What do you think?
Rate this book
The Rabbit Club
The author of Black Chalk, "the smart summer thriller you've been waiting for" (NPR), returns with a mesmerizing new novel of dark academia about a dangerous secret society at Oxford University and the first-year literature student whose life begins to unravel in its shadow
When Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old from Los Angeles, is accepted at Oxford, it’s a chance to fulfill his dreams. To study English literature in England; to meet true intellectuals; and to glimpse the life he might have lived had his father—British rock star Gel McCain, legendary frontman of the Pale Fires—not abandoned him and his mother when he was a toddler.
But not long after he arrives at the storied campus, Ali is drawn into a dark, disorienting world where events grow more and more curious by the day. Trading on his father’s name, he gains entry into one of Oxford’s oldest and most selective secret societies, the Saracens. As he immerses himself in this rarefied world, he inadvertently sets in motion a series of events that might culminate in disaster.
A mind-bending literary house of mirrors, replete with bookish allusions and Easter eggs ranging from Brideshead Revisited to King Lear, The Rabbit Club is an arresting work of dark academia by the category’s finest writer.
When Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old from Los Angeles, is accepted at Oxford, it’s a chance to fulfill his dreams. To study English literature in England; to meet true intellectuals; and to glimpse the life he might have lived had his father—British rock star Gel McCain, legendary frontman of the Pale Fires—not abandoned him and his mother when he was a toddler.
But not long after he arrives at the storied campus, Ali is drawn into a dark, disorienting world where events grow more and more curious by the day. Trading on his father’s name, he gains entry into one of Oxford’s oldest and most selective secret societies, the Saracens. As he immerses himself in this rarefied world, he inadvertently sets in motion a series of events that might culminate in disaster.
A mind-bending literary house of mirrors, replete with bookish allusions and Easter eggs ranging from Brideshead Revisited to King Lear, The Rabbit Club is an arresting work of dark academia by the category’s finest writer.
352 pages, Hardcover
First published July 8, 2025
161 people are currently reading
10703 people want to read
About the author
Christopher J. Yates
5 books440 followersChristopher J. Yates was born and raised in Kent and studied law at Oxford University before working as a puzzle editor in London. He now lives in New York City with his wife and dog.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
July 7, 2025
Ali McCain is an 18 year old American, recently enrolled in Oxford. He develops a group of friends, some of whom have secrets that will lead to their possible downfall (or great success). Ali is a vulnerable boy trying to reconcile with the rock star father who abandoned him. He is perhaps too eager to join one of Oxford’s exclusive clubs.
This was my third time reading this author, and I have enjoyed all three books. There are a lot of literary references in this book, but they aren’t hidden like Easter eggs. The author tells you the exact source of each quote or reference, so this isn’t a literary puzzle. However, it’s a puzzle of a different sort, and the twist really did take me by surprise. The book dragged at times, and one character was a little too obviously up to no good. I think the plot was believable and it came together convincingly at the end. All three narrators of the audiobook did an excellent job.
I received free copies of the ebook and audiobook from the publisher.
This was my third time reading this author, and I have enjoyed all three books. There are a lot of literary references in this book, but they aren’t hidden like Easter eggs. The author tells you the exact source of each quote or reference, so this isn’t a literary puzzle. However, it’s a puzzle of a different sort, and the twist really did take me by surprise. The book dragged at times, and one character was a little too obviously up to no good. I think the plot was believable and it came together convincingly at the end. All three narrators of the audiobook did an excellent job.
I received free copies of the ebook and audiobook from the publisher.
September 16, 2025
2 stars. I started this in July, and at 71% I was still feeling a disconnect on audio. After sitting the book aside, I resumed it today to finish it up - again on audio. The storyline went over my head and I felt no real connection to the characters. I just couldn’t get into it. Am seeing many positive reviews, but alas, this was not for me. 🎧 Pub. 7/8/25
Thanks to Harlequin Audio via NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
Thanks to Harlequin Audio via NetGalley for the ALC. All opinions are my own.
November 20, 2025
“One learns how to command by learning how to obey.”
Good fun! Lots of allusions, doubles, and rabbit hats. A fast listen and especially impressed with the audio sections narrated by Will Watt.
(Warning: do not read if you don’t want spoilers for Brideshead Revisited; you’ll also probably enjoy it more if you’ve already read Pale Fire and King Lear)
Good fun! Lots of allusions, doubles, and rabbit hats. A fast listen and especially impressed with the audio sections narrated by Will Watt.
(Warning: do not read if you don’t want spoilers for Brideshead Revisited; you’ll also probably enjoy it more if you’ve already read Pale Fire and King Lear)
January 21, 2025
very the-secret-history ish but with its own great and wonderful twist. i’m excited to see how others think of it
September 21, 2025
I was expecting a tale of "daddy doesn't love me" and instead found something much darker and complex; infinity more intriguing. I was honestly shocked at the twist of this story- stick with it, the end is worth it.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Yates, and Harlequin audio for my copy of this audiobook.
thank you to NetGalley, the author Christopher Yates, and Harlequin audio for my copy of this audiobook.
September 7, 2025
I’ll admit I had very little idea what was going on for most of this and I think that was the intention. To avoid spoilers, I’ll just suggest readers stick it out and tolerate the changing writing styles. I do think the turn was a bit unrealistic and wish that had been more developed, but it was a new and surprising literary style.
April 25, 2025
4.5
Down the rabbit hole of dark academia set in Oxford. As Alistair enters the world he craves, reality begins to blur. His ambition to join the secret society could end it all. With clever references to classic literature, Yates has masterfully created a house of mirrors. If you think you have solved the puzzle, think again.
Thanks to Harper Collins for an early copy.
Down the rabbit hole of dark academia set in Oxford. As Alistair enters the world he craves, reality begins to blur. His ambition to join the secret society could end it all. With clever references to classic literature, Yates has masterfully created a house of mirrors. If you think you have solved the puzzle, think again.
Thanks to Harper Collins for an early copy.
July 26, 2025
Maybe I'm just dumb but this book was terrible
August 12, 2025
This was solid. I liked the sprinklings of overlap with Black Chalk. The characters felt a little overdone & therefore didn’t resonate with me as much as I would have liked. The prose felt clunky. The twist was… a bit unbelievable. I loved the setting & vibes throughout the entire book. If it’s set at a school, I will be reading it!
