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Skin
A strange virus is sweeping the globe. Humans have become allergic to one another. Simply standing next to somebody could be a death sentence. A kiss could be fatal.
Angela is a woman trying to get by in this bewildering new world. Though she still lives with her husband and children, they lead separate lives. Confined to their rooms, they communicate via their computers and phones. In some ways, very little has changed.
That is, until she spots a mysterious stranger walking through town without even a face mask for protection. A man, it seems, immune to this disease. A man unlike anyone else she knows. A man it might just be safe to touch...
Angela is a woman trying to get by in this bewildering new world. Though she still lives with her husband and children, they lead separate lives. Confined to their rooms, they communicate via their computers and phones. In some ways, very little has changed.
That is, until she spots a mysterious stranger walking through town without even a face mask for protection. A man, it seems, immune to this disease. A man unlike anyone else she knows. A man it might just be safe to touch...
288 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2019
118 people are currently reading
1558 people want to read
About the author
Liam Brown
31 books64 followersBrown’s debut novel, Real Monsters, was published in 2015 by Legend Press. Wild Life, which the Guardian called "a compelling, chilling investigation into the dark instincts of masculinity", followed in 2016, while his third novel, Broadcast, was published internationally in 2017. Described by the Daily Mail as "a short, sharp and shocking update of the Faustus myth", the book was also optioned by a major Hollywood Studio.
His new novel Skin, about a viral pandemic that puts the world into lockdown, was released in 2019.
His new novel Skin, about a viral pandemic that puts the world into lockdown, was released in 2019.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 179 reviews
November 25, 2021
This was kind of mediocre for me. It wasn’t amazing and it wasn’t terrible. Apart from the relevance to the pandemic I think I will end up forgetting what happened in this book.
October 9, 2021
I read this book in 2019 - 18 months later it looks ridiculously prescient which has lead me to move it up a ranking as it now (despite its cliffhanger ending style) makes a fascinating comparison to our own world - as unlike most pandemic style dystopias this is a book which is almost entirely around lockdown and not around the pandemic.
Something I deliberately did not bring out in my original review (largely to avoid spoilers) is the rather strong hint that the government also rather likes the idea of lockdown and, with unwitting societal collusion, is continuing it and perpetuating the long after it is really required - one therefore for lockdown sceptics and conspiracists.
Toby Young should be reissuing this book!
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I read this book due to its shortlisting for the 2019 Guardian Not The Booker prize.
The book is a simply written and easy to read very near-future dystopian fantasy in which the world has been struck by a highly contagious virus which once contracted renders its victims fatally allergic to other humans – so that any form of direct contact is potentially fatal with people choking to death.
As a result the government requires people to live in their own houses where they receive regular sustenance supplies, and to wear contamination suits on their rare sorties outside (including for women the compulsory donation of eggs to assist with attempts to search for a genetic way to fight the virus). Even within those houses families live in complete isolation from each other, individually barricaded in their own spaces.
Society though quickly adapts to this new world – companies adapt themselves to purely online or virtual presences and all work is via email and conference calls, schooling is also remote.
The book is narrated by Angela in two separate, alternating series of chapters: a present day one (sometimes seemingly addressed to an egg that was harvested from her at the start of the book) and a past section (written in italics)
The past section shows how she and her family first come to terms with the outbreak of the virus – seemingly very slow to realise its implications and making an ill-advised escape to a largely denuded and dangerous countryside before finally going back to their city apartment when the authorities regain some measure of control.
The present section introduces us to her family: her husband Colin – a car computer engineer who reinvents himself as a VR expert and seems to relish the new world; her son Charlie who to her disgust develops into a malicious and overweight hacker; her daughter Amber struggling with teenage-hood in an artificial world. Angela herself feels trapped in a world so different from her dreams of family life, she grasps an opportunity to join a neighbourhood watch programme which gives her the right to patrol outside for limited periods immune from arrest or detention (albeit the level of enforcement of the strict isolation seems suspiciously low, at least to the reader). There she spots a young man – who she later knows as Jazz – walking around without a mask, and her involvement with him leads to her family life unravelling further.
On the surface this is a dystopian thriller – and not a particularly well written or convincing one.
The alternating chapters have a habit of ending on cliff-hangers. Just a few examples:
As well as becoming increasingly tiring, they are not even drama-inducing given they are continually proved to be falsely alarming and this is exacerbated as they also occur in the past sections when we already know that the people involved are alive and well in the present day.
And in terms of the dystopian world - neither the family’s sojourn to the countryside or (even more so) the current set-up of society really make much sense.
Below the surface (or perhaps I should say beneath the skin) the book is a little more convincing – the novel’s real strength in functioning as a comment on the direction of today’s smart-phone, Facebook, Twitter addicted society and the real message of the book being not the disruption caused by the virus but the very easy way that society not just adapts to it, but in many cases embraces the world it leads to, a world which is a very natural logical destination of our own current trends.
Something I deliberately did not bring out in my original review (largely to avoid spoilers) is the rather strong hint that the government also rather likes the idea of lockdown and, with unwitting societal collusion, is continuing it and perpetuating the long after it is really required - one therefore for lockdown sceptics and conspiracists.
Toby Young should be reissuing this book!
ORIGINAL REVIEW
I read this book due to its shortlisting for the 2019 Guardian Not The Booker prize.
The book is a simply written and easy to read very near-future dystopian fantasy in which the world has been struck by a highly contagious virus which once contracted renders its victims fatally allergic to other humans – so that any form of direct contact is potentially fatal with people choking to death.
As a result the government requires people to live in their own houses where they receive regular sustenance supplies, and to wear contamination suits on their rare sorties outside (including for women the compulsory donation of eggs to assist with attempts to search for a genetic way to fight the virus). Even within those houses families live in complete isolation from each other, individually barricaded in their own spaces.
Society though quickly adapts to this new world – companies adapt themselves to purely online or virtual presences and all work is via email and conference calls, schooling is also remote.
The book is narrated by Angela in two separate, alternating series of chapters: a present day one (sometimes seemingly addressed to an egg that was harvested from her at the start of the book) and a past section (written in italics)
The past section shows how she and her family first come to terms with the outbreak of the virus – seemingly very slow to realise its implications and making an ill-advised escape to a largely denuded and dangerous countryside before finally going back to their city apartment when the authorities regain some measure of control.
The present section introduces us to her family: her husband Colin – a car computer engineer who reinvents himself as a VR expert and seems to relish the new world; her son Charlie who to her disgust develops into a malicious and overweight hacker; her daughter Amber struggling with teenage-hood in an artificial world. Angela herself feels trapped in a world so different from her dreams of family life, she grasps an opportunity to join a neighbourhood watch programme which gives her the right to patrol outside for limited periods immune from arrest or detention (albeit the level of enforcement of the strict isolation seems suspiciously low, at least to the reader). There she spots a young man – who she later knows as Jazz – walking around without a mask, and her involvement with him leads to her family life unravelling further.
On the surface this is a dystopian thriller – and not a particularly well written or convincing one.
The alternating chapters have a habit of ending on cliff-hangers. Just a few examples:
They were heading right towards me.
A man holding an axe. A man looking right at me.
It’s her chest. She … she can’t breathe
Just in time to see him raise the axe
I noticed the front door was wide open. It was hanging of its hinges. As if it had been kicked.
It was blood. And lots of it.
My bare skin. Raw and open. Exposed.
A shot rang out.
As well as becoming increasingly tiring, they are not even drama-inducing given they are continually proved to be falsely alarming and this is exacerbated as they also occur in the past sections when we already know that the people involved are alive and well in the present day.
