrorism may seem far fetched, the intelligent look into the post-9/11 fear-driven media and shock jocks on talkback radio actually make this quite plausible. As someone who was in her 20s at the time, I remember seeing similar headlines, the racially driven stories on mainstream current affairs programs, and hearing everyday people say things I never expected, because we were scared. It was interesting this book was dedicated to David Hicks and Terry Hicks is thanked in the acknowledgements - I would have loved to have been a fly on the wall for some of those conversations which no doubt inspired this story in part. Flanagan also portrays Sydney very well, in my view, and I especially found his descriptions of the stifling heat accurate. It is obvious from the mixed reviews this book is not for everyone. I found it to be very engaging and thought provoking.
April 30, 2024
Als moderne australische Schwester von Katharina Blum bewegt sich „Die unbekannte Terroristin“ durch ein in jeder Hinsicht verkommenes Sydney. Ein bitter schmeckender Politthriller, der wenig Tröstliches bietet. Der Roman ist als beißende Medien- und Gesellschaftskritik vielleicht etwas überdreht. Aber Richard Flanagan erweist sich an vielen Stellen als literarisch virtuos. Und ein interessantes literarisches Spiel mit der Erzählung von Heinrich Böll ist er nebenbei auch noch.
Einiges über die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede lest Ihr in der ausführlichen Rezension in meinem Blog:
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Einiges über die Gemeinsamkeiten und Unterschiede lest Ihr in der ausführlichen Rezension in meinem Blog:
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July 10, 2019
This took a while to get going, but certainly packed a punch within a second half of impressive tension. The story follows a lap dancer in Sydney, and how her life begins to unravel after she has a one night stand with a man linked with Islamic terrorism.
It’s an interesting slant in the frequent subject of ‘ordinary person caught in a series of unfortunate circumstances that bring them under threat’, but one which chooses more to satirise the media, the public, the authorities than to just use this trope as a framework upon which to hang a thrilling adventure.
This isn’t to say I was completely convinced - amongst a lot of really good characterisation there were some mis-steps, amongst the plot some slightly unconvincing coincidences - but it certainly was affecting in describing the brutality of inhumanity. Not quite as impressive as ‘The Narrow Road...’ as to me I felt more alienated from the characters, but certainly worth reading.
It’s an interesting slant in the frequent subject of ‘ordinary person caught in a series of unfortunate circumstances that bring them under threat’, but one which chooses more to satirise the media, the public, the authorities than to just use this trope as a framework upon which to hang a thrilling adventure.
This isn’t to say I was completely convinced - amongst a lot of really good characterisation there were some mis-steps, amongst the plot some slightly unconvincing coincidences - but it certainly was affecting in describing the brutality of inhumanity. Not quite as impressive as ‘The Narrow Road...’ as to me I felt more alienated from the characters, but certainly worth reading.
August 15, 2016
The story captivates because the irony and hopelessness of Gina Davies's (aka the Doll) situation escalates over a couple of days. She is unable to rebut her slanderers or to find help without risk. Listeners to and readers of the media are relieved that the authorities find their man and woman. Her solution to the spreading evil lies about her entire life is solved by her just as she meets her own final doom from the misfired gun of a potential helper. Her face the populace associates with their fears. The story opens the possibility that she could have been anyone unconnected. Like a toy doll, she serves the fantasies of others. The novel is pessimistically critical about the human condition but is optimistically hopeful about the possibility of raised consciousness. The motivations of media and socially powerful influences are cynical, i.e., are not spared a good word. Like the Doll, consumers of material goods are manipulated into purchases, unlimited gain, and debt. Slanted news stories did not emerge in the 21st century; the spread of falsehoods about unknown or strange others did not begin then either; and the tragic, independent character with a messy problem goes back to the Greek classics. Those perennial elements of literature in this novel are set in contemporary, Antipodean life and are written about in the plotted, fast-paced style of a thriller genre. Few if any escape censure in this novel, neither those passive in overwhelming circumstances nor those deceitful in responsible office.