September 13, 2025
This book was maddening. I was promised a secret history-esque story and it was only that by broad strokes. It feels as though the author wrote 1000 pages and then cut out all of the action, characterization, anything the reader would have fun reading. All that was left was plot points and the internal dialogue in between. There was so so much I was hoping to see, and we saw none of it. All the elements were there, but fuck all was done with them. So disappointing. Also spoilers ahead.
The twist revealing who our 2019 narrator actually is was a surprise, and the 1994 passages serving as a reminder to him did make sense as to why those Oxford passages read as video game dialogue. Like, of course the perspective would be limited and jump around doing that one step forward two steps back rhythm Yates seems to like because this is all being derived from his journal, but is that really how you want your reader to consume a story? That was a majority of the story and was not conducive to an enjoyable reading experience. Like why didn’t anyone question Viktor’s absence? Later, Izzy’s? Ali’s trip with T-bone and lack of communication with his mom? Emma just on the sidelines the whole story until the end? Everyone felt cartoonish and one dimensional.
I would have LOVED to see the nitty gritty between Ali and William, the depravity, the extreme lengths each was willing to go, master and his dog, and yet we saw none of it. Yates pulled every single punch, I was just blue balled for 350 pages. I think this story would have been much more successful simply rooted in the 1994 narrative in Ali’s POV. Although it was clear to me that William’s game (spoiler!!) of tricking Ali into doing increasingly horrible things in the name of proving himself to the Saracens was all that, a game in which there was no possibility Ali would ever be able to join the Saracens, I think it would have been more impactful to read from Ali’s POV in real time. I feel crazy, like we barely got to know any of these characters. I loved William, loved how weird he was, loved the way he treated Ali when it was just the two of them. Was getting romantic undertones really, it’s such a shame that wasn’t explored at all!
This book was just not for me. I understand that these were all lit students and Emma, in hopes of coaxing Ali from William Goodwin’s mental shadowed corner, packed as many references to Brideshead Revisited, Pale Fire, and other works as possible, but I found it really exhausting. Like a fifteen year old who had just read a few classics and was suddenly “inspired.” I’m sure it will work for many, just not for me. I would much rather read or reread the works being referenced.
Ali’s father being an English rock legend was fun but it confuses me what function it gives to the story. Was it so Ali straddled two lives, one being a normal American life, raised by a single mom, second having a rockstar dad to will supply him with money and resources when needed? On its face and in practice, it was a very fun element. But after reading the entirety of Act III, I’m just asking myself why? And he was just going to kill William at the end there with the help of cartoonish henchman Edmund but thought better of it.. huh???
I’m just so bummed! All the bones of a good story were here but the execution was just not at all what I wanted. It was complicated, twisty, and deceptive just for the sake of being so. The passages in Prof William Goodwin’s perspectives were tiresome. I also really despise stories that reveal something and then end a few pages later. All was revealed and… for what? So lame.
The twist revealing who our 2019 narrator actually is was a surprise, and the 1994 passages serving as a reminder to him did make sense as to why those Oxford passages read as video game dialogue. Like, of course the perspective would be limited and jump around doing that one step forward two steps back rhythm Yates seems to like because this is all being derived from his journal, but is that really how you want your reader to consume a story? That was a majority of the story and was not conducive to an enjoyable reading experience. Like why didn’t anyone question Viktor’s absence? Later, Izzy’s? Ali’s trip with T-bone and lack of communication with his mom? Emma just on the sidelines the whole story until the end? Everyone felt cartoonish and one dimensional.
I would have LOVED to see the nitty gritty between Ali and William, the depravity, the extreme lengths each was willing to go, master and his dog, and yet we saw none of it. Yates pulled every single punch, I was just blue balled for 350 pages. I think this story would have been much more successful simply rooted in the 1994 narrative in Ali’s POV. Although it was clear to me that William’s game (spoiler!!) of tricking Ali into doing increasingly horrible things in the name of proving himself to the Saracens was all that, a game in which there was no possibility Ali would ever be able to join the Saracens, I think it would have been more impactful to read from Ali’s POV in real time. I feel crazy, like we barely got to know any of these characters. I loved William, loved how weird he was, loved the way he treated Ali when it was just the two of them. Was getting romantic undertones really, it’s such a shame that wasn’t explored at all!
This book was just not for me. I understand that these were all lit students and Emma, in hopes of coaxing Ali from William Goodwin’s mental shadowed corner, packed as many references to Brideshead Revisited, Pale Fire, and other works as possible, but I found it really exhausting. Like a fifteen year old who had just read a few classics and was suddenly “inspired.” I’m sure it will work for many, just not for me. I would much rather read or reread the works being referenced.
Ali’s father being an English rock legend was fun but it confuses me what function it gives to the story. Was it so Ali straddled two lives, one being a normal American life, raised by a single mom, second having a rockstar dad to will supply him with money and resources when needed? On its face and in practice, it was a very fun element. But after reading the entirety of Act III, I’m just asking myself why? And he was just going to kill William at the end there with the help of cartoonish henchman Edmund but thought better of it.. huh???
I’m just so bummed! All the bones of a good story were here but the execution was just not at all what I wanted. It was complicated, twisty, and deceptive just for the sake of being so. The passages in Prof William Goodwin’s perspectives were tiresome. I also really despise stories that reveal something and then end a few pages later. All was revealed and… for what? So lame.
October 7, 2025
3.5 stars I loved the premise of this book amd enjoy a dark academia setting. This book had tons of potential and I loved the premise but I'm not clear on how it ended which frustrates the heck out of me. Perhaps the reader can interpret their own ending but the ambiguity was a negative aspect for me.
July 7, 2025
3.25 stars
Thank you to The Hive for an ARC
This was interesting with a good twist at the end but wasn't at all the book I was expecting. It almost feels like it was trying to do too many things and didn't execute any very well. I will say it's a very unique dark academia book but I wish this just focused on the secret society itself more. That's really all I can say without spoiling and I'm still very conflicted on how I feel about this.
Thank you to The Hive for an ARC
This was interesting with a good twist at the end but wasn't at all the book I was expecting. It almost feels like it was trying to do too many things and didn't execute any very well. I will say it's a very unique dark academia book but I wish this just focused on the secret society itself more. That's really all I can say without spoiling and I'm still very conflicted on how I feel about this.