And in terms of the dystopian world - neither the family’s sojourn to the countryside or (even more so) the current set-up of society really make much sense.
Below the surface (or perhaps I should say beneath the skin) the book is a little more convincing – the novel’s real strength in functioning as a comment on the direction of today’s smart-phone, Facebook, Twitter addicted society and the real message of the book being not the disruption caused by the virus but the very easy way that society not just adapts to it, but in many cases embraces the world it leads to, a world which is a very natural logical destination of our own current trends.
April 12, 2019
I want to thank NetGalley for sending me and advanced digital copy of this book.
"People shopping. People looking. People moving. People stopping.
All races, shapes and sizes.
Pressed together. Mushed together. Mixed together.
Merged and funneled and sheltering from the rain.
And the sweet awful stink of it all. Expensive perfume mingling with cheap aftershave. Fresh coffee and stale cigarettes. Minty breath and morning breath and garlic breath and dog breath.
All of us breathing each other's air. Stepping in each other's spaces.
People, people, people"
In a not-so-far future, humankind has been decimated by a virus of unknown origins: the disease is extremely painful, extremely lethal, and extremely contagious. Angela has a husband and two kids, but she can't touch them or even look at them in their eyes because they live separate lives, isolated in different areas of the house. Like everybody else, they avoid contact with other human beings at all costs. But where is the government in all of this? Why doesn't anyone fight for a solution? It seems like people have given up too easily, and rather then finding a way to go back to life as it was before, have too easily adjusted to the new way of living.
This book was an enjoyable read, I actually read it all in one sitting. I liked the writing, the pacing was good, the action was involving enough and the plot was well-constructed. This is not the most original story in the genre, I found it followed some tropes way to close, and some jump scares and cliffhangers at the end of chapters felt a little forced. But, overall, this made me spend a very nice afternoon and I recommend to to anyone who wants a true, old school, virus/parasite story to feed our apocalyptic stomachs!
"People shopping. People looking. People moving. People stopping.
All races, shapes and sizes.
Pressed together. Mushed together. Mixed together.
Merged and funneled and sheltering from the rain.
And the sweet awful stink of it all. Expensive perfume mingling with cheap aftershave. Fresh coffee and stale cigarettes. Minty breath and morning breath and garlic breath and dog breath.
All of us breathing each other's air. Stepping in each other's spaces.
People, people, people"
In a not-so-far future, humankind has been decimated by a virus of unknown origins: the disease is extremely painful, extremely lethal, and extremely contagious. Angela has a husband and two kids, but she can't touch them or even look at them in their eyes because they live separate lives, isolated in different areas of the house. Like everybody else, they avoid contact with other human beings at all costs. But where is the government in all of this? Why doesn't anyone fight for a solution? It seems like people have given up too easily, and rather then finding a way to go back to life as it was before, have too easily adjusted to the new way of living.
This book was an enjoyable read, I actually read it all in one sitting. I liked the writing, the pacing was good, the action was involving enough and the plot was well-constructed. This is not the most original story in the genre, I found it followed some tropes way to close, and some jump scares and cliffhangers at the end of chapters felt a little forced. But, overall, this made me spend a very nice afternoon and I recommend to to anyone who wants a true, old school, virus/parasite story to feed our apocalyptic stomachs!
May 24, 2019
This was an awesome book. Pacey, unique and imaginative, I was sucked in just from reading the blurb! What more can I say? Brown delivers a fantastic dystopian read and I hope that there is going to be a sequel.
The idea of not being able to touch anyone for fear of death is an unusual idea for a post-apocalyptic, dystopian read. It creates a powerful read as we are introduced to a family living together but in complete isolation. Trapped within their bedroom walls, this new way of living is only through the medium of the internet, text messages and any other way that is remote. No contact, no cuddles, not even sharing the same room. It is a prison and the different ways the family respond to this living situation simultaneously bonds and divides them. Whilst the parents immersive themselves in their remote working environment (wake, wash, eat, work, sleep, repeat), parenting has taken on a totally new meaning. Imagine it: remote parenting? Angela and Connor have only so much control over their children, and even then, this is limited. Amber and Charlie are a force to be reckoned with. Amber, moody teenager, appears to have immersed herself in exercise and striving to get the best school grades possible. On the other hand, Charlie is barely recognisable by his parents – both physically and morally. He hardly moves and so is described as massive, obese, and instead appears to delight in the misery caused by hacking networks and computers – even those of his family.
Unsurprisingly, this prison-like existence is suffocating and Angela’s desperation to escape the apartment and carry out neighbourhood checks, despite wearing full-blown protection suits, leads her to discover someone living, actually living, outside, and without any protection, not even a face mask. His attitude towards life and the virus causes Angela to not only begin to have serious secrets from her family, but also question her place in this new society. The seed of doubt that he plants only leads to several questions in my head that the writer doesn’t answer.
Whilst some might find this lack of information irritating, I found the book even more gripping as a result. Desperate to know the answers, I was surprised at how Brown made the ending so conclusive. There is no suggestion of a sequel, although I strongly believe that Brown has enough material to make this a success. The plot development builds pace to a crescendo and whilst I did predict some of the conclusions, the final chapter definitely made up for this.
This was an inventive and original piece of fiction. I hope Brown adds to this story at a later date and, without a doubt, I would happily read this again later down the line.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Liam Brown for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.
The idea of not being able to touch anyone for fear of death is an unusual idea for a post-apocalyptic, dystopian read. It creates a powerful read as we are introduced to a family living together but in complete isolation. Trapped within their bedroom walls, this new way of living is only through the medium of the internet, text messages and any other way that is remote. No contact, no cuddles, not even sharing the same room. It is a prison and the different ways the family respond to this living situation simultaneously bonds and divides them. Whilst the parents immersive themselves in their remote working environment (wake, wash, eat, work, sleep, repeat), parenting has taken on a totally new meaning. Imagine it: remote parenting? Angela and Connor have only so much control over their children, and even then, this is limited. Amber and Charlie are a force to be reckoned with. Amber, moody teenager, appears to have immersed herself in exercise and striving to get the best school grades possible. On the other hand, Charlie is barely recognisable by his parents – both physically and morally. He hardly moves and so is described as massive, obese, and instead appears to delight in the misery caused by hacking networks and computers – even those of his family.
Unsurprisingly, this prison-like existence is suffocating and Angela’s desperation to escape the apartment and carry out neighbourhood checks, despite wearing full-blown protection suits, leads her to discover someone living, actually living, outside, and without any protection, not even a face mask. His attitude towards life and the virus causes Angela to not only begin to have serious secrets from her family, but also question her place in this new society. The seed of doubt that he plants only leads to several questions in my head that the writer doesn’t answer.
Whilst some might find this lack of information irritating, I found the book even more gripping as a result. Desperate to know the answers, I was surprised at how Brown made the ending so conclusive. There is no suggestion of a sequel, although I strongly believe that Brown has enough material to make this a success. The plot development builds pace to a crescendo and whilst I did predict some of the conclusions, the final chapter definitely made up for this.
This was an inventive and original piece of fiction. I hope Brown adds to this story at a later date and, without a doubt, I would happily read this again later down the line.
I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Liam Brown for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.