December 29, 2016
Macht bloss nicht den Fehler, diesen Roman als ersten von Richard Flanagan zu lesen. Der Autor ist nämlich wirklich talentiert und hat eine gute Hand für ergreifende Geschichten und eine tolle Sprache. Doch leider kam ihm bei diesem Thriller-Versuch beides Abhanden. "Die unbekannte Terroristin" wirkt über viele Seiten wie ein billiger Versuch, ein brisantes Thema vorschnell abzuhandeln und mit einem bekannten Schriftstellernamen rasches Geld zu machen.
Sicherlich, Flanagan versteht es auch hier, spannende Gedanken und prägnante Aussagen in seine Abschnitte einzuflechten. Doch leider verliert sich der Autor zwischen billig ausgearbeiteten Figuren, unlogisch erscheinenden Wendungen und extremen Plattitüden. Das Thema des Terrorismus und vor allem des Missbrauchs dieser Angst durch Medien und Politik ist ein aktuelles und wichtiges - doch in "Die unbekannte Terroristin" verliert man sich als Leser zwischen genau so effekthascherischen Aussagen von der Gegenseite. Für jede gelungene Aussage trifft man auf eine strunzdumme, für jeden nachdenklichen Moment erhält man einen sinnleeren.
Jeder Autor greift mal daneben - hier tut es aber doppelt so weh, weil man von einem Menschen wie Richard Flanagan umso mehr auf eine tiefgehende und mitreissende Perspektive des Themas gehofft hatte. Und bitte, seine Hauptfigur während des gesamten Buches "Puppe" zu nennen ist einfach nur schrecklich zu lesen - egal welche weiteren Bedeutungen diese Entscheidung trägt.
Sicherlich, Flanagan versteht es auch hier, spannende Gedanken und prägnante Aussagen in seine Abschnitte einzuflechten. Doch leider verliert sich der Autor zwischen billig ausgearbeiteten Figuren, unlogisch erscheinenden Wendungen und extremen Plattitüden. Das Thema des Terrorismus und vor allem des Missbrauchs dieser Angst durch Medien und Politik ist ein aktuelles und wichtiges - doch in "Die unbekannte Terroristin" verliert man sich als Leser zwischen genau so effekthascherischen Aussagen von der Gegenseite. Für jede gelungene Aussage trifft man auf eine strunzdumme, für jeden nachdenklichen Moment erhält man einen sinnleeren.
Jeder Autor greift mal daneben - hier tut es aber doppelt so weh, weil man von einem Menschen wie Richard Flanagan umso mehr auf eine tiefgehende und mitreissende Perspektive des Themas gehofft hatte. Und bitte, seine Hauptfigur während des gesamten Buches "Puppe" zu nennen ist einfach nur schrecklich zu lesen - egal welche weiteren Bedeutungen diese Entscheidung trägt.
July 8, 2008
This sounded like an interesting book, but I hate the way it's written. Does the author refer to each character by first AND last name EVERY TIME? Throughout the ENTIRE book?! My god, there's nothing that irritates me quicker.
An annoying example to share:
"Then he turned to Richard Cody and told him that exciting things were afoot at Six....He waited for Richard Cody to say something, and so Richard Cody said something, but it was like telling Jerry Mendes he didn't smoke, for Richard Cody knew whatever he said at this point was irrelevant."
Where did this guy learn to write?
I should've realized when it said on the cover that it "deserves to win Flanagan the sort of readership enjoyed by Don Delillo..." I should have put it down. I hated Delillo's "Falling Man" also.
In my opinion, this book sucks. There aren't very many books that I'll give up on after less than 30 pages, but this is one of them.
An annoying example to share:
"Then he turned to Richard Cody and told him that exciting things were afoot at Six....He waited for Richard Cody to say something, and so Richard Cody said something, but it was like telling Jerry Mendes he didn't smoke, for Richard Cody knew whatever he said at this point was irrelevant."
Where did this guy learn to write?
I should've realized when it said on the cover that it "deserves to win Flanagan the sort of readership enjoyed by Don Delillo..." I should have put it down. I hated Delillo's "Falling Man" also.