October 31, 2025
I just couldn't get into the book. It was meh 🙈✨️
August 28, 2025
I have a lot to say. This review will be spoiler-free at first, but to make my points clear there will be a clearly marked spoiler section as well.
First off, my low rating is not to say I didn't like this book. I actually enjoyed reading it immensely, it's just not a very well executed book, imo.
I definitely called every single twist, but that's not a bad thing.
Where this book initially shines is definitely with its main (and some of the side) characters. The mc is likeable, his backstory interesting, and the cast of characters he meets at Oxford are an interesting bunch as well. Although I have my complaints with characterization in the later parts of the novel.
Another thing I really liked was the *idea*. Elite universities, secret clubs, themes of power, addiction and social class - it's all really my cup of tea. Sadly tough, the entire book felt like a second draft. Definitely more polished than a first, just not the final version that gets printed. Early on this shows in paragraphs that feel like they could've been tightened up, weird and unnatural bits of dialogue, unclear progression of time, but as the book goes on it becomes clear that something is deeply wrong structurally.
The entirety of "Act II" could've been deleted and just told to us by the characters via dialogue. It felt very much like the writer explaing the plot to his novel to someone at the pub.
The three act structure just didn't work. The dual timelines of Act 1 make for a suspenseful read, then we get a nothing chapter, followed by Act III, which reads like it wants to be a 2000s action movie pre-finale montage.
Another thing that irked me immensely was the many missed opportunitied for great scenes and bonding between the characters. While I mentioned earlier that I initially liked the way the characters were introduced, there wasn't much done with them, maybe with the exception of Ali and his dad. It felt like the auther was scared to write the deeper scenes. (Examples in the spoiler section).
My final point is that Yates failed to live up to the themes he set for his own story. We're told the 6½ fact over and over and over, yet the entire ending of the book hinges on the mc wielding his inherited power and influence.
Which could have been done well, I guess. It just wasn't.
SPOILERS AHEAD --- !!!
Missed opportunities/nonsensical plot points:
- The mc never calls home - we never witness an actual conversation between him and his mom in the entire book. There's never any fallout or apologies after he flat out refuses to see them on Christmas.
- When the first tutorial takes places, Yates refuses to let us in the room with the characters. Sure, we get Ali tell us about some aspects in retrospect, but that's not the same. I wanna be IN there! This is why we're here, no?
- Viktor, whom I really liked, just ... disappears. No one reacts to it, no one tries to find anything out about it.
- Ali and T-Bone go on a two-week Europe trip and - nothing. We don't get to witness any deep conversations, any awkwardness or arguments or anything that could make me as a reader feel anything.
- Guy's funeral is completely skipped over. How does Izzy even react to it? We get TOLD Ali feels guilty or whatever, but does he? I certainly couldn't feel it.
- Speaking of Guy, Ali SAVES HIM FROM A RIVER!! Do we get to be there? No, we're told about some of it in retrospect.
- Then, in Act III, we see Emma go on vacation through Italy with Ali. It's insinuated they're dating now (at least that's how I read it) but uhhh why? We never see a single piece of dialogue between them after Ali comes back to himself.
- William Goodwin fires a pistol at a very important dinner with all the faculty there and there's no consequences to speak of, in fact, HE makes the call to retire?
- Fr that ending?? Using his daddies money and palace in venice to do blackmail and potentially carry out a hit, like, what? It's that easy now?
First off, my low rating is not to say I didn't like this book. I actually enjoyed reading it immensely, it's just not a very well executed book, imo.
I definitely called every single twist, but that's not a bad thing.
Where this book initially shines is definitely with its main (and some of the side) characters. The mc is likeable, his backstory interesting, and the cast of characters he meets at Oxford are an interesting bunch as well. Although I have my complaints with characterization in the later parts of the novel.
Another thing I really liked was the *idea*. Elite universities, secret clubs, themes of power, addiction and social class - it's all really my cup of tea. Sadly tough, the entire book felt like a second draft. Definitely more polished than a first, just not the final version that gets printed. Early on this shows in paragraphs that feel like they could've been tightened up, weird and unnatural bits of dialogue, unclear progression of time, but as the book goes on it becomes clear that something is deeply wrong structurally.
The entirety of "Act II" could've been deleted and just told to us by the characters via dialogue. It felt very much like the writer explaing the plot to his novel to someone at the pub.
The three act structure just didn't work. The dual timelines of Act 1 make for a suspenseful read, then we get a nothing chapter, followed by Act III, which reads like it wants to be a 2000s action movie pre-finale montage.
Another thing that irked me immensely was the many missed opportunitied for great scenes and bonding between the characters. While I mentioned earlier that I initially liked the way the characters were introduced, there wasn't much done with them, maybe with the exception of Ali and his dad. It felt like the auther was scared to write the deeper scenes. (Examples in the spoiler section).
My final point is that Yates failed to live up to the themes he set for his own story. We're told the 6½ fact over and over and over, yet the entire ending of the book hinges on the mc wielding his inherited power and influence.
Which could have been done well, I guess. It just wasn't.
SPOILERS AHEAD --- !!!
Missed opportunities/nonsensical plot points:
- The mc never calls home - we never witness an actual conversation between him and his mom in the entire book. There's never any fallout or apologies after he flat out refuses to see them on Christmas.
- When the first tutorial takes places, Yates refuses to let us in the room with the characters. Sure, we get Ali tell us about some aspects in retrospect, but that's not the same. I wanna be IN there! This is why we're here, no?
- Viktor, whom I really liked, just ... disappears. No one reacts to it, no one tries to find anything out about it.
- Ali and T-Bone go on a two-week Europe trip and - nothing. We don't get to witness any deep conversations, any awkwardness or arguments or anything that could make me as a reader feel anything.
- Guy's funeral is completely skipped over. How does Izzy even react to it? We get TOLD Ali feels guilty or whatever, but does he? I certainly couldn't feel it.
- Speaking of Guy, Ali SAVES HIM FROM A RIVER!! Do we get to be there? No, we're told about some of it in retrospect.
- Then, in Act III, we see Emma go on vacation through Italy with Ali. It's insinuated they're dating now (at least that's how I read it) but uhhh why? We never see a single piece of dialogue between them after Ali comes back to himself.