April 11, 2019
I’m delighted to be the first person to review this book. I’ve read and liked all of Brown’s books. So much so that when this one showed up on Netgalley I requested it without reading the plot summary and read it (gasp) without checking the page count first. Which is essentially something you can do when you’ve come to rely on the author to tell a good story in a reasonably economical way. And sure enough, Brown delivered once again. This time a dystopia. Oddly enough thematically linked to the just finished Scalzi’s Lock In in that the characters in this book after experiencing a similar global devastation are now locked in, in a way. In their own apartments, in their own lives. With digital connections becoming more and more elaborate and important and real world connections becoming extinct. In such a world people live in separate, isolated and insulated spaces and only venture outside in protective gear. The book’s protagonist, a wife and a mother, lives in one of these separated arrangements, observing her family disintegrate…her daughter, unable to live a normal life of a teenager exercises obsessively, her son, isolated from social norms, becomes a morbidly obese sociopath, her spouse becomes more and more preoccupied with his work of creative immersive environments for the wealthy to play in. And only 5 years have passed since life was recognizable and normal. To its credit, the government has stepped up impressively, coordinating deliveries of all basics, thus eliminating any need for going outside or social interactions. But is it motivated by sheer altruism and a desire to take care of its citizens or is it simply that corralled sheeple are easy to control. Is the world outside a danger to all or is it simply an enforced belief used to contain and manage the population. One day during a neighborhood safety walk, the woman meets a young man, who has no mask, no protective gear and yet is alive in a way that she’s very much began to forget. Suddenly there are possibilities, options even, but they come with near impossible choices. This is a dystopia, after all, not a utopia. The novel is told in split timelines, one of a present life, one of the events immediately leading up to it, so that the reader can actually witness the shrinking of the world, the immersive claustrophobia of the story. It works very well on every level, especially the understated underlying paranoia of the governmental control of the situation. There is also a prescient message about the dangers of virtual reality taking over the real thing and what a complete digital pervasiveness can do to the fabric of society as we know it. in fact that future is now in a way as anyone who has shared their family time with a variety of gadgets or competed for attention against a smartphone can attest to. So the novel actually works well as a social commentary on the ever increasing modern dependency on technology. This is a clever, timely and compelling novel aptly titled after the largest organ of the body the characters are told they can’t touch. Plus it’s just a really great story. Engaging, sad, poignant, interesting and original. Plus it entertains while making you think, which is the best kind of entertainment. Recommended. Thanks Netgalley.
March 24, 2020
This was a really enjoyable book, a dystopian future of a world and its people almost destroyed by a virus. It is like they are allergic to each other and so have to isolate from every other living soul in the world including their families. Scary stuff eh!?
It was well written and the world itself was described well, in some ways an easy read, it was a bit bleak but the protagonist, Angela had a nice way of speaking to us and it was kind of chatty and informal which I liked. I liked her, she seemed honest, down to earth and cynical (and swears a bit if that’s something that bothers you), I guess she just seemed like a normal person would in that situation.
We had a dual timeline which I am not mad keen on but it worked here (and was necessary), both timelines were really engaging and exciting and at times had me on the edge of my seat as we went back and forth.
I can’t give this a 5, it wasn’t totally amazing but I would recommend it to anyone who likes dystopian stories.
Overall a good fun read, sometimes a little predictable, but with some good characters and good writing so worth a read. A solid 4*/5.
P. S. This has been left wide open for a sequel. I’d read it if they did, but happy also to let my imagination run with might happen after The End.
It was well written and the world itself was described well, in some ways an easy read, it was a bit bleak but the protagonist, Angela had a nice way of speaking to us and it was kind of chatty and informal which I liked. I liked her, she seemed honest, down to earth and cynical (and swears a bit if that’s something that bothers you), I guess she just seemed like a normal person would in that situation.
We had a dual timeline which I am not mad keen on but it worked here (and was necessary), both timelines were really engaging and exciting and at times had me on the edge of my seat as we went back and forth.
I can’t give this a 5, it wasn’t totally amazing but I would recommend it to anyone who likes dystopian stories.
Overall a good fun read, sometimes a little predictable, but with some good characters and good writing so worth a read. A solid 4*/5.
P. S. This has been left wide open for a sequel. I’d read it if they did, but happy also to let my imagination run with might happen after The End.
May 2, 2019
The most accurate way to describe Skin is a dystopian nightmare that is a dream to read. Once again Brown has produced an interesting, poignant and timely story with an all too real scenario and a questioning of those with all the power e.g. the government. Here, people must live isolated, compartmentalised lives with the only connections allowed to be made being via technology. Given that face-to-face human contact has dropped significantly in recent years it's not difficult to see this as a plausible reality with a bit of manipulation from the government and associated parties. In fact, it's rather disturbing to establish that this could really happen. This is such an impressive and detailed post-apocalyptic world.
Brown has crafted an intelligent novel that depicts the drawbacks and complexities of never having human contact and most of what is experienced can be seen in our lives now which are lived so much more online than ever before. Told in both the present and with flashbacks to the panic, mayhem and utter confusion as the virus started to spread show an author with acute observational skills and understanding of human behaviour. Those essentially imprisoned in their homes, like hamsters in a cage, would have done well to follow my motto: question everything.
This is an enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you're a fan of thought-provoking science fiction, but I feel it would also go down well with those we term as conspiracy theorists. It's certainly a well written, immersive, pacy and action-packed read with an oppressive sense of claustrophobia which underpins everything. Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
Brown has crafted an intelligent novel that depicts the drawbacks and complexities of never having human contact and most of what is experienced can be seen in our lives now which are lived so much more online than ever before. Told in both the present and with flashbacks to the panic, mayhem and utter confusion as the virus started to spread show an author with acute observational skills and understanding of human behaviour. Those essentially imprisoned in their homes, like hamsters in a cage, would have done well to follow my motto: question everything.
This is an enjoyable read and well worth picking up if you're a fan of thought-provoking science fiction, but I feel it would also go down well with those we term as conspiracy theorists. It's certainly a well written, immersive, pacy and action-packed read with an oppressive sense of claustrophobia which underpins everything. Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.
May 28, 2019
Ok, I have to say that I am not usually someone who reads dystopian stories, but this one captured my attention when I read the blurb. I do like to read about viruses and strange diseases. So it was up my alley. I was caught between a rock and a hard place, but my curiousity won.
From the first page I was sold. I really was into the book straight away and I loved it.
I can't imagine how it would feel to have to live like those people had to, but on the other hand, if you want to survive, sacrifices have to be made, big time.
Once again I have realized that it's ok to set bounderies, but a new world might open up if you cross them from time to time.
At the end of the book I was left with a 'oh no' kind of feeling and I dare to hope there will be a sequel, because I am looking forward to what the author still has in store for this family.
To me this book was a very good introduction to a genre I was not familiar with. 4 stars.
Thank you, Liam Brown and Legend press.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
From the first page I was sold. I really was into the book straight away and I loved it.
I can't imagine how it would feel to have to live like those people had to, but on the other hand, if you want to survive, sacrifices have to be made, big time.
Once again I have realized that it's ok to set bounderies, but a new world might open up if you cross them from time to time.
At the end of the book I was left with a 'oh no' kind of feeling and I dare to hope there will be a sequel, because I am looking forward to what the author still has in store for this family.
To me this book was a very good introduction to a genre I was not familiar with. 4 stars.
Thank you, Liam Brown and Legend press.
https://bforbookreview.wordpress.com
January 14, 2020
Skin is set in a dystopian future where physical contact can be fatal. Everyone lives in isolation, even families within the same house. On the very rare occasions anyone ventures from the safety of their homes it's via a decontamination airlock and in full hazmat gear.
