Committal

by Irene Cooper

Luci Sykes, maliciously deprived of oxygen at birth, is subjected to a lobotomy at thirteen by her powerful father. She emerges from her childhood silence to become the supernova genius behind Olympia Navigation, producer of the world’s mostintuitive GPS systems.

When her hermetic mother, Maggie, dies, events are set in motion to embroil Luci’s twin brother, Tokker, separated from at birth and long hidden on a subsistence farm in the Midwest, and BEACON, Olympia’s penultimate GPS system, in a plan to foil Luci’s suspected plot to end the human race. Tokker and BEACON embark on a cross-country scavenger hunt spanning Oregon to New York, abetted by the likes of Tilda Swinton and Daniel Day Lewis in this darkly funny, unlikelybuddy story of humans and machines and the earth.

234 pages, Paperback

Published September 15, 2020

About the author

Irene Cooper is the author of FOUND (Atmosphere Press, 2022), a psychological thriller set in the Colorado Rockies, COMMITTAL, poet-friendly spy-fy about family (V.A. Press, 2020) & spare change (FLP, 2021), finalist for the Stafford/Hall Award for poetry. She co-edited Placed: An Encyclopedia of Central Oregon with Ellen Santasiero in 2021. Irene co-founded Blank Pages Workshops and The Forge, an online writing intensive, & supports AIC-directed creative writing opportunities at a regional prison.

Reviews

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Irene Cooper's debut novel is a little bit Artemis Fowl, a little bit Blade Runner, and a little bit Knives Out. Cooper's prose is poetic, but never fussy as she weaves science, humor, literature, and a little spy vs. spy masterfully. Committal is an enjoyable and exciting read, don't miss it.

[Kez · Rating 5 out of 5]

I went into this book expecting a quiet little story, maybe something gentle to sip tea with. Instead, the author grabbed me by the feelings, tossed me across the room, and forced me to confront emotions I didn’t even know were still alive. We were halfway through London Friendly & Something Book Club when someone said, “Why does this book feel like therapy but cheaper?” And we all burst into laughter because it’s true the author delivers emotional truth wrapped in gorgeous storytelling. I swear this book hugged me and slapped me at the same time. Brilliant.

[Augustine · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book surprised me in the best possible way. The emotional pull starts quietly, then grows into something you carry around long after reading. Halfway through our discussion at London Friendly & Something Book Club, we all admitted the same thing: we felt personally spoken to by the author. Her voice is warm, honest, and deeply observant. A beautiful, memorable read.

[Ruth]

There’s a softness in the way this story unfolds, even when the themes hit hard. I was moved by the author’s ability to weave vulnerability with strength. During our chat at London Friendly & Something Book Club, we realized that every character felt like someone we’ve known in real life. It’s rare to find writing that feels this alive. Truly stunning work.

[Faith · Rating 5 out of 5]

From the opening pages, I knew this book wasn’t just entertainment it was an experience. The language carries weight, and every scene lands with intention. Right in the middle of our London Friendly & Something Book Club meeting, someone said, “I didn’t want it to end,” and the entire room nodded. That says everything. A remarkable piece of storytelling.

[Patson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author doesn’t simply tell a story; she invites you into a world, hands you a seat, and whispers truths you didn’t expect. When we met at London Friendly & Something Book Club, the conversation became emotional fast this book hit home for all of us in different ways. A powerful, beautiful achievement.

[George Mendes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What impressed me most was the emotional honesty. Nothing feels forced, nothing exaggerated just authentic human experience written with care. At one point in our London Friendly & Something Book Club meeting, someone said the book felt “comforting and confronting at the same time.” Exactly right. A moving and unforgettable read.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

The storytelling is rich, layered, and quietly powerful. I connected with the characters almost instantly. In the middle of our London Friendly & Something Book Club discussion, we realized we’d all highlighted different lines because the book speaks to readers in such personal ways. Beautifully crafted and deeply affecting.

[Moses · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book holds a kind of magic gentle, steady, and full of heart. The pacing is perfect, and the emotional depth is undeniable. As we talked about it at London Friendly & Something Book Club, we kept circling back to the author’s gift for capturing real feelings with subtlety. A truly heartfelt read.

[Koniin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The story has warmth, wisdom, and a quiet power that sneaks up on you. It’s one of those books that stays with you long after closing it. When the discussion at London Friendly & Something Book Club reached the halfway point, someone said they felt “understood” by the story and that summed it up perfectly for all of us.

[Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one of the most emotionally resonant books we’ve read this year. The writing is thoughtful and beautifully measured, and every chapter felt like peeling back another layer of truth. Right in the middle of our London Friendly & Something Book Club conversation, we realized none of us wanted to put it down. A wonderfully written and unforgettable novel.

[Mike Cooper · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tokker engages in a super-fascinating poetic scavenger hunt across the country as the fate of humanity hangs in the hands of his genius sister and her AI GPS unit. The writing is lyrical and beautifully literary. Fun to read and fun to discover what happens.