- William Goodwin fires a pistol at a very important dinner with all the faculty there and there's no consequences to speak of, in fact, HE makes the call to retire?
- Fr that ending?? Using his daddies money and palace in venice to do blackmail and potentially carry out a hit, like, what? It's that easy now?
July 19, 2025
More campus thriller than dark academia, but a delight to read all the same.
I was a little worried that this would be just like Black Chalk (which I enjoyed, for the record), but it’s actually very different both in tone and plot, and I loved what an original spin this was on the typical academic mystery/thriller.
In some ways this is both a spoof of and a tribute to The Secret History, Brideshead Revisited, and maybe King Lear, and while that kind of stuff makes me nervous in theory, it’s so well done here and blends so nicely into the original narrative.
I loved Yates’ use of tone to convey meaning, and I loved how truly atmospheric this was and how well it exhibits strong sense of place.
The story itself is fun and is probably more poignant in message than in execution, but it’s no less enjoyable because of that. The ending is a bit on the bonkers side and that feels slightly out of step with the rest of the narrative, but it does add up in a way, and it’s satisfying if beggaring belief a bit.
In all, an excellent read if you love a campus setting and the sociocontextual examination of elite universities.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
I was a little worried that this would be just like Black Chalk (which I enjoyed, for the record), but it’s actually very different both in tone and plot, and I loved what an original spin this was on the typical academic mystery/thriller.
In some ways this is both a spoof of and a tribute to The Secret History, Brideshead Revisited, and maybe King Lear, and while that kind of stuff makes me nervous in theory, it’s so well done here and blends so nicely into the original narrative.
I loved Yates’ use of tone to convey meaning, and I loved how truly atmospheric this was and how well it exhibits strong sense of place.
The story itself is fun and is probably more poignant in message than in execution, but it’s no less enjoyable because of that. The ending is a bit on the bonkers side and that feels slightly out of step with the rest of the narrative, but it does add up in a way, and it’s satisfying if beggaring belief a bit.
In all, an excellent read if you love a campus setting and the sociocontextual examination of elite universities.
*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*
July 13, 2025
Well, I was certainly NOT expecting THAT!!!
OK... to be honest, I was cruising through this for the most part... a little uncomfortable with the 90's college boys trying to be men, and the games that were played... as well as the illegitimate son angle... but, I was game, and kept listening… and WOW! Most of this seemed to come out of nowhere!!!
Ali (Alistair) is a young man who was basically abandoned by his rock star father when he was just a baby. His Dad never once looked back, or made any attempts to get in touch with him. So, of course, as he is getting ready to go to college, he decides that NOW would be a good time to seek out Dad. And so it begins!
BUT, that is just ONE ANGLE of this crazy affair of a book!
There are so many more!!!
Ali falls for a girl, who may or may not be what she seems.
Ali gets involved in a group of boys/men who also do not appear to be what they are.
Ali gets picked on from the moment he arrives in England (from California), relentlessly...by a chosen few.
Ali also gets picked on and basically abused by one of his mentors at school.
But, alas... ALL is NOT as it seems, and in Acts II and III, well, the tables kind of turn!!!
And that is all I am saying on this one!
My mouth was agape!! Several times!! Like, flies could have gathered there!! 😮😮😫😫
But in the end, all is kind-of taken care of. At least I think it is/was!🤞🏼
This one casts many tales, or spells, or themes... alluding to Shakespeare many times over... as well as to rock bands and songs, and so much more.
And, LOOK at that cover… it reeks of old world charm, money, England… and more!
#TheRabbitClub by @ChristopherJYates and narrated beautifully by @JeremyArthur, @WillWatt and @ImogenChurch.
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫for me, happily rounded up to 5!
*** If this sounds like something that might intrigue you, well, keep your eyes 👀 open!! It comes out tomorrow, July 8, 2025!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
OK... to be honest, I was cruising through this for the most part... a little uncomfortable with the 90's college boys trying to be men, and the games that were played... as well as the illegitimate son angle... but, I was game, and kept listening… and WOW! Most of this seemed to come out of nowhere!!!
Ali (Alistair) is a young man who was basically abandoned by his rock star father when he was just a baby. His Dad never once looked back, or made any attempts to get in touch with him. So, of course, as he is getting ready to go to college, he decides that NOW would be a good time to seek out Dad. And so it begins!
BUT, that is just ONE ANGLE of this crazy affair of a book!
There are so many more!!!
Ali falls for a girl, who may or may not be what she seems.
Ali gets involved in a group of boys/men who also do not appear to be what they are.
Ali gets picked on from the moment he arrives in England (from California), relentlessly...by a chosen few.
Ali also gets picked on and basically abused by one of his mentors at school.
But, alas... ALL is NOT as it seems, and in Acts II and III, well, the tables kind of turn!!!
And that is all I am saying on this one!
My mouth was agape!! Several times!! Like, flies could have gathered there!! 😮😮😫😫
But in the end, all is kind-of taken care of. At least I think it is/was!🤞🏼
This one casts many tales, or spells, or themes... alluding to Shakespeare many times over... as well as to rock bands and songs, and so much more.
And, LOOK at that cover… it reeks of old world charm, money, England… and more!
#TheRabbitClub by @ChristopherJYates and narrated beautifully by @JeremyArthur, @WillWatt and @ImogenChurch.
4 1/2 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 💫for me, happily rounded up to 5!
*** If this sounds like something that might intrigue you, well, keep your eyes 👀 open!! It comes out tomorrow, July 8, 2025!! ***
Thanks so much to #NetGalley and #HarlequinAudio for an ARC of the audiobook, in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
April 16, 2025
Thank you to HTP Books/Hanover Square Press for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of The Rabbit Club through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
At the age of eighteen Allistair McCain is leaving Los Angeles behind, after he's been accepted to attend Oxford University. It's been his dream to study Literature in England, and have the opportunity to meet intellectuals at the university. He is also hoping to initiate a relationship with his legendary rock star father, Gerry McCain, who abandoned Ali and his mother, when Ali was a toddler. As Ali navigates his way through his new life, he longs to be a part of one of Oxford's oldest secret societies, using his father's fame as a way to gain entry. But Ali's desire to be accepted among the rich and elite of the Saracens sets a dangerous game in motion, that Ali could have never expected.