The story follows Angela and her family through two time strands. The first sets the scene for this nightmare world, following them as they flee the city when the virus that caused this takes hold. The second picks up after they have returned and are years into living their isolated lives. Then one day Angela spots a man outside - with no protective clothing - and it turns her world upside down.
The world that's left behind has been very well thought through, tackling issues such as remote parenting. Companies quickly adjusted, exploiting technology to create and sell things that will make people's lives as bearable as possible.
The strains of a family together and yet apart are well explored with each of the members dealing with the lack of physical contact and the extreme claustrophobia of living almost exclusively in a single room in totally different ways.
It's a real page-turner with the two timelines rattling along leaving plenty to think about. Highly recommended.
The story follows Angela and her family through two time strands. The first sets the scene for this nightmare world, following them as they flee the city when the virus that caused this takes hold. The second picks up after they have returned and are years into living their isolated lives. Then one day Angela spots a man outside - with no protective clothing - and it turns her world upside down.
The world that's left behind has been very well thought through, tackling issues such as remote parenting. Companies quickly adjusted, exploiting technology to create and sell things that will make people's lives as bearable as possible.
The strains of a family together and yet apart are well explored with each of the members dealing with the lack of physical contact and the extreme claustrophobia of living almost exclusively in a single room in totally different ways.
It's a real page-turner with the two timelines rattling along leaving plenty to think about. Highly recommended.
March 24, 2020
I'm very pleased to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book and it would easily have gained 5 stars except for the fact that the ending felt a little rushed and too many loose ends/issues left dangling in ‘mid-air’. Obviously, this is a good trick when a story culminates to an "open to interpretation' end for the reader to decide for themselves, but this book felt that it just left just too many issues unresolved and hence, slightly unsatisfying - maybe in preparation for a planned 'Skin 2" sequel though?? If so, then definitely sign me up for that one! As for this easy to read, smooth flowing dystopian adventure story though - great ideas-which were well structured, loved the narrative, some brilliant dialogue (intelligent, witty and very humorous at times), lots of credible and very believable details which were all relevant to current modern day living and the characters were interesting whilst being both mysterious and unpredictable at times. However, I did have a few minor concerns about the storylines but will let other readers discover them for themselves rather than adding spoilers into this review. My final thought regarding Angela, the the main protagonist however, was wondering whether she would actually go back and choose to live under these unfavourable conditions again (?)- but maybe so....if just for the sake of her egg!! Overall - a fantastic story but a bit disappointing with too many ‘unaddressed’ elements at the very end. Rating: 4.2 stars. Very enjoyable!
July 6, 2020
Facing a much more deadly virus than we do at the moment, in 'Skin' all people have to live in total isolation from each other, because human skin has become the host of the contagion. This is the story of Angela and her family - each living isolated in a separate room of the house, only allowed to go outside in complete protective gear, and even then only to fetch the new food delivery from the tent attached to their front door. They only communicate with and see each other via computer, mostly to meet for virtual family meals. The children developed strange routines of their own, almost becoming strangers to Angela.
When Angela joins a neighborhood watch, she is allowed to leave her house and roam the streets for a couple hours each fortnight, having to report all unusual occurences. When one day she spots a human without a protective suit, she decides to keep this observation to herself and investigate further. How comes this boy hasn't fallen ill or died yet? Is he immune to the virus?
From here on, the story - and Angelas life - slowly spirals out of control. Angelas daughter secretly followed her outside, her son turns into some sort of cyber terrorist, first harrassing his sister, then exposing secret information of his father's work, which also is very different from what Angela expected him to do. And Angela herself changes as well, questioning the on-going quarantine.
This is a very different kind of family story, but still showing familiar signs, like the rebellious kids and the motherly worries of Angela whose priority to protect her family is slowly overturned in the face of events.
Though the story was told from Angela's POV, the writing had a detached feeling to it, even in her most emotional moments. Surprisingly, I appreciated that quality very much, as it prevented the story from becoming too melodramatic and perfectly fitted the sterile isolation the protagonists were forced to live in. While Angela made some questionable decisions, they were still comprehensible considering the extreme situation she lived in. This was an unexpectedly fascinating and surprising read.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
When Angela joins a neighborhood watch, she is allowed to leave her house and roam the streets for a couple hours each fortnight, having to report all unusual occurences. When one day she spots a human without a protective suit, she decides to keep this observation to herself and investigate further. How comes this boy hasn't fallen ill or died yet? Is he immune to the virus?
From here on, the story - and Angelas life - slowly spirals out of control. Angelas daughter secretly followed her outside, her son turns into some sort of cyber terrorist, first harrassing his sister, then exposing secret information of his father's work, which also is very different from what Angela expected him to do. And Angela herself changes as well, questioning the on-going quarantine.
This is a very different kind of family story, but still showing familiar signs, like the rebellious kids and the motherly worries of Angela whose priority to protect her family is slowly overturned in the face of events.
Though the story was told from Angela's POV, the writing had a detached feeling to it, even in her most emotional moments. Surprisingly, I appreciated that quality very much, as it prevented the story from becoming too melodramatic and perfectly fitted the sterile isolation the protagonists were forced to live in. While Angela made some questionable decisions, they were still comprehensible considering the extreme situation she lived in. This was an unexpectedly fascinating and surprising read.
(thanks to netgalley, the author, and the publisher for a copy of the book, all opinions are my own)
June 12, 2019
I enjoyed reading this book, it was different to others of a similar vein but, my complaint that it was too short. Whether there will be others to follow on I would be very interested to read more.
September 12, 2019
I enjoyed this one, it started out with real promise and I was intrigued by the unusual take on a virus that makes people allergic to each other.
I felt like the ending was rushed and although I'm happy with books that leave you wondering about certain things and not having every loose end tied up it seemed like there were too many things that were left unknown and unexplained. It felt like the author had started certain ideas in the storyline with no idea of where to go with them so kind of left them hanging rather than try and come to a conclusion
I felt like the ending was rushed and although I'm happy with books that leave you wondering about certain things and not having every loose end tied up it seemed like there were too many things that were left unknown and unexplained. It felt like the author had started certain ideas in the storyline with no idea of where to go with them so kind of left them hanging rather than try and come to a conclusion
June 1, 2020
A fast paced thriller unfortunately a little too close to home right now! Liam Brown creates a world where a mysterious virus has bannished the world into their own homes. Predicting the mood of a pandemic pretty well (back in 2019), this book is not only interesting to read considering our own experiences of an outbreak, but it is well written and sharp, with a tight and controlled plot. Loved it. I never knew what the next chapter had in store for me - very entertaining.
June 4, 2019
three and a half dragons
Published May 1st 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I used to be the weird kid that wanted to be stranded on an island with maybe one or two people. I adored and consistently reread The Island of the Blue Dolphins as a kid because the idea was so enticing to me. Then I discovered the zombie apocalypse. I was hooked immediately. I grew up poor so the idea of being able to just take food and necessities and okay, occasional luxuries with no repercussions was a tempting one. I’ve since broadened my horizons to a love of all apocalypses, but I still have a soft spot for zombies.
Skin doesn’t have zombies, but it was an apocalypse in a more horrifying way. Solitary confinement for years. Even the ones you love the most are kept at such a distance that you can’t help but grow apart.
The characters are discussed later in “The Good” section in a different light, but here let’s talk about how Angela is a terrible mother and wife. She doesn’t really seem to care about anyone in her family. She has nothing but disdain for her husband. She fears her son and ignores her daughter. When issues come up she promptly ignores them for anything else, even staring at a wall.
