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Cull
A sharp and outrageous satire about the deadly dark side of discrimination Alex has a problem. Categorized as one of the disabled, dole-scrounging underclass, she is finding it hard to make ends meet. When in her part-time placement at the local newspaper she stumbles onto a troubling link between the disappearance of several homeless people, the government's new Care and Protect Act, and the Grassybanks Residential Home for the disabled, elderly and vulnerable, she knows she has to investigate further... but at what cost to herself and her guide dog Chris
368 pages, Paperback
First published January 24, 2019
3 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Tanvir Bush
1 book4 followersDr Tanvir Bush is a novelist, photographer and filmmaker. Born in London, she lived and worked in Lusaka, Zambia, where she set up the Willie Mwale Film Foundation, working with minority communities and people affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Her feature documentary Choka! Get Lost! was nominated for the Pare Lorenz Award for social activism in film in 2001. She returned to UK to study and write her first novel, Witch Girl, which was published in 2015. She is an associate lecturer in creative writing at Bath Spa University. She is based in Wiltshire with her guide dog and research assistant, Grace.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 15, 2018
This is why I read indie books. Because every so often there’s a treasure like that just waiting to be found. Cull is actually a perfectly timed read with Britain being on the news so much lately, but this isn’t a Brexit themed story. It deals with another ugly side of British social politics (no, not that one either, the story takes place after the rise of nationalism and passing of strict immigration laws), now with not enough foreigners left to hate, the citizens turn their attention onto their fellow Brits, albeit less able. Crips, as they are now known, are the new danger, mooching off the working class, sponging off the dole and so on. And that can cover just about any disability, this is an all inclusive animosity. Severe austerity measures have been passed to ensure that no one gets something for nothing, leaving so many underprivileged and disabled in dire circumstances. And if that wasn’t enough, the next step seems to be eliminating them all together with Nazi esque efficiency behind the Nazi esque mentality. Such measures must be protested and there is a mysterious group Boudicca that may do just that. And one reporter, Alex, and her furry four legged best friend/guide, Chris, get caught up in the middle of it. So anyway, this is meant to be a satire, but it’s such a close shave to reality that it actually makes for a terrifying read. It’s just too alarmingly plausible and Britain has in fact passed some similar laws recently. Obviously, this is exaggerated in the book for dramatic effect, but if you read the news on the regular basis, it isn’t even that far fetched. It has always been easier to hate that to care and there nothing fuels the fire like a government encouragement. Or even government’s silence on that matter. Just look at the rise of racism and white supremacism in the US in the last couple of years. Throw some slogans around, give the sheeple a cause to line up against, redirect their attention from real crises to something a low corn fed (or whatever is the British equivalent) IQ can process and voila…violence. So it’s an eerie read, it’s meant to discomfort the readers and make them think, it’s very good at that. The ongoing brutal psychological and physical abuse of the disabled throughout the book is devastating and the ending is all too realistic, tragically so. There is some lightness in here thrown in for balance and Chris is as lovable of a character (bipedal or quadrupedal) as they come and absolutely steals the show. And the book is well written and smart…it’s just all too scary to consider it prophetic as it may be. This hypothetical version of Britain trying to become great again (and where would they have gotten that idea) is meant to caution, to remind an increasingly callous world about compassion, kindness, all the values that are, in fact, great. But alas, they never seem to compete with stupidity, ignorance and greed. A country, a government, a nation must be judged by how they treat their most vulnerable. Not by its arsenal or bank account. Much like one hopes you would judge a person. This book is very much worth a read if only to ponder those things, but it’s also very enjoyable as a work of fiction. Great read. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
January 21, 2019
‘Cull’ is so close to what most of us know as reality ,that you find yourself following a laugh with a wince. It is not too far fetched to imagine a government (particularly the one in power) creating a Protect and Care Act which hands down powers to divide and conquer society.
From the posters offering rewards for ‘shopping a scrounger,’ and ‘documentaries’ marginalising the poor,to government workers getting bonuses for incomprehensible forms that guarantee 70% of benefit applicants will fail, it is very easy to visualise a resulting care home such as Grassybanks opening to ‘relieve the burden’ on carers. The premise is simple-if the disabled and infirm elderly are stopping people from working, remove them from the equation and there will be no more carer’s allowance as well as a freed up workforce.
Protagonist Alex has a degenerative visual condition that requires a guide dog, despite the fact that she ‘does not look disabled’ -a constant theme of the novel is how normal she looks and the abuse she gets as though she must be pretending.She is desperate for a paying job that will reflect her education and skill set. At present she has an apprenticeship at a newspaper, but it’s not paying and if she pushes the Job Centres too much for one, they will come down with such
heavy sanctions that she is at real risk of homelessness.
The disappearance of a fellow guide dog owner and homeless man Phil, leads to Alex investigating other disappearances into the government sanctioned ‘rehab treatment’ programme, ‘Homeless Action!’. An awful lot of them are dying, but no one seems to care.
‘Homeless Action !’ head honcho ‘Dr Barnabus Binding, also happens to be the father of Stella Binding MP, as well as being heavily involved with the mysterious Ward C extension of Grassybanks. But who is going to listen to a blind woman?
Alex is a wonderful character, she is fearless, totally three dimensional and leaves a huge impression on the reader. Despite being given every reason to give up on life she refuses. She has some truly awful experiences across the course of ‘Cull’, some of which made me cry they were brutal. She, along with a bunch of disabled women whom society has deemed useless, are the only ones who can rise up and make a difference and the very opportunity they need is just around the corner at the Grassybanks grand opening…
This is a novel with enormous heart and bravery that addresses the discrimination that disabled people face daily in an unflinching manner. I hugely adored Chris, Alex’ guide dog and found myself incredibly moved by how easy it would be for those in power to turn those without against each other, and then stand back to watch the ensuing fight. In destroying ourselves there will be no one left to fight the corrupt and unfair system that penalises those who are disabled or vulnerable for mental, or physical, health reasons.
From the posters offering rewards for ‘shopping a scrounger,’ and ‘documentaries’ marginalising the poor,to government workers getting bonuses for incomprehensible forms that guarantee 70% of benefit applicants will fail, it is very easy to visualise a resulting care home such as Grassybanks opening to ‘relieve the burden’ on carers. The premise is simple-if the disabled and infirm elderly are stopping people from working, remove them from the equation and there will be no more carer’s allowance as well as a freed up workforce.
Protagonist Alex has a degenerative visual condition that requires a guide dog, despite the fact that she ‘does not look disabled’ -a constant theme of the novel is how normal she looks and the abuse she gets as though she must be pretending.She is desperate for a paying job that will reflect her education and skill set. At present she has an apprenticeship at a newspaper, but it’s not paying and if she pushes the Job Centres too much for one, they will come down with such
heavy sanctions that she is at real risk of homelessness.
The disappearance of a fellow guide dog owner and homeless man Phil, leads to Alex investigating other disappearances into the government sanctioned ‘rehab treatment’ programme, ‘Homeless Action!’. An awful lot of them are dying, but no one seems to care.
‘Homeless Action !’ head honcho ‘Dr Barnabus Binding, also happens to be the father of Stella Binding MP, as well as being heavily involved with the mysterious Ward C extension of Grassybanks. But who is going to listen to a blind woman?