The Rabbit Club is a satisfying dark academia story, with a young, naive Ali entertaining a world of wealth and nepotism. His initial optimism is a great balance to the darker side of the story, and it made him a lovable character right from the start. Even though Yates is building the story toward tragedy, I was rooting for Ali throughout the book.
There are a lot of literature references in the book, and Ali is a big fan of Shakespeare. I enjoyed the fact that Yates used that as a connection between Ali and his father. I found that their relationship gave a lot of heart to the story, and I just loved the over the top eccentric personality of Gerry (Gel). Yates also uses a lot of references to Alice in Wonderland, and I thought it worked well with the darker themes in the book, especially paralleling with Ali's determination to be accepted into the Saracens.
I did find the pacing of the book to be a bit slow, and I think it missed the opportunity to build up the suspense and tension in the story. Some of the dark academia feel got buried, for me, under overly-wordy dialogue and long stretches of things that were happening that I felt didn't add much to the story. There are two alternating POVs in the book, and while I did initially enjoy the mystery of the chapters from William Goodwin, I felt they eventually became a bit repetitive.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story at the heart of The Rabbit Club, and I would recommend it if you love secret societies, university life, questionable characters, and the machinations of those in powerful positions.
At the age of eighteen Allistair McCain is leaving Los Angeles behind, after he's been accepted to attend Oxford University. It's been his dream to study Literature in England, and have the opportunity to meet intellectuals at the university. He is also hoping to initiate a relationship with his legendary rock star father, Gerry McCain, who abandoned Ali and his mother, when Ali was a toddler. As Ali navigates his way through his new life, he longs to be a part of one of Oxford's oldest secret societies, using his father's fame as a way to gain entry. But Ali's desire to be accepted among the rich and elite of the Saracens sets a dangerous game in motion, that Ali could have never expected.
The Rabbit Club is a satisfying dark academia story, with a young, naive Ali entertaining a world of wealth and nepotism. His initial optimism is a great balance to the darker side of the story, and it made him a lovable character right from the start. Even though Yates is building the story toward tragedy, I was rooting for Ali throughout the book.
There are a lot of literature references in the book, and Ali is a big fan of Shakespeare. I enjoyed the fact that Yates used that as a connection between Ali and his father. I found that their relationship gave a lot of heart to the story, and I just loved the over the top eccentric personality of Gerry (Gel). Yates also uses a lot of references to Alice in Wonderland, and I thought it worked well with the darker themes in the book, especially paralleling with Ali's determination to be accepted into the Saracens.
I did find the pacing of the book to be a bit slow, and I think it missed the opportunity to build up the suspense and tension in the story. Some of the dark academia feel got buried, for me, under overly-wordy dialogue and long stretches of things that were happening that I felt didn't add much to the story. There are two alternating POVs in the book, and while I did initially enjoy the mystery of the chapters from William Goodwin, I felt they eventually became a bit repetitive.
Overall, I really enjoyed the story at the heart of The Rabbit Club, and I would recommend it if you love secret societies, university life, questionable characters, and the machinations of those in powerful positions.
July 28, 2025
storygraph 2.75.
audiobook was good—and the prose was probably ok?—but the plane just did not land on this one. the build-up was fun, if knowingly derivative, but the ending was very dissatisfying. unveiling and then quitting is so irksome!
audiobook was good—and the prose was probably ok?—but the plane just did not land on this one. the build-up was fun, if knowingly derivative, but the ending was very dissatisfying. unveiling and then quitting is so irksome!
August 10, 2025
Wildly predictable, yet bingeable.
September 14, 2025
Very fun dumbsmart dark academia romp
November 7, 2025
Twisty corridors of dark academia, whispered secrets, the fragile shaping of youth, betrayal—these are a few of my enduring fascinations. So when I heard Christopher J. Yates had a new novel, I could hardly wait. Black Chalk remains a favorite of mine, and Yates’s knack for psychological intricacy never disappoints.
In his latest, he melds King Lear with Alice in Wonderland—an inspired pairing—in a tale centered on Ali, a half-American student studying Literature at Oxford in the 1990s, perhaps on the verge of reconciling with his estranged father, a faded rock legend. The pompous roommate, the smoky warmth of pub nights, the anxious search for belonging—all ring with a painful authenticity. So too does Ali’s uneasy dance between a self-important professor, the tender first threads of love, and the pressures of scholarship.
But what elevates this novel is the framing: a modern-day analysis of Ali’s story by a priggish American professor whose grip on sanity begins to slip.
Ali’s arrival at Oxford marks a return to the country of his birth, yet it feels like another world entirely from Los Angeles. His famous father, long absent, remains both wound and lure. Ali’s idealism—his trust, his hope—pulls him deep into something far stranger than he anticipates. I’ll refrain from spoilers, but suffice to say: the rabbit hole awaits. For those drawn to academic intrigue and the peculiar intensity of youth, this book holds its own dark allure.
Did I piece together what was happening before the final reveal? Eventually—but only just before Yates unveiled it himself. The narrative, told mainly through Ali and the enigmatic William Goodwin, threads its clues through the text with quiet precision. You’ll think you’ve guessed the truth. You haven’t.
A deft, unsettling blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and dark academia—Yates proves again that few can write madness and mind games quite like he can.
In his latest, he melds King Lear with Alice in Wonderland—an inspired pairing—in a tale centered on Ali, a half-American student studying Literature at Oxford in the 1990s, perhaps on the verge of reconciling with his estranged father, a faded rock legend. The pompous roommate, the smoky warmth of pub nights, the anxious search for belonging—all ring with a painful authenticity. So too does Ali’s uneasy dance between a self-important professor, the tender first threads of love, and the pressures of scholarship.
But what elevates this novel is the framing: a modern-day analysis of Ali’s story by a priggish American professor whose grip on sanity begins to slip.
Ali’s arrival at Oxford marks a return to the country of his birth, yet it feels like another world entirely from Los Angeles. His famous father, long absent, remains both wound and lure. Ali’s idealism—his trust, his hope—pulls him deep into something far stranger than he anticipates. I’ll refrain from spoilers, but suffice to say: the rabbit hole awaits. For those drawn to academic intrigue and the peculiar intensity of youth, this book holds its own dark allure.