In my opinion, this book sucks. There aren't very many books that I'll give up on after less than 30 pages, but this is one of them.
February 11, 2023
Richard Flanagan's writing never fails to move me. This is not an easy read, but a powerful one.
Ratings:
Writing 5
Story line 4
Characters 4
Impact 5
Overall rating 4.5
Ratings:
Writing 5
Story line 4
Characters 4
Impact 5
Overall rating 4.5
August 10, 2022
Μια εξαιρετική σπουδή του Φλάναγκαν πάνω στο δόγμα "η αγάπη δεν είναι ποτέ αρκετή αλλά είναι το μόνο που έχουμε". Πρόκειται κατ' ουσίαν για τη συμβολή του Αυστραλού συγγραφέα στη συζήτηση περί του κόσμου μετά την 11η Σεπτεμβρίου. Επιλέγει ως σκηνικό την Αυστραλία όχι φυσικά γιατί είναι η πατρίδα του αλλά γιατί η χώρα αυτή έχει από νωρίς επιδείξει δυσανεξία στους παραβατικούς ξένους. Μια άγνωστη τρομοκράτισσα, που τελικά δεν ήταν καν αυτό, φέρνει την κοινωνία στα όρια της παράκρουσης. Ο ρόλος των δημοσιογράφων, ο ρόλος των Κυβερνητικών Αρχών, ο ρόλος του χρήματος και τα πλοκάμια της διαφθοράς, όλα μπαίνουν κάτω από το μικροσκόπιο του Φλάναγκαν που καταπλήσσει με το θάρρος και την οξυδέρκειά του. Παρ' ότι το βιβλίο έχει τη δομή και το στήσιμο αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος εν τούτοις δεν χάνει στιγμή την προσήλωση στο στόχο του που δεν είναι άλλος από τη διερεύνηση της τρομοκρατίας με όρους κοινωνικοπολιτικούς. Προσπαθεί ν' αποδείξει, κατά τη γνώμη μου με επιτυχία ότι "το φόβο που προκύπτει από μια τρομοκρατική απειλή τον χρειάζονται οι άνθρωποι γιατί έτσι νιώθουν ότι οι ίδιοι βρίσκονται στο σωστό δρόμο". Πραγματικά στιβαρή διαπραγμάτευση των σοβαρών θεμάτων με τα οποία καταπιάστηκε κι όλα αυτά μέσα στη δομή ενός αστυνομικού μυθιστορήματος. Τολμώ να πω ότι με το βιβλίο του αυτό ο Φλάναγκαν χλευάζει το Αστυνομικό μυθιστόρημα. Οι φίλοι του λογοτεχνικού αυτού είδους αξίζει να το διαβάσουν κι υπό αυτό το πρίσμα.
November 5, 2018
Już czytałam tą historię w książce „Utracona cześć Katarzyny Blum”. Tam miała trochę więcej sensu.
Tutaj bohaterka w – z niewyjaśnionych powodów – chaotyczny sposób przemieszcza się po Sydney, w którym bogacze żyją wygodnie w enklawach, mniejszości, imigranci i słabi – wiodą smutne życia bezradnych ofiar a wszyscy pomiędzy, zamiast zmartwić się losem tych z dołu, desperacko próbują dostać się na szczyt. I mogłaby to być ciekawa powieść obyczajowa, ale jest, co jest – średni thriller.
Nie znalazłam w fabule logicznego wyjaśnienia powodów, dla których bohaterka – niby stripteaserka, ale już jedną nogą w klasie średniej – widząc, że wokół niej dzieją się rzeczy niewyjaśnione, zachowuje się jak Kowalski ze znikającego punktu. Nie jest też racjonalne wyjaśnione, dlaczego prawo obowiązujące w Australii ot tak sobie stało się totalitarne z dnia na dzień i nikt niczego nie zauważył. I czemu wystarczy w telewizji rzucić luźne podejrzenie, żeby postawić na nogi wszystkie australijskie służby porządkowe.