The Bad
It kind of read like an unhappy/unfulfilled housewife who happens to be living during apocalyptic times. Angela stays at home, has disdain for her husband, barely knows her children, and feels the pointlessness of her job and her life. To escape this feeling she goes exploring outside her comfort zone and goes looking for...
for the full review please visit https://www.literarydragonreviews.web...
Published May 1st 2019
Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I used to be the weird kid that wanted to be stranded on an island with maybe one or two people. I adored and consistently reread The Island of the Blue Dolphins as a kid because the idea was so enticing to me. Then I discovered the zombie apocalypse. I was hooked immediately. I grew up poor so the idea of being able to just take food and necessities and okay, occasional luxuries with no repercussions was a tempting one. I’ve since broadened my horizons to a love of all apocalypses, but I still have a soft spot for zombies.
Skin doesn’t have zombies, but it was an apocalypse in a more horrifying way. Solitary confinement for years. Even the ones you love the most are kept at such a distance that you can’t help but grow apart.
The characters are discussed later in “The Good” section in a different light, but here let’s talk about how Angela is a terrible mother and wife. She doesn’t really seem to care about anyone in her family. She has nothing but disdain for her husband. She fears her son and ignores her daughter. When issues come up she promptly ignores them for anything else, even staring at a wall.
The Bad
It kind of read like an unhappy/unfulfilled housewife who happens to be living during apocalyptic times. Angela stays at home, has disdain for her husband, barely knows her children, and feels the pointlessness of her job and her life. To escape this feeling she goes exploring outside her comfort zone and goes looking for...
for the full review please visit https://www.literarydragonreviews.web...
January 22, 2021
brilliant. god I was just captivated. and very true to time at the moment. loved
August 21, 2024
Dechrau’n dda ond deialog mor annoying a’r diweddglo yn crap.
May 20, 2019
3.5 review part of publishers blog tour
My Thoughts:
Brown’s imagined world where humans have become toxic to each other is a very dark and foreboding place. Through flashbacks we get to find out how such a place has come to exist and how as a family Angela, Colin and their two children, Amber and Charlie have changed over the duration from the past into the present paranoid, government oppressed, state controlled world.
There are some interesting dynamics at play from within the family environment where each household member lives in imposed solitary confinement. Totally isolated from the rest of humanity they can never be with each other without the protection of their protective suits for fear of contamination. To create some semblance of normalcy however, Angela insists on eating ‘together’ at mealtimes over a live feed to their individual tv monitors. During one such gathering there is the normal sibling rivalry, bickering and teasing, and a sulky teenage blowout where instead of storming off to their room the kids simply switch off their tv connection.
As a family in such circumstances they drift apart from each other and withdraw into their own private environment, adapting sometimes rather selfishly in order to cope or make sense of a world in which they now find themselves.
Amber and Charlie seem to have managed this process without any obvious difficulties. They’ve remained in their rooms with their x-box, internet computer games, or communicating with the outside world online. Seemingly less affected by the isolation and lack of physical contact or companionship than their parents.
Brown writes with perceptive insight about his female characters and I believed in the personality and behaviour of them. I was drawn emotionally to Angela, a mother like myself, I felt her anguish at not being able to instinctively reach out to console and comfort those she loved nor to ever be able to physically demonstrate her love for her husband again. I felt her despair in her impossible search to fill the gaping void in her life.
Angela then discovers a young man without any protective clothing while out exploring on her official patrol duties. Although she should report him to the authorities she keeps his sighting a secret and over the following weeks Angela transitions from a trusting compliant, law abiding citizen to a questioning and suspicious individual challenging what she has been told about the virus.
Brown shows us what it could be like in this plausibly imagined dystopian tale.
Its a world where human contact is forbidden as well as highly dangerous, deadly even. Where skin to skin touch and stimulation from the smells of the environment around us is denied. Where intense desires to be loved and touched is an all pervasive desire. He paints an all too vivid picture of just what the future could be like with such deprivation. It’s a bleak place to be.
For me ‘Skin’ had more of a YA feel to it rather than the adult audience targeted and believe it would be enjoyed by both. Skin was an enjoyable entertaining read and with an ending I didn’t see coming would love to read a sequel...I would like to hear more about ‘the egg’ to which the narrator shares her feelings throughout.
#LiamBrown, #SKIN, Apocalyptic, Blog Tour, Legend Press
My Thoughts:
Brown’s imagined world where humans have become toxic to each other is a very dark and foreboding place. Through flashbacks we get to find out how such a place has come to exist and how as a family Angela, Colin and their two children, Amber and Charlie have changed over the duration from the past into the present paranoid, government oppressed, state controlled world.
There are some interesting dynamics at play from within the family environment where each household member lives in imposed solitary confinement. Totally isolated from the rest of humanity they can never be with each other without the protection of their protective suits for fear of contamination. To create some semblance of normalcy however, Angela insists on eating ‘together’ at mealtimes over a live feed to their individual tv monitors. During one such gathering there is the normal sibling rivalry, bickering and teasing, and a sulky teenage blowout where instead of storming off to their room the kids simply switch off their tv connection.
As a family in such circumstances they drift apart from each other and withdraw into their own private environment, adapting sometimes rather selfishly in order to cope or make sense of a world in which they now find themselves.
Amber and Charlie seem to have managed this process without any obvious difficulties. They’ve remained in their rooms with their x-box, internet computer games, or communicating with the outside world online. Seemingly less affected by the isolation and lack of physical contact or companionship than their parents.
Brown writes with perceptive insight about his female characters and I believed in the personality and behaviour of them. I was drawn emotionally to Angela, a mother like myself, I felt her anguish at not being able to instinctively reach out to console and comfort those she loved nor to ever be able to physically demonstrate her love for her husband again. I felt her despair in her impossible search to fill the gaping void in her life.
Angela then discovers a young man without any protective clothing while out exploring on her official patrol duties. Although she should report him to the authorities she keeps his sighting a secret and over the following weeks Angela transitions from a trusting compliant, law abiding citizen to a questioning and suspicious individual challenging what she has been told about the virus.
Brown shows us what it could be like in this plausibly imagined dystopian tale.
Its a world where human contact is forbidden as well as highly dangerous, deadly even. Where skin to skin touch and stimulation from the smells of the environment around us is denied. Where intense desires to be loved and touched is an all pervasive desire. He paints an all too vivid picture of just what the future could be like with such deprivation. It’s a bleak place to be.
For me ‘Skin’ had more of a YA feel to it rather than the adult audience targeted and believe it would be enjoyed by both. Skin was an enjoyable entertaining read and with an ending I didn’t see coming would love to read a sequel...I would like to hear more about ‘the egg’ to which the narrator shares her feelings throughout.
#LiamBrown, #SKIN, Apocalyptic, Blog Tour, Legend Press
May 17, 2020
3.5 stars.
The concept was really good, and is eerily similar to today’s events, especially whenever you look at how the virus started and how everyone ignored it to begin with.
I feel that the ending was wrapped up too quickly, and that’s the main reason for 3.5 and not 4 stars.
However, there’s scope for a sequel here and it would be nice to see that; especially one that reveals this is all a conspiracy.
The concept was really good, and is eerily similar to today’s events, especially whenever you look at how the virus started and how everyone ignored it to begin with.
I feel that the ending was wrapped up too quickly, and that’s the main reason for 3.5 and not 4 stars.
However, there’s scope for a sequel here and it would be nice to see that; especially one that reveals this is all a conspiracy.
May 1, 2019
3.5 stars.
The reviews on this book were mixed and I've read enough dystopian novels to not be thrilled about reading a mediocre one. But alas, I think there's a lot of gold in this story.