Did I piece together what was happening before the final reveal? Eventually—but only just before Yates unveiled it himself. The narrative, told mainly through Ali and the enigmatic William Goodwin, threads its clues through the text with quiet precision. You’ll think you’ve guessed the truth. You haven’t.
A deft, unsettling blend of mystery, psychological thriller, and dark academia—Yates proves again that few can write madness and mind games quite like he can.
July 16, 2025
4.25✨
Christopher J Yates presented me a real challenge. This piece starts off immensely slow until the introduction of a mystery narrator which was beautifully done. In 1994, our MMC Alistair takes on life at Oxford. I thought maybe the typical coming of age story. He moves to a new country, throws himself into academics and making new friends. All the while, the Saracans are lurking around every dark corner.
I will be extremely blunt that the first half is very difficult to navigate pace wise. Heavy emphasis on literary works which I was rather fond of. Almost feels like a love letter to literature. Then things begin to warp, twists come out of nowhere and I felt completely immersed in Ali’s story. The Rabbit Club was a labyrinth which I didn’t want to escape from. I fell in love with the story and became deeply invested in these unique characters.
Thank you to Christopher J. Yates, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press, and Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
Christopher J Yates presented me a real challenge. This piece starts off immensely slow until the introduction of a mystery narrator which was beautifully done. In 1994, our MMC Alistair takes on life at Oxford. I thought maybe the typical coming of age story. He moves to a new country, throws himself into academics and making new friends. All the while, the Saracans are lurking around every dark corner.
I will be extremely blunt that the first half is very difficult to navigate pace wise. Heavy emphasis on literary works which I was rather fond of. Almost feels like a love letter to literature. Then things begin to warp, twists come out of nowhere and I felt completely immersed in Ali’s story. The Rabbit Club was a labyrinth which I didn’t want to escape from. I fell in love with the story and became deeply invested in these unique characters.
Thank you to Christopher J. Yates, Harlequin Trade Publishing/Hanover Square Press, and Netgalley for providing me an advanced reader copy in exchange for my honest opinions.
September 14, 2025
I thought this book was absolutely incredible, every clue, every moment of foreshadowing was insane. I had so many hypotheses to how the book would end, and I was wrong in every aspect. I couldn’t predict a single thing and I love books like that. GIVE IT A READ!!! I fell in love with Ali and you will too.
July 29, 2025
Super good, got me out of a fiction reading slump. Beautifully descriptive language and well thought out characters. Plot was a teensy bit predictable but the setting was so vivid. it had me turning the page quickly just to see what happens next. Would recommend!
Read
June 17, 2025DNF at 25%. Nothing wrong, just wasn’t for me.
August 1, 2025
Mysterious Clubs x Dark Academia has always been one of my favorite tropes.
This was fine... *shrug*. The book did not really lean into either trope heavily enough in my opinion.
There are a billion Alice and wonderland re-tellings, and albeit this is more mystery society than retelling - I fear the Alice trope became almost completely unnecessary. I think it was a fun idea that unfortunately becomes mostly mute. All the characters are compared and referenced many times, such as "this white rabbit girl" yyada yada...but it felt like flavors stacked not swirled in correctly. Either show me (instead of telling me over and over) OR maybe leave out Alice all together?
I felt like I was on the little train at the zoo, cute but absolutely disappointing if you picture an exciting side-quest experience. Sweet little zoo train has so much potential, but it's over before it really begins.
A recent complaint my reading friends and I have had- is how long stories are, like no editing has occurred. This, however, needed to lean into the best parts and hold thee readers attention better with more story, length and details.
I do think the finale is interesting in concept, I was pretty into that development, creative to say the least.
The quote in my head I continually repeat is, "It was fine. It's fine," which I believe is coming from a place of unrelinquished disappointment.
Concept 3/5
Setting 2/5
Characters 2.5/5
Mystery Itself 2.5/5
Clues 3/5
Solvability 3.5/5
Fear Factor 0/5
Plot 2.5/5
Coherence 3/5
Romance -2/5
Audio Reader 3.5/5
Audio Speed x1.7
Read By Audio vs. Physical- I think I preferred the physical copy
Will I re-read- probably not
2.5 Stars -
I feel it will be a 3.5 for most readers, but I love a good mysterious club cliche too much to let it hold that type of rating HAHAHA
Verdict-Netflix live action Kakegurui had a more engaging plot.
This was fine... *shrug*. The book did not really lean into either trope heavily enough in my opinion.
There are a billion Alice and wonderland re-tellings, and albeit this is more mystery society than retelling - I fear the Alice trope became almost completely unnecessary. I think it was a fun idea that unfortunately becomes mostly mute. All the characters are compared and referenced many times, such as "this white rabbit girl" yyada yada...but it felt like flavors stacked not swirled in correctly. Either show me (instead of telling me over and over) OR maybe leave out Alice all together?
I felt like I was on the little train at the zoo, cute but absolutely disappointing if you picture an exciting side-quest experience. Sweet little zoo train has so much potential, but it's over before it really begins.
A recent complaint my reading friends and I have had- is how long stories are, like no editing has occurred. This, however, needed to lean into the best parts and hold thee readers attention better with more story, length and details.
I do think the finale is interesting in concept, I was pretty into that development, creative to say the least.
The quote in my head I continually repeat is, "It was fine. It's fine," which I believe is coming from a place of unrelinquished disappointment.
Concept 3/5
Setting 2/5
Characters 2.5/5
Mystery Itself 2.5/5
Clues 3/5
Solvability 3.5/5
Fear Factor 0/5
Plot 2.5/5
Coherence 3/5
Romance -2/5
Audio Reader 3.5/5
Audio Speed x1.7
Read By Audio vs. Physical- I think I preferred the physical copy
Will I re-read- probably not
2.5 Stars -
I feel it will be a 3.5 for most readers, but I love a good mysterious club cliche too much to let it hold that type of rating HAHAHA
Verdict-Netflix live action Kakegurui had a more engaging plot.
October 30, 2025
DNF. You can skip the italicized chapters. They add nothing but confusion, but even the rest is just short of ridiculous.