I tak sobie chodzą postacie, działając bez sensu, po świecie opisanym też trochę bez sensu. Ktoś do kogoś dzwoni, ktoś coś odkrywa, ktoś coś ukrywa, jakaś postać drugoplanowa ginie – i tak sobie leci to przez 296 stron.
Tutaj bohaterka w – z niewyjaśnionych powodów – chaotyczny sposób przemieszcza się po Sydney, w którym bogacze żyją wygodnie w enklawach, mniejszości, imigranci i słabi – wiodą smutne życia bezradnych ofiar a wszyscy pomiędzy, zamiast zmartwić się losem tych z dołu, desperacko próbują dostać się na szczyt. I mogłaby to być ciekawa powieść obyczajowa, ale jest, co jest – średni thriller.
Nie znalazłam w fabule logicznego wyjaśnienia powodów, dla których bohaterka – niby stripteaserka, ale już jedną nogą w klasie średniej – widząc, że wokół niej dzieją się rzeczy niewyjaśnione, zachowuje się jak Kowalski ze znikającego punktu. Nie jest też racjonalne wyjaśnione, dlaczego prawo obowiązujące w Australii ot tak sobie stało się totalitarne z dnia na dzień i nikt niczego nie zauważył. I czemu wystarczy w telewizji rzucić luźne podejrzenie, żeby postawić na nogi wszystkie australijskie służby porządkowe.
I tak sobie chodzą postacie, działając bez sensu, po świecie opisanym też trochę bez sensu. Ktoś do kogoś dzwoni, ktoś coś odkrywa, ktoś coś ukrywa, jakaś postać drugoplanowa ginie – i tak sobie leci to przez 296 stron.
September 12, 2011
It was interesting reading this at the moment given the almost voyeuristic overkill of the 9/11 anniversary.This is a highly political nobel, even a polemic, arguing that almost anyone can be turned into a 'terrorist' given our shock-jock media, two second sound bites and the loss of civil rights through anti-terrorism legislation. It's not the best writing in the world - Flanagan has adapted the thriller genre so none of the characters are fully formed and there are was too many coincidences. It's written in the kind of bitterness that these times seem to create. (Like going to a dinner party where everyone is depressed about the current government and there is no source of hope). Our bookclub discussed it - and the next day I read about the 50 new pieces of security legisation that had come into being in Australia post 9/11 - it's real. Alan Jones is real. Politicians distort events for their own ends. All real. It's just hard to get away with a novel that's so unrelenting in its anger. Interestingly, the topic that occupied us the longest was the one sex scene in the book. Very hard to talk about, sex, because it's so personal and what is one man's turn-on is definitely not for someone else. That became clear in the discussion. We were trying to think of examples of men writing well about sex (for women). I expect that we wouldn't necessarily agree even if we could think of some examples to start with. (Let me add though, that sex is definitely not central to the novel though the main chacater is a pole dancer.)
July 20, 2020
I felt compelled to write a review of this book because of all the loathing I am seeing against it. Now this is my first Flanagan so I cannot compare his writing style in this book to others but as someone reading the author for the first time I did not find the writing to be off-putting, lacking or inadequate in any way.
I thought the prose was quite compelling and honestly I felt there were subtle complexities woven within the story. Flanagan shows the balance between both the ugliness and beauty in people and society as a whole. Some of the characters may be just outright despicable others have both their unappealing moments with glimmers of redeeming qualities. None are perfect and granted few are entirely likable without deep flaws.
One thing I have observed is often books/authors that are heavily criticized tend to be books written by authors who heavily criticize the masses. While this book gives us glimpses of goodness, optimism, and hope it shines a very ugly (though I tend to think truthful) light on society.
Many people state that the themes and ideas of this book are outdated and cliche but the issues he addresses, predominately governments wanting to control through fear and the media sensationalizing the truth in order to stir up the bees in the hive our currently happening right now. I would say the book is far more poignant than it is dated.
I thought the prose was quite compelling and honestly I felt there were subtle complexities woven within the story. Flanagan shows the balance between both the ugliness and beauty in people and society as a whole. Some of the characters may be just outright despicable others have both their unappealing moments with glimmers of redeeming qualities. None are perfect and granted few are entirely likable without deep flaws.