First of all, unlike most other dystopian novels I've read this one focuses on one family and their journey through this new world. The story alternates between the beginnings of the outbreak and the family's transition and the "now" world of many, many years later. The main character is the mom of the family. All of this already made me more curious since most of the dystopian novels I've read are either YA or not focused around a family in general.
Also instead of focusing on all the gory details or even on a lot of what's different (though there's some of each) the main focus here is the psychological impact on the individuals in that family and the acute sense of isolation. This, too, felt novel and interesting to me.
I do wish the characters were a bit more developed. I think we got some peeks into the daughter but the son was almost comically evil and I would have liked to know more about him and same goes for the husband. I understand that the mom was the storyteller and a lot of the boy's transformation is post-separation so maybe she didn't have enough insight there but clearly there was a lot about the husband from before and while we did get some glimpses there, I still craved more. I felt like I wasn't as attached to the family (except for the daughter) as I would have liked to be for the separation to feel awful. Instead it felt like each member of the family was fine with it for their own reasons (which of course meant it didn't feel as devastating.)
I really enjoyed reading this story and really appreciated its unique perspective and protagonist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
The reviews on this book were mixed and I've read enough dystopian novels to not be thrilled about reading a mediocre one. But alas, I think there's a lot of gold in this story.
First of all, unlike most other dystopian novels I've read this one focuses on one family and their journey through this new world. The story alternates between the beginnings of the outbreak and the family's transition and the "now" world of many, many years later. The main character is the mom of the family. All of this already made me more curious since most of the dystopian novels I've read are either YA or not focused around a family in general.
Also instead of focusing on all the gory details or even on a lot of what's different (though there's some of each) the main focus here is the psychological impact on the individuals in that family and the acute sense of isolation. This, too, felt novel and interesting to me.
I do wish the characters were a bit more developed. I think we got some peeks into the daughter but the son was almost comically evil and I would have liked to know more about him and same goes for the husband. I understand that the mom was the storyteller and a lot of the boy's transformation is post-separation so maybe she didn't have enough insight there but clearly there was a lot about the husband from before and while we did get some glimpses there, I still craved more. I felt like I wasn't as attached to the family (except for the daughter) as I would have liked to be for the separation to feel awful. Instead it felt like each member of the family was fine with it for their own reasons (which of course meant it didn't feel as devastating.)
I really enjoyed reading this story and really appreciated its unique perspective and protagonist.
Thank you to NetGalley and Legend Press for an early copy in exchange for an honest review.
May 8, 2019
4.5 Stars
Here we have a dystopian post-apocalyptic story set in England which manages to stand out from the crowd despite the over saturated market at the moment for these books.
The human race has been decimated by a deadly virus causing people to be deathly allergic to each other. For such a social species, this is less than ideal! The virus quickly wipes out the majority of the population but the story has a central focus of a single family and it written from the mother's point of view. The book features a dual timeline. One following the family during the outbreak and immediate aftermath of the virus, and the other 5 years later. This style of writing really works well here as I found both timelines equally interesting and gives us a background to what has happened in the world. Though, any peril that happens during the past loses some of it's edge as we know the outcome by reading about the same people in the future!
Since the virus, everyone is living in separate rooms of houses only interacting via computers. This is an all too possible future for the human race even without a virus. I think this is one of the things that makes this book all the more terrifying.
The characters were well developed and they were flawed. I absolutely love a flawed character - it makes it all so much more realistic. The pacing was excellent and I couldn't put the book down.
The ending is bittersweet and slightly unexpected which is fabulous.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be reading more from this author!
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
Here we have a dystopian post-apocalyptic story set in England which manages to stand out from the crowd despite the over saturated market at the moment for these books.
The human race has been decimated by a deadly virus causing people to be deathly allergic to each other. For such a social species, this is less than ideal! The virus quickly wipes out the majority of the population but the story has a central focus of a single family and it written from the mother's point of view. The book features a dual timeline. One following the family during the outbreak and immediate aftermath of the virus, and the other 5 years later. This style of writing really works well here as I found both timelines equally interesting and gives us a background to what has happened in the world. Though, any peril that happens during the past loses some of it's edge as we know the outcome by reading about the same people in the future!
Since the virus, everyone is living in separate rooms of houses only interacting via computers. This is an all too possible future for the human race even without a virus. I think this is one of the things that makes this book all the more terrifying.
The characters were well developed and they were flawed. I absolutely love a flawed character - it makes it all so much more realistic. The pacing was excellent and I couldn't put the book down.
The ending is bittersweet and slightly unexpected which is fabulous.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I will be reading more from this author!
Thank you very much to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an eARC in exchange for an honest review
May 21, 2019
Today it is my opportunity to tell you all about this book ‘Skin by Liam Brown’ published by @legendpress .
📗
This is the first time that I have ever read anything written by Liam Brown and it will not be the last. I was not disappointed.
📕
It is a dystopian read and for me the way it has been left gives me the impression that there is a plan for a sequel or I could be wrong.
📗
It is very well written and there is depth within the written,story and characters. It makes you think of was is the exact meaning of quarantine- almost questioning the meaning.
📕
A deadly virus is released into the world, where people are allergic to one another and it is literally fatal if they come into contact with each other. Others have already perished due to having contact with one another.
In order to survive they must be kept in isolation.
📗
As a reader you follow the story one 1 particular family who live in total isolation of one another. There is a stranger who appears with none of the protective clothing that the rest of the community wear and appears total immune to this deadly virus/sickness. Or is he????.
📕
There is so much more of the story that is told.
I highly recommend this book. However at the end I did have more questions then answers . Please please give us a sequel.
📗
Thank you @legendpress for giving me both the opportunity to read and share my views on the book.
#bookcommunity #bookblogtour #booksofinstagram #fortheloveofreading #bookofig #loverofbook #bookstagram #loveofbooks #readerofig #bibliophile #legendpress #skinliambrown #recommendedreads #sequelplease
📗
This is the first time that I have ever read anything written by Liam Brown and it will not be the last. I was not disappointed.
📕
It is a dystopian read and for me the way it has been left gives me the impression that there is a plan for a sequel or I could be wrong.
📗
It is very well written and there is depth within the written,story and characters. It makes you think of was is the exact meaning of quarantine- almost questioning the meaning.
📕
A deadly virus is released into the world, where people are allergic to one another and it is literally fatal if they come into contact with each other. Others have already perished due to having contact with one another.
In order to survive they must be kept in isolation.
📗
As a reader you follow the story one 1 particular family who live in total isolation of one another. There is a stranger who appears with none of the protective clothing that the rest of the community wear and appears total immune to this deadly virus/sickness. Or is he????.
📕
There is so much more of the story that is told.
I highly recommend this book. However at the end I did have more questions then answers . Please please give us a sequel.
📗
Thank you @legendpress for giving me both the opportunity to read and share my views on the book.
#bookcommunity #bookblogtour #booksofinstagram #fortheloveofreading #bookofig #loverofbook #bookstagram #loveofbooks #readerofig #bibliophile #legendpress #skinliambrown #recommendedreads #sequelplease
April 13, 2020
The premise of the book is very relatable during our covid quarantine. In Skin, the government uses the virus to permanently shut people in doors. I can’t understand the rationale for something like that to happen.
The fear tactics worked extremely well. The residents figured out ways to quarantine every member of the family separately in a single apartment. Food, vitamins and antidepressants are delivered weekly.
As part of a neighborhood watch program, Angela goes for a short walk wearing a hazmat suit. She creates detailed reports of what she sees. But then she gets curious and turns off her camera to explore outside of her range. She spots a man. A man not wearing protection.