September 17, 2025
I have found myself repeatedly disappointed with the dark academia trope, and unfortunately, this book was no different. The dialogue was so contrived it almost read as a parody — the constant literary references and conversing between characters in quotations was beyond even what the most pretentious student would do. The plot was nonsensical at times and poorly drawn - the mental health component at the conclusion felt simultaneously vague and overdrawn, an unreasonably convenient conclusion where everything is answered neatly but gaping plot holes remain. The sloppiness of the ending, with the would-be hit on William, felt almost irresponsible. To add a character in the final act that the main character would trust implicitly to carry out an execution on his instruction on one of Britain’s most senior government officials felt like a joke. The lack of realistic motivation from the story’s true villain, Dr. Belsky, and poorly elucidated plot “twist” that Ali’s high school drama teacher’s husband had set the whole thing in motion years before was so ridiculous it was insulting.
I have yet to find a dark academia book that I truly enjoy (Tartt’s “ The Secret History” was my major first letdown) - and, so, my quest for a novel that does the genre justice continues…
I have yet to find a dark academia book that I truly enjoy (Tartt’s “ The Secret History” was my major first letdown) - and, so, my quest for a novel that does the genre justice continues…
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 10, 2025
Christopher J. Yates returns with The Rabbit Club, a labyrinthine exploration of privilege, manipulation, and the devastating cost of belonging. After the psychological complexity of Black Chalk and the rural noir of Grist Mill Road, Yates ventures into the hallowed halls of Oxford University, crafting what may be his most ambitious and unsettling work yet.
The premise appears deceptively straightforward: Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old American literature student seeking connection with his absent rock star father, arrives at the fictional Cockbayne College. What unfolds is a masterclass in unreliable narration, psychological manipulation, and the seductive danger of secret societies.
The Protagonist's Journey Into Darkness
Ali McCain emerges as both sympathetic and frustratingly naive. His desperate hunger for acceptance drives him toward the prestigious Saracens dining club, where his famous father's name becomes both currency and curse. Yates skillfully portrays Ali's transformation from wide-eyed American dreamer to psychological victim, though the character's persistent gullibility occasionally strains credibility.
The supporting cast delivers remarkable depth, particularly William Wynne-Goode, Ali's manipulative roommate whose aristocratic bearing masks predatory instincts. Yates creates a chilling portrait of psychological dominance disguised as mentorship. The Oldman siblings, Izzy and Guy, provide complex moral anchors whose own secrets propel the narrative toward its devastating climax.
Narrative Structure and Stylistic Flourishes
Yates employs a sophisticated framing device through Professor Goodwin, a mysterious academic commentator who receives Ali's story in installments. This meta-fictional approach creates multiple layers of reality, with Goodwin's increasingly unhinged commentary serving as both comic relief and ominous foreshadowing.
The author's prose oscillates between Ali's earnest American vernacular and Goodwin's pompous British academic discourse. While this stylistic contrast effectively highlights class and cultural divisions, the shift occasionally feels jarring rather than illuminating. Yates demonstrates particular strength in crafting atmospheric Oxford scenes, making the ancient stones practically breathe with menace.
Thematic Depth and Literary Allusions
The Rabbit Club functions as both homage to and critique of classic Oxford novels, particularly Brideshead Revisited. Yates weaves Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland throughout the narrative, with Ali's journey serving as a dark inversion of Carroll's fantastical tale. The literary references, while sometimes heavy-handed, generally enhance rather than overwhelm the story.
The novel tackles themes of class privilege, psychological manipulation, and the price of belonging with impressive nuance. Yates exposes the rot beneath Oxford's gilded surface, revealing how institutions can become breeding grounds for predators who exploit vulnerable young minds.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths include:
Masterful psychological manipulation - Yates expertly depicts how vulnerable individuals can be systematically broken down
Atmospheric world-building - Oxford becomes a character itself, both beautiful and sinister
Complex narrative structure - The multiple layers of storytelling create genuine mystery and unease
Relevant social commentary - The novel offers sharp insights into privilege, power, and institutional abuse
Areas of concern:
Pacing inconsistencies - The middle section occasionally drags despite mounting tension
Character development gaps - Some supporting characters feel more like plot devices than fully realized individuals
Overly complex plotting - The intricate structure sometimes obscures rather than illuminates character motivation
Ending ambiguity - While thematically appropriate, the resolution may frustrate readers seeking clear answers
The Verdict: A Challenging but Rewarding Read
The Rabbit Club succeeds as both entertainment and literature, though it demands active engagement from readers. Yates has crafted a work that functions simultaneously as campus novel, psychological thriller, and meditation on storytelling itself. While not without flaws, the novel's ambition and execution mark it as a significant achievement in contemporary dark academia fiction.
The book rewards careful readers with its intricate plotting and thematic depth, though casual thriller seekers may find themselves overwhelmed by its literary aspirations. Yates has created something genuinely unsettling—a novel that implicates not just its characters but its readers in the seductive pull of privilege and belonging.
The premise appears deceptively straightforward: Ali McCain, an eighteen-year-old American literature student seeking connection with his absent rock star father, arrives at the fictional Cockbayne College. What unfolds is a masterclass in unreliable narration, psychological manipulation, and the seductive danger of secret societies.
The Protagonist's Journey Into Darkness
Ali McCain emerges as both sympathetic and frustratingly naive. His desperate hunger for acceptance drives him toward the prestigious Saracens dining club, where his famous father's name becomes both currency and curse. Yates skillfully portrays Ali's transformation from wide-eyed American dreamer to psychological victim, though the character's persistent gullibility occasionally strains credibility.
The supporting cast delivers remarkable depth, particularly William Wynne-Goode, Ali's manipulative roommate whose aristocratic bearing masks predatory instincts. Yates creates a chilling portrait of psychological dominance disguised as mentorship. The Oldman siblings, Izzy and Guy, provide complex moral anchors whose own secrets propel the narrative toward its devastating climax.
Narrative Structure and Stylistic Flourishes
Yates employs a sophisticated framing device through Professor Goodwin, a mysterious academic commentator who receives Ali's story in installments. This meta-fictional approach creates multiple layers of reality, with Goodwin's increasingly unhinged commentary serving as both comic relief and ominous foreshadowing.
The author's prose oscillates between Ali's earnest American vernacular and Goodwin's pompous British academic discourse. While this stylistic contrast effectively highlights class and cultural divisions, the shift occasionally feels jarring rather than illuminating. Yates demonstrates particular strength in crafting atmospheric Oxford scenes, making the ancient stones practically breathe with menace.