Alex is a wonderful character, she is fearless, totally three dimensional and leaves a huge impression on the reader. Despite being given every reason to give up on life she refuses. She has some truly awful experiences across the course of ‘Cull’, some of which made me cry they were brutal. She, along with a bunch of disabled women whom society has deemed useless, are the only ones who can rise up and make a difference and the very opportunity they need is just around the corner at the Grassybanks grand opening…
This is a novel with enormous heart and bravery that addresses the discrimination that disabled people face daily in an unflinching manner. I hugely adored Chris, Alex’ guide dog and found myself incredibly moved by how easy it would be for those in power to turn those without against each other, and then stand back to watch the ensuing fight. In destroying ourselves there will be no one left to fight the corrupt and unfair system that penalises those who are disabled or vulnerable for mental, or physical, health reasons.
April 9, 2019
It's supposed to be satire, but sadly a lot of this is already a reality in the UK, after the privatisation of certain systems in charge of the care and assessment of the more vulnerable in our society. Bush takes it one step further into a nightmare of organised disposal of the weaker individuals or those who need support.
One of the more amusing elements of the story is the character of Chris, who in his own way is quite opinionated and contributes to the story in a way Alex is unable to. He is there to support her as she is tested emotionally and physically, as she becomes increasingly frustrated and suspicious of the system.
The book 1984 described the Big Brother construct our society would eventually evolve into, Cull accurately depicts the threat of privatisation to the most vulnerable in today's society.This dystopian satire takes the disposable attitude of the Nazi regime for instance, the disposal of the vulnerable, least productive, physically and mentally impaired, and the undesirables, and combines this ideology with a futuristic setting. In fact some of the implemented laws are very similar to certain aspects of government driven health and social care 'solutions' which are already in place. In which case it is less futuristic and it's more of a 'as it is taking place as we read this' scenario.
Unfortunately this is only one of the negatives of privatisation, and indeed this dangerously reckless and opportunistic profit-mongering of our health and social care systems has been found to be grossly negligent towards its clients - those who are in greatest need of support. The UN have iterated their 2016 report citing systematic violations of the rights of disabled people in the UK. The system is set-up to make people fail and/or be sanctioned, which leaves them in a vulnerable position. Subsequent deaths, attempts at suicide and suicides of people, who have to endure the biased and unfair procedures and assessments by untrained individuals, have been linked to said systems.
It's a dystopian satire with futuristic ideas fixed in realism with both politically and socially relevant topics. Kudos to the author for shining a light on this particularly cruel injustice by wrapping it up in a clever little plot.
*I received a courtesy copy*
One of the more amusing elements of the story is the character of Chris, who in his own way is quite opinionated and contributes to the story in a way Alex is unable to. He is there to support her as she is tested emotionally and physically, as she becomes increasingly frustrated and suspicious of the system.
The book 1984 described the Big Brother construct our society would eventually evolve into, Cull accurately depicts the threat of privatisation to the most vulnerable in today's society.This dystopian satire takes the disposable attitude of the Nazi regime for instance, the disposal of the vulnerable, least productive, physically and mentally impaired, and the undesirables, and combines this ideology with a futuristic setting. In fact some of the implemented laws are very similar to certain aspects of government driven health and social care 'solutions' which are already in place. In which case it is less futuristic and it's more of a 'as it is taking place as we read this' scenario.
Unfortunately this is only one of the negatives of privatisation, and indeed this dangerously reckless and opportunistic profit-mongering of our health and social care systems has been found to be grossly negligent towards its clients - those who are in greatest need of support. The UN have iterated their 2016 report citing systematic violations of the rights of disabled people in the UK. The system is set-up to make people fail and/or be sanctioned, which leaves them in a vulnerable position. Subsequent deaths, attempts at suicide and suicides of people, who have to endure the biased and unfair procedures and assessments by untrained individuals, have been linked to said systems.
It's a dystopian satire with futuristic ideas fixed in realism with both politically and socially relevant topics. Kudos to the author for shining a light on this particularly cruel injustice by wrapping it up in a clever little plot.
*I received a courtesy copy*
August 23, 2020
4.5 stars. This book was fantastic. There were parts when I was nervous to keep reading, and parts when I couldn’t stop reading. Parts when I laughed out loud and a part when I cried. A strong female protagonist with a dog?! Sold.
Bush has put this together brilliantly. Cull is a gripping read, confronting for all the right reasons. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
Bush has put this together brilliantly. Cull is a gripping read, confronting for all the right reasons. I’ll be thinking about this one for a while.
January 22, 2019
'A dystopian satire for our times about the dark deadly side of privatisation'
"In a near-future Britain, the furore over the welfare state has reached fever pitch. A combination of state propaganda and aggressive austerity has divided the nation along poisonous lines: on one side, so-called freeloaders, crips and fakes; on the other, The Hard Working British Taxpayer.
The government has introduced the Care and Protect Bill, ostensibly to to relieve the economic burden of the disabled, elderly and vulnerable on society by opening residential care homes
where they will be looked after by medical professionals.
But Alex – visually impaired and categorised as one of the dole-scrounging underclass – has stumbled across a troubling link between the disappearance of several homeless people and the extension of Grassybanks, her local care home… Helped by her guide dog, Chris, this discovery sets her on a path that leads all the way to the corrupt heart of government."
Let me start by saying how disturbingly believable Cull was. I don't know want to give too much away (I certainly approached this not knowing much about the plot) but parts of it did make my blood run cold as Bush expertly depicted how horrifyingly close we are to methods rightly viewed by many as heinous. Believe in Better, the political party referred to in the book, is surely just round the corner with its anti foreigner, scrounger scum sentiment. Some would argue it's already in existence.
What I found most disturbing however were the short chapters to the end of the book (and again I won't say much as I don't want to spoil it) but you could just imagine this turn of events actually happening. Out comes the brush, sweeping many things under many carpets. What a depressing thought!
In amongst the hard hitting plot are moments of lightness, love and even humour. I mean a 'porn-audio-ography' studio owned by the Ladies Defective Agency? I loved Chris, yes my favourite character in the book was a dog! The relationship between Alex and Chris was beautifully written and I thought Chris' opening chapter was a brilliant move. There were proper villains, boy did I hate Andre and the Good Doctor Binding (totally loved how he was referred to by the way.) The plot was also cleverly structured so that the various characters all linked together in some way.
It's the first time I have read a book with a blind protagonist. I loved reading from Alex's point of view and seeing how people who had never met her before interacted with her a partially sighted woman (but you can see!) I also loved that, despite her problems she was not a victim, as her reporter past and survival instinct confirmed. Brilliant ninja moves!
Cull delivers punchy writing, excellent chapter titles and well defined characters seamlessly linked together. It's an eye opener (no pun intended) and I really enjoyed it.
"In a near-future Britain, the furore over the welfare state has reached fever pitch. A combination of state propaganda and aggressive austerity has divided the nation along poisonous lines: on one side, so-called freeloaders, crips and fakes; on the other, The Hard Working British Taxpayer.
The government has introduced the Care and Protect Bill, ostensibly to to relieve the economic burden of the disabled, elderly and vulnerable on society by opening residential care homes
where they will be looked after by medical professionals.
But Alex – visually impaired and categorised as one of the dole-scrounging underclass – has stumbled across a troubling link between the disappearance of several homeless people and the extension of Grassybanks, her local care home… Helped by her guide dog, Chris, this discovery sets her on a path that leads all the way to the corrupt heart of government."