The story is engaging and I enjoyed it very much. Reading dystopian novels right now might seem like an added torture, but I think a healthy dose of skepticism is always a good thing.
The fear tactics worked extremely well. The residents figured out ways to quarantine every member of the family separately in a single apartment. Food, vitamins and antidepressants are delivered weekly.
As part of a neighborhood watch program, Angela goes for a short walk wearing a hazmat suit. She creates detailed reports of what she sees. But then she gets curious and turns off her camera to explore outside of her range. She spots a man. A man not wearing protection.
The story is engaging and I enjoyed it very much. Reading dystopian novels right now might seem like an added torture, but I think a healthy dose of skepticism is always a good thing.
November 15, 2020
3.5/5
This was a book I didn't know if I should've read at the time -- it was right at the start of lockdown, and the book is quite literally about the effects of a virus that could wipe out humanity. Perhaps it was the fact that it was rooted in reality that made it so interesting, almost as if we could relate to the characters in a way. Hopefully, our situation doesn't escalate to this level, though! The ending was left wide open, I don't know if there's going to be a sequel. If not, the ending was a little flat as I would have liked more from different perspectives and more about the virus. Still, it was a surprisingly enjoyable read, but definitely not one for those of you with heightened COVID anxiety!
Thank you to Legend Press and Liam Brown for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
This was a book I didn't know if I should've read at the time -- it was right at the start of lockdown, and the book is quite literally about the effects of a virus that could wipe out humanity. Perhaps it was the fact that it was rooted in reality that made it so interesting, almost as if we could relate to the characters in a way. Hopefully, our situation doesn't escalate to this level, though! The ending was left wide open, I don't know if there's going to be a sequel. If not, the ending was a little flat as I would have liked more from different perspectives and more about the virus. Still, it was a surprisingly enjoyable read, but definitely not one for those of you with heightened COVID anxiety!
Thank you to Legend Press and Liam Brown for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
April 12, 2019
Enjoyable enough,yet scary enough to think this could be in our not too distant future.
A future where everyone lives isolated and the government controls everything.... our only link to outside world of work ,school and indeed family life being computers.
I think it had some valid things to say about what could happen without lack of parental control.
Whilst there was nothing wrong with the book,once the element of sex came in (and why wouldn't it,who wouldn't be thinking about it after years isolated) the book ended quite quickly.
I'd have liked to have more exploration on the idea there was no virus anymore,how long you'd carry on living within the set boundaries before you go nuts or just take a risk or two.
I much preferred the first half.
A future where everyone lives isolated and the government controls everything.... our only link to outside world of work ,school and indeed family life being computers.
I think it had some valid things to say about what could happen without lack of parental control.
Whilst there was nothing wrong with the book,once the element of sex came in (and why wouldn't it,who wouldn't be thinking about it after years isolated) the book ended quite quickly.
I'd have liked to have more exploration on the idea there was no virus anymore,how long you'd carry on living within the set boundaries before you go nuts or just take a risk or two.
I much preferred the first half.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2020
I’ve had this book in my library for a few months now and with the way the current situation is with the Coronavirus I thought this might be the perfect time to read this novel as it’s central premise is very prophetic.
The novel is set in the not too distant future where a global pandemic has swept across the globe and rendered the world we used to know redundant. Angela and her husband Colin & their two teenage children are living in isolation, separately in their own apartment. Where each of them live in their own quarters, as human contact is forbidden and potentially fatal because of the nature of the virus, for which no apparent cure has been found. Angela and her husband work from home and the children are schooled via online classes. Angela is part of the neighbourhood watch group and as a result is allowed outside to go on patrol every few weeks. To do this she must don a full protective body suit and use breathing apparatus because of the toxicity in the air. She must film her patrols and also must write a report on what she finds during her patrols. Angela enjoys the opportunity to get out of her house despite the dangers but most of the patrols are extremely mundane and there is never much to report as the city is deserted and the buildings ravaged due to time and neglect. However on one of her patrols she has the feeling she is being watched and on reviewing her film she sees what she believes to be a person on the film. Angela has a dilemma as does she report her findings or does she set out to see if there is a human still living in the outside world and if there is, how can they live, breathe and survive without protective clothing.
This is a highly enjoyable and extremely relevant novel and also a real page turner as you race to discover Angela’s fate. The story is told from Angela’s point of view and she tells the real time story but alternates this with chapters telling the story of how the pandemic swept the country and how they managed to survive. The details of the virus are uncannily not dissimilar to those of Coronavirus and the initial steps taken by the government etc. are not dissimilar to what we are currently experiencing. We hear of Angela’s family life and relationships prior too the virus and how it has altered, not only their lives physically but also mentally and although they all live very closely to each other they are more distant emotionally than they ever have been. I’m sure readers will see parallels in their own lives as we currently live through this pandemic and the self isolation and social distancing rules but I’m sure we’ll come out the other end in a much better place than Liam Brown’s world that he depicts here.
The novel is set in the not too distant future where a global pandemic has swept across the globe and rendered the world we used to know redundant. Angela and her husband Colin & their two teenage children are living in isolation, separately in their own apartment. Where each of them live in their own quarters, as human contact is forbidden and potentially fatal because of the nature of the virus, for which no apparent cure has been found. Angela and her husband work from home and the children are schooled via online classes. Angela is part of the neighbourhood watch group and as a result is allowed outside to go on patrol every few weeks. To do this she must don a full protective body suit and use breathing apparatus because of the toxicity in the air. She must film her patrols and also must write a report on what she finds during her patrols. Angela enjoys the opportunity to get out of her house despite the dangers but most of the patrols are extremely mundane and there is never much to report as the city is deserted and the buildings ravaged due to time and neglect. However on one of her patrols she has the feeling she is being watched and on reviewing her film she sees what she believes to be a person on the film. Angela has a dilemma as does she report her findings or does she set out to see if there is a human still living in the outside world and if there is, how can they live, breathe and survive without protective clothing.
This is a highly enjoyable and extremely relevant novel and also a real page turner as you race to discover Angela’s fate. The story is told from Angela’s point of view and she tells the real time story but alternates this with chapters telling the story of how the pandemic swept the country and how they managed to survive. The details of the virus are uncannily not dissimilar to those of Coronavirus and the initial steps taken by the government etc. are not dissimilar to what we are currently experiencing. We hear of Angela’s family life and relationships prior too the virus and how it has altered, not only their lives physically but also mentally and although they all live very closely to each other they are more distant emotionally than they ever have been. I’m sure readers will see parallels in their own lives as we currently live through this pandemic and the self isolation and social distancing rules but I’m sure we’ll come out the other end in a much better place than Liam Brown’s world that he depicts here.
April 15, 2019
3.5 stars.
This book was going so well right up until it didn't quite end. I felt I needed more to complete the story. Maybe it's setting up for a sequel where I will get some of my many questions answered? Maybe I am missing something and I am supposed to ponder the outcome myself? Either way, the book left me feeling a bit confused and unsatisfied which is a shame as, up to a point, I was really enjoying what I was reading.
The crux of the story is that there has been a virus unleashed on the world. One which renders people allergic to each other. It is fatal and many have already died. Those that have survived live in isolation, only connected to each other remotely. The book follows one such family who all live together in the same house, but wholly isolated from each other, communicating via screens. Angela, the mother, volunteers for neighbourhood patrols. Donning her isolation suit she walks a circuit checking on how things are going and reporting back. All simple stuff but she enjoys the scant freedom it gives her. Until, one day, she spots a stranger on her travels. A man who is scavenging. A man who isn't even wearing a face mask let alone a suit but who appears to be healthy. He piques her interest and she follows him, desperate to know more about him and why he isn't affected by the virus. But what danger will he put her in when they meet?