One thing I have observed is often books/authors that are heavily criticized tend to be books written by authors who heavily criticize the masses. While this book gives us glimpses of goodness, optimism, and hope it shines a very ugly (though I tend to think truthful) light on society.
Many people state that the themes and ideas of this book are outdated and cliche but the issues he addresses, predominately governments wanting to control through fear and the media sensationalizing the truth in order to stir up the bees in the hive our currently happening right now. I would say the book is far more poignant than it is dated.
July 3, 2008
I had a hard time with this book. It started out rough.. got better...and then ended poorly. A young woman, who makes her living as a pole dancer in a gentleman's club, has a one night stand with a handsome stranger. This leads the authorities to believe that she is a terrorist. Instead of going to the police to explain the situation, she decides to go into hiding.
My problem with this novel was not her profession... or her lack of education...or the dark and depressing subject matter... my problem is that the main character seemed to to be driven, only by money, and not much else. I get that she probably needed to focus on something material, in order to get her through her grisly line of work, but when she was accused of being a terrorist... I didn't get that she was genuinely panicked over it. She just seemed to flit from one location to another.. perhaps it was her drug use. She seemed to be looking at things through a filter.
The book was at least 75 pages too long. It just went on and on and when the ending finally came, it was a total let down. There really wasn't any resolution (not in a traditional sense). I would not recommend this book to anyone and I won't be reading another Flanagan novel in the future.
My problem with this novel was not her profession... or her lack of education...or the dark and depressing subject matter... my problem is that the main character seemed to to be driven, only by money, and not much else. I get that she probably needed to focus on something material, in order to get her through her grisly line of work, but when she was accused of being a terrorist... I didn't get that she was genuinely panicked over it. She just seemed to flit from one location to another.. perhaps it was her drug use. She seemed to be looking at things through a filter.
The book was at least 75 pages too long. It just went on and on and when the ending finally came, it was a total let down. There really wasn't any resolution (not in a traditional sense). I would not recommend this book to anyone and I won't be reading another Flanagan novel in the future.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 31, 2009
To say that I was disappointed with this novel would be an understatement. After enjoying Flanagan's amazing Gould's Book of Fish I expected a similar performance. That did not occur and this novel is pedestrian at best. Although the basic outlines of this story come from Heinrich Böll’s novel “The Lost Honour of Katharina Blum,” written in response to the terrorism scares that Germany suffered in the late 1960s and ’70s, Mr. Flanagan has turned the story into a meditation upon the post-9/11 world, a globalized world in which fear is a valued commodity for terrorists and governments alike, a world in which rumors and misinformation circumnavigate the globe in the flash of an eye, and narratives replace facts and truths. While the plot was nicely paced the writing and characterization was barely adequate and his attempt at a message suffered as a result. I hope that Flanagan's next novel returns to the quality of his earlier work.
February 14, 2017
Even though this was written 10 years ago it feels even more relevant to our current political and social climate. A complete departure from Flanagan's other works, this is a thriller which exposes and challenges the intolerance, fear and corruption that has characterised Australian society since Bush's era of the war on terror. Really riveting and shocking how quickly things escalate when you are fed half truths or "alternative facts" by politicians and the media - highly recommended.
December 8, 2017
Always assured of a well researched good read with Flanagan and this is no exception.
This book chronicles a series of events that lands The Doll, a Sydney Kings Cross Poledancer, as a nation wide hunted suspect terrorist.
If you ever wondered how a smart young woman ends up working in a strip club, how the media influences our lives and how it effects us do read this captivating book. Read how The Doll is chased through life and meet the seedy side of Sydney.
Well worth the read!
This book chronicles a series of events that lands The Doll, a Sydney Kings Cross Poledancer, as a nation wide hunted suspect terrorist.
If you ever wondered how a smart young woman ends up working in a strip club, how the media influences our lives and how it effects us do read this captivating book. Read how The Doll is chased through life and meet the seedy side of Sydney.
Well worth the read!
November 22, 2020
Amazing. Flanagan had me from the first line right to the very last.
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