Let me start by saying how disturbingly believable Cull was. I don't know want to give too much away (I certainly approached this not knowing much about the plot) but parts of it did make my blood run cold as Bush expertly depicted how horrifyingly close we are to methods rightly viewed by many as heinous. Believe in Better, the political party referred to in the book, is surely just round the corner with its anti foreigner, scrounger scum sentiment. Some would argue it's already in existence.
What I found most disturbing however were the short chapters to the end of the book (and again I won't say much as I don't want to spoil it) but you could just imagine this turn of events actually happening. Out comes the brush, sweeping many things under many carpets. What a depressing thought!
In amongst the hard hitting plot are moments of lightness, love and even humour. I mean a 'porn-audio-ography' studio owned by the Ladies Defective Agency? I loved Chris, yes my favourite character in the book was a dog! The relationship between Alex and Chris was beautifully written and I thought Chris' opening chapter was a brilliant move. There were proper villains, boy did I hate Andre and the Good Doctor Binding (totally loved how he was referred to by the way.) The plot was also cleverly structured so that the various characters all linked together in some way.
It's the first time I have read a book with a blind protagonist. I loved reading from Alex's point of view and seeing how people who had never met her before interacted with her a partially sighted woman (but you can see!) I also loved that, despite her problems she was not a victim, as her reporter past and survival instinct confirmed. Brilliant ninja moves!
Cull delivers punchy writing, excellent chapter titles and well defined characters seamlessly linked together. It's an eye opener (no pun intended) and I really enjoyed it.
July 22, 2024
*4.5 stars
this was an incredibly dark and eerie read and as a disabled person, it was quite difficult and unsettling to read in places (would really approach with caution and would trigger warn for ableism, eugenics, violence, death and racism). I find it so interesting to see how dystopia interacts with reality and was also unsettled at how unshocked I was by the acts in this book. the stuff that the politicians are peddling could have come right out of the mouths of reform or tory candidates in the run-up to the election. there was even an outrage earlier this year exactly about wanting to cut PIP to get disabled people into work, the exact premise this book is based on. the levels of lack of care for vulnerable, disabled or elder members of society that I see in this book is vehemently present in our day-to-day lives, be it from hearing ableist slurs used casually among schoolchildren, the intense fear to avoid ageing/being seen as weak/ugliness, covid carelessness, hyper-independence and just a general feeling of society moving too quickly for everyone in it. fears of how these ugly mushrooms of the acts in the book could sprout from the common mycelium of our society and the book's society are so present ahead of a looming trump presidency and the global rise of fascism. the events of the book book have literally already happened during the holocaust. the antidote to this, as presented in the book with (brilliantly and humorously) a collective of disabled phone sex workers, is marginalised community and collective resistance in a variety of forms. the book exposed discussions about the nature of resistance and what is justified in the book, laying bare the idea of condemned immediate reactionary actions of protesters versus the insidious, society-wide violence of the powerful. I was reminded of the recent 5-year prosecutions of just stop oil protesters while oil barons walk away free. I also really liked (but hated) bush's treatment of how reality and truth is depicted by the media and how politics is used to spin things a certain way. this was painfully resonant regarding reporting on human rights abuses in gaza. even at the end of the book, the oppression goes on, which was demoralising but sadly true to life. it did remind me, however, of the phrase that 'the struggle preceded you and will go on without you' and that it takes a collective effort to work towards collective liberation. it was also interesting how the word 'crip' was used as a slur in the book but also in a similar way to how it is used in radical disability spaces. I also found how animals' voices were personified was a really nice touch. chris is a wonderful character, genuinely, and a true partner to alex. an incredibly rich read about what it means to be disabled in a society that is sliding towards the right (though a very dark and difficult one).
this was an incredibly dark and eerie read and as a disabled person, it was quite difficult and unsettling to read in places (would really approach with caution and would trigger warn for ableism, eugenics, violence, death and racism). I find it so interesting to see how dystopia interacts with reality and was also unsettled at how unshocked I was by the acts in this book. the stuff that the politicians are peddling could have come right out of the mouths of reform or tory candidates in the run-up to the election. there was even an outrage earlier this year exactly about wanting to cut PIP to get disabled people into work, the exact premise this book is based on. the levels of lack of care for vulnerable, disabled or elder members of society that I see in this book is vehemently present in our day-to-day lives, be it from hearing ableist slurs used casually among schoolchildren, the intense fear to avoid ageing/being seen as weak/ugliness, covid carelessness, hyper-independence and just a general feeling of society moving too quickly for everyone in it. fears of how these ugly mushrooms of the acts in the book could sprout from the common mycelium of our society and the book's society are so present ahead of a looming trump presidency and the global rise of fascism. the events of the book book have literally already happened during the holocaust. the antidote to this, as presented in the book with (brilliantly and humorously) a collective of disabled phone sex workers, is marginalised community and collective resistance in a variety of forms. the book exposed discussions about the nature of resistance and what is justified in the book, laying bare the idea of condemned immediate reactionary actions of protesters versus the insidious, society-wide violence of the powerful. I was reminded of the recent 5-year prosecutions of just stop oil protesters while oil barons walk away free. I also really liked (but hated) bush's treatment of how reality and truth is depicted by the media and how politics is used to spin things a certain way. this was painfully resonant regarding reporting on human rights abuses in gaza. even at the end of the book, the oppression goes on, which was demoralising but sadly true to life. it did remind me, however, of the phrase that 'the struggle preceded you and will go on without you' and that it takes a collective effort to work towards collective liberation. it was also interesting how the word 'crip' was used as a slur in the book but also in a similar way to how it is used in radical disability spaces. I also found how animals' voices were personified was a really nice touch. chris is a wonderful character, genuinely, and a true partner to alex. an incredibly rich read about what it means to be disabled in a society that is sliding towards the right (though a very dark and difficult one).
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 12, 2019
This is a frightening book and yet its reliance on exaggeration and hyperbole make it difficult to relate to. There is a complete lack of subtlety or a multi dimensional story and that's a shame. In some sections, I could see the modern Britain and that is undeniably frightening. But in the next breath the depiction of a Nazi approach is brutally approached in a two dimensional fashion.
The really scary thing is that I can see our society hitting these lows. In detriment to the book though, this just didn't really seem true. Not in the fast and brutal way it's done though. I get that it's black satire, but it's two dimensional black satire and that just didn't quite jell with me. The author seems to fall into the pit hole of making things too black and white, without any of the moral greys that permeate the real world. Perhaps this is how the author has seen the system from a disabled view point however; but from the reading perspective, it just seemed overly simplistic.
The bad guys are bad, the system is not just flawed but corrupt, even those who started with decent intentions have fallen into a complete moral black hole. I've read several books that deal with related themes but in a historical fashion, and they have often been better at depicting the moral dilemma's and heartbreaking decisions that many ended up making. The decisions may have been horrific, the actions reprehensible, but the challenges and the doubts are depicted. Here, that doesn't seem to exist at all, in anybody involved and that marred my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Honestly? This should have been right up my street on a literary and political level. But it didn't really work for me. The only point I found myself truly invested was the final chapter or so. I'll applaud the message... but the execution left something to be desired.
The really scary thing is that I can see our society hitting these lows. In detriment to the book though, this just didn't really seem true. Not in the fast and brutal way it's done though. I get that it's black satire, but it's two dimensional black satire and that just didn't quite jell with me. The author seems to fall into the pit hole of making things too black and white, without any of the moral greys that permeate the real world. Perhaps this is how the author has seen the system from a disabled view point however; but from the reading perspective, it just seemed overly simplistic.
The bad guys are bad, the system is not just flawed but corrupt, even those who started with decent intentions have fallen into a complete moral black hole. I've read several books that deal with related themes but in a historical fashion, and they have often been better at depicting the moral dilemma's and heartbreaking decisions that many ended up making. The decisions may have been horrific, the actions reprehensible, but the challenges and the doubts are depicted. Here, that doesn't seem to exist at all, in anybody involved and that marred my enjoyment of the book as a whole.
Honestly? This should have been right up my street on a literary and political level. But it didn't really work for me. The only point I found myself truly invested was the final chapter or so. I'll applaud the message... but the execution left something to be desired.
September 18, 2025
i really wanted to like this book more but unfortunately it just wasn't for me :(
completely appreciate the premise (the underrepresented marginalisation of disabled people in our society, and the dystopian results of privatisation in the UK), and cannot deny the fact that we desperately need more representation in modern media, but unfortunately the execution of this book felt a bit too jarring and exaggerated for me, as a disabled person (idk maybe i am just being too sensitive - there are loads of great reviews!)
completely appreciate the premise (the underrepresented marginalisation of disabled people in our society, and the dystopian results of privatisation in the UK), and cannot deny the fact that we desperately need more representation in modern media, but unfortunately the execution of this book felt a bit too jarring and exaggerated for me, as a disabled person (idk maybe i am just being too sensitive - there are loads of great reviews!)
January 7, 2019
This was definitely an interesting concept, but it's not my type of material. I'm sure readers of this particular genre will enjoy it.
January 16, 2019
3.5 rounded up....visually indelible satire about the intolerance and hatred towards the disabled with a ‘real’ disabled protagonist to believe in...review to come as part of the Random Things Tours blog tour - 23/01/19
January 10, 2019
Satire that might not be... anger-inspiring, appalling 'benefit system' exposé.
I spent a good portion of my reading time incensed. At the benefit system portrayed, the citizens of this society that's ours but not-quite-ours-thank-goodness and their attitude towards disabled people, at the leaders and politicians pinching pennies and playing Social Darwin.
It's so hard to read a book where insulting terms are bandied around, used routinely and demeaningly. The choice of 'crip' is a powerful one, a condensing of 'cripple' in the ways of racist terminology that leaves a sour taste.
The world is ours but not. Britain is a divided country, and just like countries in the past (as well as nearer our own times) a particular group of people is vilified in the press and blamed for economic woes. Disabled people are becoming regularly reported as benefit 'scroungers', jumping through hoops to receive entitlements, many less than supported in their communities and by government policy.
Alex is visually impaired, a former respected journalist now scraping by at an unpaid position at a local paper on benefits that disappear around her. She and guide dog Chris navigate a world where the newspapers advertise the 'Shop a Scrounger' policy and the TV plays 'documentary' Scrounger Street, where foodbank use is widespread, where the grudging betrothing of one benefit leads to the removal of another and disabilities are openly mocked and often treated with hostility.
Alex's journalistic nose picks up on a link between disappearing homeless people and a government policy concerning a residential home. We in the meantime, as this plot unfolds, get to see just where an uncaring political landscape and a vitriolic press are able to dehumanise a sector of the population.
I loved the multiple perspectives the author presents us with - Alex, her dog Chris (though he seems to be an incredibly well-educated dog, able to use words such as 'obstreperous' in his thoughts), paramedic Mosh who transports patients to care homes, and a more all-encompassing voice giving us insight into the thoughts of politicians.
Powerfully upsetting at times, with some scenes of graphic violence and hate, it hurts that this is a society we could so easily find ourselves becoming. The gutter press portrayed, the out-of-touch leaders who see data and not people, the struggling population looking for a scapegoat - where have we seen these elements before?
With some truly evil and hateful characters to loathe, this satire also gives the benefit system a good once-over, finding it impersonal and inadequate, the press a tool of its puppet masters, the people easily led. Our heroes are clear and though not perfect (Alex is an alcoholic), are fighting the system.
There are a few literary references I enjoyed: "'Curiouser and curiouser' said Alex" and 'The Ladies Defective Agency' made me smile.
I wasn't sure about Chris's narrative at the beginning, but I laughed out loud when he is able to translate a rather irate cat at the vets. I was howling: "'Yo b*tch!' yells the tom cat. 'It was you, weren't it? You took my nuts. Bet you needed both hands, right?... You are going down, monkey t*ts. Going down!'" Sorry, but it was hilarious, amid all the morbidity and hostility.
I was incensed and desperate to see the 'little guy' overthrow the masters, for good to triumph, for the curtain to be pulled back and reveal Oz. The story moves to a rather hysterical few scenes but the reveals and conclusion certainly are pulsing with frenzy and melodrama. I had a lump in my throat a few times and punched the air once or twice as well.
Satire works if it shows its object up, criticises it, ridicules it. 'Cull' fulfils what I believe its author set out to do. There are some incredibly visual scenes that I really hope are transferred to the screen in adaptation.
This will anger and upset, though tempering this with a few laughs along the way. I'm going to be recommending this widely. It feels relevant and very important to have these sorts of issues at the forefront of our collective minds at this time. Please read it.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
I spent a good portion of my reading time incensed. At the benefit system portrayed, the citizens of this society that's ours but not-quite-ours-thank-goodness and their attitude towards disabled people, at the leaders and politicians pinching pennies and playing Social Darwin.
It's so hard to read a book where insulting terms are bandied around, used routinely and demeaningly. The choice of 'crip' is a powerful one, a condensing of 'cripple' in the ways of racist terminology that leaves a sour taste.
The world is ours but not. Britain is a divided country, and just like countries in the past (as well as nearer our own times) a particular group of people is vilified in the press and blamed for economic woes. Disabled people are becoming regularly reported as benefit 'scroungers', jumping through hoops to receive entitlements, many less than supported in their communities and by government policy.
Alex is visually impaired, a former respected journalist now scraping by at an unpaid position at a local paper on benefits that disappear around her. She and guide dog Chris navigate a world where the newspapers advertise the 'Shop a Scrounger' policy and the TV plays 'documentary' Scrounger Street, where foodbank use is widespread, where the grudging betrothing of one benefit leads to the removal of another and disabilities are openly mocked and often treated with hostility.
Alex's journalistic nose picks up on a link between disappearing homeless people and a government policy concerning a residential home. We in the meantime, as this plot unfolds, get to see just where an uncaring political landscape and a vitriolic press are able to dehumanise a sector of the population.
I loved the multiple perspectives the author presents us with - Alex, her dog Chris (though he seems to be an incredibly well-educated dog, able to use words such as 'obstreperous' in his thoughts), paramedic Mosh who transports patients to care homes, and a more all-encompassing voice giving us insight into the thoughts of politicians.
Powerfully upsetting at times, with some scenes of graphic violence and hate, it hurts that this is a society we could so easily find ourselves becoming. The gutter press portrayed, the out-of-touch leaders who see data and not people, the struggling population looking for a scapegoat - where have we seen these elements before?
With some truly evil and hateful characters to loathe, this satire also gives the benefit system a good once-over, finding it impersonal and inadequate, the press a tool of its puppet masters, the people easily led. Our heroes are clear and though not perfect (Alex is an alcoholic), are fighting the system.
There are a few literary references I enjoyed: "'Curiouser and curiouser' said Alex" and 'The Ladies Defective Agency' made me smile.
I wasn't sure about Chris's narrative at the beginning, but I laughed out loud when he is able to translate a rather irate cat at the vets. I was howling: "'Yo b*tch!' yells the tom cat. 'It was you, weren't it? You took my nuts. Bet you needed both hands, right?... You are going down, monkey t*ts. Going down!'" Sorry, but it was hilarious, amid all the morbidity and hostility.
I was incensed and desperate to see the 'little guy' overthrow the masters, for good to triumph, for the curtain to be pulled back and reveal Oz. The story moves to a rather hysterical few scenes but the reveals and conclusion certainly are pulsing with frenzy and melodrama. I had a lump in my throat a few times and punched the air once or twice as well.
Satire works if it shows its object up, criticises it, ridicules it. 'Cull' fulfils what I believe its author set out to do. There are some incredibly visual scenes that I really hope are transferred to the screen in adaptation.
This will anger and upset, though tempering this with a few laughs along the way. I'm going to be recommending this widely. It feels relevant and very important to have these sorts of issues at the forefront of our collective minds at this time. Please read it.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample e-copy.
January 9, 2019
The first thing that attracted my interest to the book was in fact the cover. I think the cover though quite simplistic is presents a powerful image. The way the C in the word Cull is used to represent a wheelchair leaves the prospective reader in no doubt about what is trying to be “culled” in the book. I then read the blurb and felt a strong urge to read the book. With having health issue’s myself as well as looking after both my parents who had multiple health issues and both of them are or have been wheelchair uses too I could view the problems the characters have in this book from their point of view and the point of view as a carer too.
I have seen this book labelled as general fiction, sci-fi and dystopian. I would say that perhaps the sci-fi label could be a little off putting to some readers but I have to agree with the genres listed. The dystopian element is more of a futuristic slant of what could actually be happening in our present society. I suppose the Sci-Fi and Dystopian themes also refer to the “survival of the fittest” aspect of the book.
I really enjoyed reading this book from the point of view of Alex who is visually impaired and needs a guide dog. At first I thought I couldn’t like the sections done from the perspective of Chris, who is Alex’s guide dog but upon reading them I found some parts from Chris’ view point interesting too. I found the book thought provoking and I am sure some people will find the language used in it and some of the books perceptions to be controversial. This book takes place in a time that could well be coming to Britain soon. The government are making budget cuts to benefits and help they provide disabled people. Rather like we see, in our present day, people are dying and committing suicide rather than being made to feel a burden on society. There are also those elements of society who like to apportion blame for the “state of the country and its finances” on those less fortunate or with disabilities. In this book there are various incidents throughout where certain characters are verbally and physically abusive to the characters who have disabilities.
The government are putting money into extending a local facility called Grassybanks. The attitude of those in power is to find the cheapest way to take care of those that are costing them money. There is a group of Doctors and Professors that are running various schemes and building new hospital type equipment such as chiller beds and a machine called the resomator. In fact there is somewhat of a competition going on for who can "take care of the problem" the quickest.
The tables are turned at one point in the book where a movement calling themselves Boudicca try to show those in charge and working at Grassybanks what they are doing and how they would feel being treat the way they are doing with disabled people. I don't want to reveal much more as that would mean giving away spoilers.
I adored all the aspects of the character of the guide dog Chris. He is all serious when working, and in his harness and feels both responsible and protective of Alex. I thought the descriptions of the “off harness” times when Chris is obsessed about chasing a ball just like any other dog. There’s also the inevitable part when Chris is being cared for by a friend of Alex who has a baby. The baby is being fed and dropping food on the floor and though Chris knows he shouldn’t, he can’t seem to help himself from licking up the food.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading this book were that I found it interesting, thought provoking, as well as totally believable. Today's society isn't that far away from having chilling beds and resomator......who knows they may already exist somewhere.
I could seriously identify both with being a carer and also with having disabilities. The fight to be heard, get the diagnosis and the end up begging for help that is supposed to be readily available but you cannot seem to get access too no matter how much you beg, plead, cry, shout or scream for it! I have also been left with an uneasy feeling that this government is steering the country and it's people towards this type of society.
I have seen this book labelled as general fiction, sci-fi and dystopian. I would say that perhaps the sci-fi label could be a little off putting to some readers but I have to agree with the genres listed. The dystopian element is more of a futuristic slant of what could actually be happening in our present society. I suppose the Sci-Fi and Dystopian themes also refer to the “survival of the fittest” aspect of the book.
I really enjoyed reading this book from the point of view of Alex who is visually impaired and needs a guide dog. At first I thought I couldn’t like the sections done from the perspective of Chris, who is Alex’s guide dog but upon reading them I found some parts from Chris’ view point interesting too. I found the book thought provoking and I am sure some people will find the language used in it and some of the books perceptions to be controversial. This book takes place in a time that could well be coming to Britain soon. The government are making budget cuts to benefits and help they provide disabled people. Rather like we see, in our present day, people are dying and committing suicide rather than being made to feel a burden on society. There are also those elements of society who like to apportion blame for the “state of the country and its finances” on those less fortunate or with disabilities. In this book there are various incidents throughout where certain characters are verbally and physically abusive to the characters who have disabilities.
The government are putting money into extending a local facility called Grassybanks. The attitude of those in power is to find the cheapest way to take care of those that are costing them money. There is a group of Doctors and Professors that are running various schemes and building new hospital type equipment such as chiller beds and a machine called the resomator. In fact there is somewhat of a competition going on for who can "take care of the problem" the quickest.
The tables are turned at one point in the book where a movement calling themselves Boudicca try to show those in charge and working at Grassybanks what they are doing and how they would feel being treat the way they are doing with disabled people. I don't want to reveal much more as that would mean giving away spoilers.
I adored all the aspects of the character of the guide dog Chris. He is all serious when working, and in his harness and feels both responsible and protective of Alex. I thought the descriptions of the “off harness” times when Chris is obsessed about chasing a ball just like any other dog. There’s also the inevitable part when Chris is being cared for by a friend of Alex who has a baby. The baby is being fed and dropping food on the floor and though Chris knows he shouldn’t, he can’t seem to help himself from licking up the food.
My immediate thoughts upon finishing reading this book were that I found it interesting, thought provoking, as well as totally believable. Today's society isn't that far away from having chilling beds and resomator......who knows they may already exist somewhere.
I could seriously identify both with being a carer and also with having disabilities. The fight to be heard, get the diagnosis and the end up begging for help that is supposed to be readily available but you cannot seem to get access too no matter how much you beg, plead, cry, shout or scream for it! I have also been left with an uneasy feeling that this government is steering the country and it's people towards this type of society.
January 27, 2019
In November 2016, the UN published a report citing 'grave and systematic violations of the rights of disabled people in the UK. In August 2017, the UN reiterated the findings of the report. Disabled and vulnerable people the length and breadth of the country have their own stories to tell of the devastating impact of this Government's austerity policies.
Cull is set in a near-future where the policies and buzzwords we have become used to; 'hard-working taxpayers', 'scroungers', 'Making Work Pay' have been taken to the next level with the Care and Protect Bill. The most vulnerable members of society - the disabled, ill and elderly are now seen as a burden, freeloaders who cost the state money and any rights they once had are being stripped away. Most public transport has scrapped special seating for what are now known as crips - 'If you can't fit, you can't sit' and new health and safety legislation means service dogs are prohibited from all restaurants, cafés and cafeterias (including schools, universities and work-based cafeterias) unless approved by management. In short, Britain has become an even worse place for the disabled than it is now, with hate crimes becoming an even more regular occurrence, as people become emboldened by a Government whose 'Believe in Better' campaign includes an 'It's Curtains for Skivers!' policy which means nobody dares risk hanging curtains lest they invite the attentions of a window smashing mob.
Alex is partially sighted and as such has been forced to accept a part-time placement working for a local newspaper. It doesn't pay and she is struggling to make ends meet but working more hours would result in her losing her Housing Entitlement. When she and her guide dog, Chris come across a painfully thin dog belonging to a local homeless man, she discovers a new scheme ostensibly to help the long-term homeless but which seems to involve their disappearance and before long her investigation leads her into terrible danger.
Most of the story is told from Alex's perspective and she is a resolute, principled woman albeit not without her flaws, particularly when it comes to her heavy drinking. She is understandably frustrated by a system which is designed to keep her in her place as a needy burden on society instead of allowing her to utilise her extensive reporting experience. Throughout the book she is aided and abetted by Chris and some chapters are delightfully written from his point of view as we are given a glimpse into his world of exciting smells and vibrations. These scenes are beautifully described and are a believable suggestion of what a guide dog might think as he switches between his on duty working role and the times when he is off harness and allowed to enjoy exploring the wonderful scents around him. The bond between him and Alex is obvious and when his doggy senses pick up danger, his fears for her are almost palpable.
Other parts of the book are seen from various characters' perspectives and often give a chilling insight into the full scale of the horrors being perpetrated. Andre is a particularly nasty piece of work but is just a typical foot soldier of the more calculated plotters whose violence is secretive but far more deadly. As the novel progresses, the tension becomes nailbiting as the truth between what is really happening at Grassybanks care home is finally revealed. It's terrifying but having seen the already dehumanising results of oppressive austerity policies and the knowledge of how eugenics and euthanasia have been used so terribly effectively in the past means it's all just too believable.
Cull is a brilliantly sharp satire but it makes for a deeply uncomfortable read that will rightly cause its readers to question just what we have already accepted and how much further society would permit a Government to go under the guise of protecting the rights of tax-payers. The story itself is engrossing; by turns witty, shocking and heartbreaking and is an essential read which I cannot recommend highly enough.
Cull is set in a near-future where the policies and buzzwords we have become used to; 'hard-working taxpayers', 'scroungers', 'Making Work Pay' have been taken to the next level with the Care and Protect Bill. The most vulnerable members of society - the disabled, ill and elderly are now seen as a burden, freeloaders who cost the state money and any rights they once had are being stripped away. Most public transport has scrapped special seating for what are now known as crips - 'If you can't fit, you can't sit' and new health and safety legislation means service dogs are prohibited from all restaurants, cafés and cafeterias (including schools, universities and work-based cafeterias) unless approved by management. In short, Britain has become an even worse place for the disabled than it is now, with hate crimes becoming an even more regular occurrence, as people become emboldened by a Government whose 'Believe in Better' campaign includes an 'It's Curtains for Skivers!' policy which means nobody dares risk hanging curtains lest they invite the attentions of a window smashing mob.
Alex is partially sighted and as such has been forced to accept a part-time placement working for a local newspaper. It doesn't pay and she is struggling to make ends meet but working more hours would result in her losing her Housing Entitlement. When she and her guide dog, Chris come across a painfully thin dog belonging to a local homeless man, she discovers a new scheme ostensibly to help the long-term homeless but which seems to involve their disappearance and before long her investigation leads her into terrible danger.
Most of the story is told from Alex's perspective and she is a resolute, principled woman albeit not without her flaws, particularly when it comes to her heavy drinking. She is understandably frustrated by a system which is designed to keep her in her place as a needy burden on society instead of allowing her to utilise her extensive reporting experience. Throughout the book she is aided and abetted by Chris and some chapters are delightfully written from his point of view as we are given a glimpse into his world of exciting smells and vibrations. These scenes are beautifully described and are a believable suggestion of what a guide dog might think as he switches between his on duty working role and the times when he is off harness and allowed to enjoy exploring the wonderful scents around him. The bond between him and Alex is obvious and when his doggy senses pick up danger, his fears for her are almost palpable.
Other parts of the book are seen from various characters' perspectives and often give a chilling insight into the full scale of the horrors being perpetrated. Andre is a particularly nasty piece of work but is just a typical foot soldier of the more calculated plotters whose violence is secretive but far more deadly. As the novel progresses, the tension becomes nailbiting as the truth between what is really happening at Grassybanks care home is finally revealed. It's terrifying but having seen the already dehumanising results of oppressive austerity policies and the knowledge of how eugenics and euthanasia have been used so terribly effectively in the past means it's all just too believable.
Cull is a brilliantly sharp satire but it makes for a deeply uncomfortable read that will rightly cause its readers to question just what we have already accepted and how much further society would permit a Government to go under the guise of protecting the rights of tax-payers. The story itself is engrossing; by turns witty, shocking and heartbreaking and is an essential read which I cannot recommend highly enough.
April 22, 2019
Amazing, distressing and really, really cool.
Full review to follow
I got this book on kindle through the Unbound Reading Club (it’s a very cool idea from an indie crowd-funded publisher – go click the link!!) and was intrigued as soon as I read the blurb.
Full review to follow
I got this book on kindle through the Unbound Reading Club (it’s a very cool idea from an indie crowd-funded publisher – go click the link!!) and was intrigued as soon as I read the blurb.
February 20, 2019
In a world very like our own - scarily so at times - society has turned on its under-contributing members - the skivers, the scroungers and especially the disabled. Shouting abuse at 'crips', attacking those in wheelchairs, with sticks, or with guide dogs, and having a go at the homeless all seem to be acceptable forms of behaviour in Tanvir Bush's vision of a Britain where welfare cuts bite hard and suicides by those caught on the underbelly of society are on the rise.
Our protagonist is Alex, a visually impaired journalist with a guide dog called Chris. Their mutual affection and adoration is beautiful to read. Alex is suspicious about a local 'care facility' that seems to have a particularly high success rate at turning over its 'clients' and sets out to find out what's going on with the help of Chris, the ladies of the LDA - Ladies Defective Agency - and a friendly school teacher.
The book gets uncomfortably close to some big issues of today's 'Universal Credit' welfare system. Unfathomably complex forms to fill in which are designed to mislead and force errors. Benefits too low to possibly live on and delays in approving them so that people are force deeper into poverty. And just when you think the cynical politicians can't go any lower, it seems quite possible that they're running their own version of the 'Final Solution' under our noses.
It's clever, it's scary and it's also very entertaining. Tanvir Bush is herself visually impaired and has a guide dog and this book has a level of insight that's only possible when somebody has lived through what they describe.
At the end we learn that the book was crowd-funded and I hope very much that those who helped to get it published will be happy with what they supported.
Our protagonist is Alex, a visually impaired journalist with a guide dog called Chris. Their mutual affection and adoration is beautiful to read. Alex is suspicious about a local 'care facility' that seems to have a particularly high success rate at turning over its 'clients' and sets out to find out what's going on with the help of Chris, the ladies of the LDA - Ladies Defective Agency - and a friendly school teacher.
The book gets uncomfortably close to some big issues of today's 'Universal Credit' welfare system. Unfathomably complex forms to fill in which are designed to mislead and force errors. Benefits too low to possibly live on and delays in approving them so that people are force deeper into poverty. And just when you think the cynical politicians can't go any lower, it seems quite possible that they're running their own version of the 'Final Solution' under our noses.
It's clever, it's scary and it's also very entertaining. Tanvir Bush is herself visually impaired and has a guide dog and this book has a level of insight that's only possible when somebody has lived through what they describe.
At the end we learn that the book was crowd-funded and I hope very much that those who helped to get it published will be happy with what they supported.
January 10, 2019
Think the future. Think a state where you pretty much have to work whatever your situation. If not you have to apply for 50 jobs a week otherwise no benefits. Where vulnerable and elderly are taken away so that their carers can work and add to the efficiency of the country. Alex is visually impaired and has her guide dog Chris. She stumbles across something that leads her on an interesting path , one that could put her in danger and where no one would care. There is truth (albeit it controversial- which is probably why it is there) amongst the pages “ A patient still staggering, still smoking still obese, moaning about the medication making them queasy when they were eating a ghastly diet and drinking litres of cheap vodka”. Think dystopian, think extremes. A woman journalist wanting to know what is going on in a world where everything is extreme. I enjoyed this although in parts I felt for the “crips” and what was being done to them. Not a genre I would usually go for but something piqued my interest and I am very glad it did. There is the serious side but there is also a type of humour, one you have to work out for yourself. Perhaps perfectly timed for the current issues surrounding Britain. If you fancy a different read then this could well be the one.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
Amazon Top 1000 reviewer.
January 22, 2019
I am not sure how to explain this book. Cull takes the concept of a scapegoat to a new place: blaming the disabled, homeless, and elderly for their plight, determining that they are bleeding the system dry, and cutting their assistance to the bare minimum, if that. Then it goes further with a plot to basically erase these classes from society, with the wholehearted support and enthusiasm of a majority of society. The story is placed in Britain but could so easily take place in the US. I really enjoyed how Dr. Bush takes the reader from the reasonable to the unreasonable, and how the seeing eye dog is given a voice. I am always a sucker for that and it lightens up what could have been a wholly depressing book. The question this story makes the reader consider is where is the line between helping those who can't help themselves and encouraging abuse of the system?
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Unbound in exchange for an honest review.
A copy of this book was provided by NetGalley and Unbound in exchange for an honest review.
April 26, 2019
Thought-provoking, witty satire with a strong message. I enjoyed the imaginative leap of the perspective from the natural world, and it sat easily with the story's structure and tone. The plot is well-crafted and anxiety inducing, such that I had to stop reading to summon the strength to continue. Disappointing in outcome, but I fear all too realistic. The depiction of where austerity could easily take us is an important warning - I hope it is in time. The current impact of austerity on the most vulnerable in society is a national disgrace.
November 24, 2018
This is truly superb, dark and chilling but also darkly comic. There is definitely a ‘Black Mirror’ feel to it, something that feels so close to where we are, and a horrifyingly realistic potential of where our society could be headed.
Excellent characters and plot, I loved Alex and Chris especially!!
Excellent characters and plot, I loved Alex and Chris especially!!
Read
February 17, 2021This book is written by a partially sighted writer in the first person of a partially sighted character so it is interesting and important. There is also a great guide dog character who is with the main character. It is a satire on the current UK government policies towards people with disabilities and intended to be funny but it is also very close to the actual situation. Highly recommended.
October 5, 2020
Fantastic read, such an eye opener on the discrimination that people with disabilities face each and every day by a system that should be supporting them.
November 24, 2023
AMAZING!!!
did-not-finish
December 11, 2019(I received an ARC from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.)
DNF at 64%.
The premise is both fascinating and daring, really unique, but the writing just really doesn't work for me. I wasn't a fan of the segues into Chris (the guide dog)'s POV - I thought they were too cutesy considering how grim the rest of the book is - and the gritty details about all the (literal and figurative) shit everywhere were uncomfortably graphic.
But the real dealbreaker was the way the narrative deals with race: every character's ethnicity has to be labeled (Caucasian, black, "[with] the almond eyes of Asia"), and there's some stereotyping going on too. My tipping point was when the main character, Alex, puts on a "tourist impression" to avoid trouble due to being sight-impaired in a hostilely ableist world:
So yes, the idea is absolutely fascinating and politically relevant, but this book isn't for me.
content warnings:
DNF at 64%.
The premise is both fascinating and daring, really unique, but the writing just really doesn't work for me. I wasn't a fan of the segues into Chris (the guide dog)'s POV - I thought they were too cutesy considering how grim the rest of the book is - and the gritty details about all the (literal and figurative) shit everywhere were uncomfortably graphic.
But the real dealbreaker was the way the narrative deals with race: every character's ethnicity has to be labeled (Caucasian, black, "[with] the almond eyes of Asia"), and there's some stereotyping going on too. My tipping point was when the main character, Alex, puts on a "tourist impression" to avoid trouble due to being sight-impaired in a hostilely ableist world:
"Oh ... velly solly." She is not sure what accent she is pretending to do ... a Spike Mulligan Goon Show Chinaman classic, possibly.
So yes, the idea is absolutely fascinating and politically relevant, but this book isn't for me.
content warnings:
March 31, 2025
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a review on Netgalley.
This was a powerful novel that although hard to read at times was harrowing and necessary for our present time. Imagine a world where benefits and opportunities for employment are stripped away from people with disabilities. Bush creates such a hellscape that is not too far removed from our political climate. I hope this great indie novel finds a wider readership!
This was a powerful novel that although hard to read at times was harrowing and necessary for our present time. Imagine a world where benefits and opportunities for employment are stripped away from people with disabilities. Bush creates such a hellscape that is not too far removed from our political climate. I hope this great indie novel finds a wider readership!
January 28, 2021
Great read. I hope that's not really the future for disabled people like me. I wonder if there will be a sequel.
January 22, 2019
The concept of state sanctioned, socially acceptable hatred of a group that can be identified as "others" is one that doesn't seem to far fetched in the current state of the world. In reading Bush's writing, it is easy to forget that the society being portrayed is satirical and not full-fledged reality. One in which shunning of individuals with disabilities is not fully-far from the past of mass institutionalization, and the open hatred portrayed as acceptable within society does not seem too far off from the current norm of othering those seen as different or as receiving undeserved assistance.
The concept behind Cull pulled me in from the very beginning. A quick read that packed a punch, I fully recommend it, especially for consideration within the context of the history of disability rights and how the system works (or does not work) today.
The concept behind Cull pulled me in from the very beginning. A quick read that packed a punch, I fully recommend it, especially for consideration within the context of the history of disability rights and how the system works (or does not work) today.
January 24, 2019
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher Unbound. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.
Dr. Bush's new novel is a glimpse into the future of care of the disabled and elderly. It strikes very close to home as a reader with a loved one with disabilities. As the cover suggests, in this story, disabled people are being expendable. As are addicts, the elderly and anyone viewed to be leeching off the system. Considering what National Health Care in Britain is like, Dr. Bush is not too far off base.
A gripping tale. Highly recommended.
Dr. Bush's new novel is a glimpse into the future of care of the disabled and elderly. It strikes very close to home as a reader with a loved one with disabilities. As the cover suggests, in this story, disabled people are being expendable. As are addicts, the elderly and anyone viewed to be leeching off the system. Considering what National Health Care in Britain is like, Dr. Bush is not too far off base.
A gripping tale. Highly recommended.
January 26, 2019
I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher Unbound. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review. Dr. Bush's new novel is a glimpse into the future of care of the disabled and elderly. It strikes very close to home as a reader with a loved one with disabilities. As the cover suggests, in this story, disabled people are being expendable. As are addicts, the elderly and anyone viewed to be leeching off the system. Considering what National Health Care in Britain is like, Dr. Bush is not too far off base. A gripping tale. Highly recommended.
May 6, 2019
“Four years is a long time in politics.”
God, isn’t it just! Four months is also a long time, and is approximately how long I have been putting off writing my review of this great book. Cull is a brilliant book, but I knew I would either write a little about myself and my own experiences of the subject matter, or not write a review at all. Context, you know, is SO important to a reader’s experience of a book. So, for the sake of understanding the context of my review: I have had a life long battle with poor mental health and other health issues, am currently floating in the welfare system, unable to work, have been through a Work Capability Assessment, and have chronic frustration with the welfare system and NHS services, yet have met and been helped by, and still am being helped by, some amazing human beings who are a beacon in the dark, and whom I wish could be replicated a million times over! I am utterly grateful that we have a welfare system at all (there are many places in this world that do not), and think that there have been some changes in recent years that are wonderfully helpful, while others are at best totally baffling/at worst downright cruel.
Cull centers around Alex, a journalist who is blind and whose faithful guide dog Chris opens the novel with a point of view chapter of her own, the first of many witty and lovely passages exploring the bond between dog and (wo)man. Set amongst a hostile social and political backdrop, a speculative picture of a Britain that has truly come to shit emerges, one that seems mostly believable, and, given the state of things today, fairly probable. The Care and Protect Act has been shat out in order to ‘ease the burden on home carers and social workers’ – said no Tory minister, ever – by providing vulnerable people with places in new high-care facilities with 24 hour nursing and medical support. ALWAYS be sceptical of a free lunch…
If I had read this without the author’s name on the front, I would have been delighted that Margaret Atwood had written another great social satire slash horror novel after The Heart Goes Last! All the marvellous ingredients of a dystopian comedy are right here, exploring some of the biggest topical issues of our time, such as how the fuck are the kinds of laws that affect the lives of the most vulnerable in society still being made by people who are as far removed from their situations as a 9p pack of super noodles is from Chequers?
Alex investigates what is actually happening to the vulnerable and sick, including those who have disappeared in peculiar circumstances. She meets a sassy group of women called the Ladies’ Defective Agency, although I’ll leave the discovery of what that entails for the reader. Just know that this novel is very creative and highly original 😉
The trail leads Alex to the clinic offering fabulous care at the heart of the Care and Protect Act, where everything comes to a head, with the vulnerable coming together in an attempt to stand up for the abused and change things for the better. I was really disappointed when I was reading the big ending, initially. It didn’t seem sinister in any way, and the kind of thing a group of children would come up with, until it struck me that sometimes the very worst thing you can do to these monstrous people, is to embarrass them. (But not the kind of embarrassment that comes from going through a WCA, spilling your guts for a process that is degrading and in my case, actually makes health conditions worse)
I love the journalistic style of the novel, and the frequent news clippings are effective, given how much (often incorrect shite) is often said about the vulnerable and those on welfare, for any reason, in the media, and how they are represented. (Hint: atrociously)
Cull is a clever work of art, a terrifying prediction of the political landscape completely losing touch with its responsibilities of looking after its citizens, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what Tanvir Bush writes next.
Rating ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Cull was published on 24th January 2019 by Unbound. Thanks to them for the ARC
God, isn’t it just! Four months is also a long time, and is approximately how long I have been putting off writing my review of this great book. Cull is a brilliant book, but I knew I would either write a little about myself and my own experiences of the subject matter, or not write a review at all. Context, you know, is SO important to a reader’s experience of a book. So, for the sake of understanding the context of my review: I have had a life long battle with poor mental health and other health issues, am currently floating in the welfare system, unable to work, have been through a Work Capability Assessment, and have chronic frustration with the welfare system and NHS services, yet have met and been helped by, and still am being helped by, some amazing human beings who are a beacon in the dark, and whom I wish could be replicated a million times over! I am utterly grateful that we have a welfare system at all (there are many places in this world that do not), and think that there have been some changes in recent years that are wonderfully helpful, while others are at best totally baffling/at worst downright cruel.
Cull centers around Alex, a journalist who is blind and whose faithful guide dog Chris opens the novel with a point of view chapter of her own, the first of many witty and lovely passages exploring the bond between dog and (wo)man. Set amongst a hostile social and political backdrop, a speculative picture of a Britain that has truly come to shit emerges, one that seems mostly believable, and, given the state of things today, fairly probable. The Care and Protect Act has been shat out in order to ‘ease the burden on home carers and social workers’ – said no Tory minister, ever – by providing vulnerable people with places in new high-care facilities with 24 hour nursing and medical support. ALWAYS be sceptical of a free lunch…
If I had read this without the author’s name on the front, I would have been delighted that Margaret Atwood had written another great social satire slash horror novel after The Heart Goes Last! All the marvellous ingredients of a dystopian comedy are right here, exploring some of the biggest topical issues of our time, such as how the fuck are the kinds of laws that affect the lives of the most vulnerable in society still being made by people who are as far removed from their situations as a 9p pack of super noodles is from Chequers?
Alex investigates what is actually happening to the vulnerable and sick, including those who have disappeared in peculiar circumstances. She meets a sassy group of women called the Ladies’ Defective Agency, although I’ll leave the discovery of what that entails for the reader. Just know that this novel is very creative and highly original 😉
The trail leads Alex to the clinic offering fabulous care at the heart of the Care and Protect Act, where everything comes to a head, with the vulnerable coming together in an attempt to stand up for the abused and change things for the better. I was really disappointed when I was reading the big ending, initially. It didn’t seem sinister in any way, and the kind of thing a group of children would come up with, until it struck me that sometimes the very worst thing you can do to these monstrous people, is to embarrass them. (But not the kind of embarrassment that comes from going through a WCA, spilling your guts for a process that is degrading and in my case, actually makes health conditions worse)
I love the journalistic style of the novel, and the frequent news clippings are effective, given how much (often incorrect shite) is often said about the vulnerable and those on welfare, for any reason, in the media, and how they are represented. (Hint: atrociously)
Cull is a clever work of art, a terrifying prediction of the political landscape completely losing touch with its responsibilities of looking after its citizens, and I am very much looking forward to seeing what Tanvir Bush writes next.
Rating ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Cull was published on 24th January 2019 by Unbound. Thanks to them for the ARC
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