As well as the story going on in the present, we also see flashbacks to when the virus first struck. I found these to be fascinating insights into the human condition. These were excellently observed and written and complemented that which was going on in the main story very well.
I also enjoyed the scenes between Angela and the stranger and, at that point, I thought I knew where we were going but sadly, we never quite got there and I was left pondering. Maybe that was the point and I missed it but, to me anyway, it felt incomplete.
There was a foray into the digital world and how that was compensating for the lack of physical contact and how dangerous that world could become but, again, it promised more than it gave. There was also an insight into how younger people cope with a lack of parental control and that was handled very well.
Hopefully there will be a sequel and I can continue the story as the author intends rather than just being left with my own thoughts of how it continued. I'd definitely be up for that. Until that time though, I'm happy to let it go.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
This book was going so well right up until it didn't quite end. I felt I needed more to complete the story. Maybe it's setting up for a sequel where I will get some of my many questions answered? Maybe I am missing something and I am supposed to ponder the outcome myself? Either way, the book left me feeling a bit confused and unsatisfied which is a shame as, up to a point, I was really enjoying what I was reading.
The crux of the story is that there has been a virus unleashed on the world. One which renders people allergic to each other. It is fatal and many have already died. Those that have survived live in isolation, only connected to each other remotely. The book follows one such family who all live together in the same house, but wholly isolated from each other, communicating via screens. Angela, the mother, volunteers for neighbourhood patrols. Donning her isolation suit she walks a circuit checking on how things are going and reporting back. All simple stuff but she enjoys the scant freedom it gives her. Until, one day, she spots a stranger on her travels. A man who is scavenging. A man who isn't even wearing a face mask let alone a suit but who appears to be healthy. He piques her interest and she follows him, desperate to know more about him and why he isn't affected by the virus. But what danger will he put her in when they meet?
As well as the story going on in the present, we also see flashbacks to when the virus first struck. I found these to be fascinating insights into the human condition. These were excellently observed and written and complemented that which was going on in the main story very well.
I also enjoyed the scenes between Angela and the stranger and, at that point, I thought I knew where we were going but sadly, we never quite got there and I was left pondering. Maybe that was the point and I missed it but, to me anyway, it felt incomplete.
There was a foray into the digital world and how that was compensating for the lack of physical contact and how dangerous that world could become but, again, it promised more than it gave. There was also an insight into how younger people cope with a lack of parental control and that was handled very well.
Hopefully there will be a sequel and I can continue the story as the author intends rather than just being left with my own thoughts of how it continued. I'd definitely be up for that. Until that time though, I'm happy to let it go.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.
May 2, 2019
Skin is a post apocalyptic novel from Liam Brown, which follows a family after a virus not only kills most of the world population but results in the survivors being segregated for their own protection. The lead character is Angela, she is the mother of two teenage children Charlie and Amber and wife to Colin, it's her point of view we follow. Living in separate rooms of their house, food deliveries are automated, everyone works via the internet but the neighbourhood watch has a scheme that allows certain individuals out into the town. Angela has gained this privilege and once a fortnight has two hours in a special hazmat suit walking around the town which has been over run with other wildlife, and what she finds out there changes her life.
It's five years since the virus wiped the world and the problem now is the human race is in danger as physical contact is not possible procreation has ceased. Angela has her eggs periodically harvested by the government for experimentation however, even if the government could create babies, how would they be cared for without touch?
This is a very interesting novel with plenty of themes, in the current world many choose to live their lives by technology but what if this was forced upon you? What would you miss? Where physical contact was not allowed as you may die as a result, would you risk it? I enjoyed reading this book, a very easy read I almost thought it was young adult genre until Colin's confession! I am a bit of a science geek so would have liked a little more info on the virus but I suspect the vagueness was on purpose as scientifically, a little unrealistic. I thought the children were very well written, a hormonal teenage girl who is still driven by the likes of Instagram on her appearance, and the sarcastically, moody boy who is a hacker whizz with an evil streak. The story follows Angela on her outings but also flicks back to fill in the details of how they got to where they are, I like this kind of time line shift but I know some might find it annoying. I thought the ending was good, I know others don't agree, it implies a lot of what is coming next without explicitly saying it.
Overall, a good thought provoking read, might make you think twice about ignoring your children when you are reading facebook!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for my advance copy.
It's five years since the virus wiped the world and the problem now is the human race is in danger as physical contact is not possible procreation has ceased. Angela has her eggs periodically harvested by the government for experimentation however, even if the government could create babies, how would they be cared for without touch?
This is a very interesting novel with plenty of themes, in the current world many choose to live their lives by technology but what if this was forced upon you? What would you miss? Where physical contact was not allowed as you may die as a result, would you risk it? I enjoyed reading this book, a very easy read I almost thought it was young adult genre until Colin's confession! I am a bit of a science geek so would have liked a little more info on the virus but I suspect the vagueness was on purpose as scientifically, a little unrealistic. I thought the children were very well written, a hormonal teenage girl who is still driven by the likes of Instagram on her appearance, and the sarcastically, moody boy who is a hacker whizz with an evil streak. The story follows Angela on her outings but also flicks back to fill in the details of how they got to where they are, I like this kind of time line shift but I know some might find it annoying. I thought the ending was good, I know others don't agree, it implies a lot of what is coming next without explicitly saying it.
Overall, a good thought provoking read, might make you think twice about ignoring your children when you are reading facebook!
Big thanks to NetGalley and Legend Press for my advance copy.
January 30, 2021
Set in a near future where the world has become overrun by a killer virus so everyone has to stay at home....with the way of the world at the moment this obviously caught my eye.
It starts really well and sets up the characters and the world they live in so that you really want to know what's going to happen. Periodically jumping to the past to fill in some back story worked well too.
Then it became obvious where it was going which was a touch disappointing, especially when it didn't have a hugely satisfying conclusion. So much has been left open, though if the plan is for future stories there is plenty to work with
Really enjoyed the first half, second half wasn't quite as good but it didn't ruin it
It starts really well and sets up the characters and the world they live in so that you really want to know what's going to happen. Periodically jumping to the past to fill in some back story worked well too.
Then it became obvious where it was going which was a touch disappointing, especially when it didn't have a hugely satisfying conclusion. So much has been left open, though if the plan is for future stories there is plenty to work with
Really enjoyed the first half, second half wasn't quite as good but it didn't ruin it
August 16, 2021
This was fine. I honestly don’t really have much to say about it. I think the impact was lessened by the fact that I’m currently living through a real-life pandemic (of course, I appreciate the fact that this book was written several years before COVID), and so I couldn’t help but feel like it was a little on the nose.
Not only that, the plot was SO DULL. I didn’t care about a single character. Why were so many plotlines opened up and then just never resolved? I seriously couldn’t tell if it was setting up for a sequel, purposefully open-ended, or just poor planning.
I do think that this would have worked better as a short story or novella — the excessive worldbuilding and flashback segments didn’t particularly add much to the story.
Not only that, the plot was SO DULL. I didn’t care about a single character. Why were so many plotlines opened up and then just never resolved? I seriously couldn’t tell if it was setting up for a sequel, purposefully open-ended, or just poor planning.
I do think that this would have worked better as a short story or novella — the excessive worldbuilding and flashback segments didn’t particularly add much to the story.
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