Thematic Depth and Literary Allusions
The Rabbit Club functions as both homage to and critique of classic Oxford novels, particularly Brideshead Revisited. Yates weaves Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland throughout the narrative, with Ali's journey serving as a dark inversion of Carroll's fantastical tale. The literary references, while sometimes heavy-handed, generally enhance rather than overwhelm the story.
The novel tackles themes of class privilege, psychological manipulation, and the price of belonging with impressive nuance. Yates exposes the rot beneath Oxford's gilded surface, revealing how institutions can become breeding grounds for predators who exploit vulnerable young minds.
Critical Assessment: Strengths and Weaknesses
Strengths include:
Masterful psychological manipulation - Yates expertly depicts how vulnerable individuals can be systematically broken down
Atmospheric world-building - Oxford becomes a character itself, both beautiful and sinister
Complex narrative structure - The multiple layers of storytelling create genuine mystery and unease
Relevant social commentary - The novel offers sharp insights into privilege, power, and institutional abuse
Areas of concern:
Pacing inconsistencies - The middle section occasionally drags despite mounting tension
Character development gaps - Some supporting characters feel more like plot devices than fully realized individuals
Overly complex plotting - The intricate structure sometimes obscures rather than illuminates character motivation
Ending ambiguity - While thematically appropriate, the resolution may frustrate readers seeking clear answers
The Verdict: A Challenging but Rewarding Read
The Rabbit Club succeeds as both entertainment and literature, though it demands active engagement from readers. Yates has crafted a work that functions simultaneously as campus novel, psychological thriller, and meditation on storytelling itself. While not without flaws, the novel's ambition and execution mark it as a significant achievement in contemporary dark academia fiction.
The book rewards careful readers with its intricate plotting and thematic depth, though casual thriller seekers may find themselves overwhelmed by its literary aspirations. Yates has created something genuinely unsettling—a novel that implicates not just its characters but its readers in the seductive pull of privilege and belonging.
November 9, 2025
I admire this novel more than anything else that's come my way in the recent past.
Knowing nothing about the author, I wonder if in some way it may be autobiographical fiction. Maybe that's just because it concerns a young man's misadventures in going off to college (a not-very-typical young man or college, btw). Maybe also it's because a couple years ago I made a half-hearted effort to write such a novel myself. I gave up on mine because, despite potentially interesting scenarios and strong characters, it felt two-dimensional, just a sequence of events. The Rabbit Club easily avoids that trap.
The club itself is a secret society at Oxford, more properly known as the Saracens, which has a membership consisting only of young gentlemen destined to be future leaders in the UK if not indeed in the world at large. Our main character, an American kid called Ali, arrives with his heart set on membership. His roommate happens to be a polished—one might even be tempted to say affected—chap named William (three syllables) Wynne-Goode, son of England's Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ali can claim a famous rock star as his father, but finds that counts for nothing here. At first blush these are truly insufferable people. Still, Ali, steeped in multiple readings of Brideshead Revisited is delighted to find himself in such company, even after William tells him, "I don't suppose we'll be moving in quite the same circles."
Then, venturing out to explore the grounds of said university, he begins making friends with students with whom he relates more easily. Like him, they're studying literature and, like him, are no slouches at peppering their dialogue with apropos lines from works like King Lear. Throughout the story, literary allusions serve as little Easter eggs for readers who've studied Lear as well as Nabokov and Lewis Carroll. For those who haven't, brief explanations of their significance are smoothly worked into the narrative. Chance is also a major theme, i.e., "the mysterious pattern behind every coincidence," which is also one of Nabokov's subjects.
It would be hard to say much more about what happens without spoiling a couple of massive surprises. I'll just say the danger of falling into two-dimensional narration is avoided, largely through the device of alternating passages about young Ali with short chapters narrated by a professor of some description who remembers Ali as "a short-lived naif" and who argues with an internal voice he addresses as "comrade." Just what's going on with this professor does not become clear until almost the end, but when that becomes clear, everything becomes clear.
I made slow progress in reading this book, partly because the cryptic professor's chapters kept breaking my momentum. I stayed with it mainly because I enjoyed the dialogue, and was ultimately rewarded.
Autobiographical or not, this is a creation of which a writer could be proud.
Knowing nothing about the author, I wonder if in some way it may be autobiographical fiction. Maybe that's just because it concerns a young man's misadventures in going off to college (a not-very-typical young man or college, btw). Maybe also it's because a couple years ago I made a half-hearted effort to write such a novel myself. I gave up on mine because, despite potentially interesting scenarios and strong characters, it felt two-dimensional, just a sequence of events. The Rabbit Club easily avoids that trap.
The club itself is a secret society at Oxford, more properly known as the Saracens, which has a membership consisting only of young gentlemen destined to be future leaders in the UK if not indeed in the world at large. Our main character, an American kid called Ali, arrives with his heart set on membership. His roommate happens to be a polished—one might even be tempted to say affected—chap named William (three syllables) Wynne-Goode, son of England's Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ali can claim a famous rock star as his father, but finds that counts for nothing here. At first blush these are truly insufferable people. Still, Ali, steeped in multiple readings of Brideshead Revisited is delighted to find himself in such company, even after William tells him, "I don't suppose we'll be moving in quite the same circles."
Then, venturing out to explore the grounds of said university, he begins making friends with students with whom he relates more easily. Like him, they're studying literature and, like him, are no slouches at peppering their dialogue with apropos lines from works like King Lear. Throughout the story, literary allusions serve as little Easter eggs for readers who've studied Lear as well as Nabokov and Lewis Carroll. For those who haven't, brief explanations of their significance are smoothly worked into the narrative. Chance is also a major theme, i.e., "the mysterious pattern behind every coincidence," which is also one of Nabokov's subjects.
It would be hard to say much more about what happens without spoiling a couple of massive surprises. I'll just say the danger of falling into two-dimensional narration is avoided, largely through the device of alternating passages about young Ali with short chapters narrated by a professor of some description who remembers Ali as "a short-lived naif" and who argues with an internal voice he addresses as "comrade." Just what's going on with this professor does not become clear until almost the end, but when that becomes clear, everything becomes clear.
I made slow progress in reading this book, partly because the cryptic professor's chapters kept breaking my momentum. I stayed with it mainly because I enjoyed the dialogue, and was ultimately rewarded.
Autobiographical or not, this is a creation of which a writer could be proud.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews