Asylum: "the most credible – and therefore the most disturbing – dystopian novel I [have] ever read"- SUNDAY TIMES

by Marcus Low

LONGLISTED FOR THE GUARDIAN'S NOT THE BOOKER PRIZE 2019

'The most credible dystopian novel I have ever read' Sunday Times

Barry James is detained in a quarantine facility in the blistering heat of the Great Karoo. Here he exists in two the unforgiving reality of his incarceration and the lyrical landscapes of his dreams. He has cut all ties with his previous life, his health is failing, and he has given up all hope. All he has to cling to are the meanderings of his restless mind, the daily round of pills and the journals he reluctantly keeps as testimony to a life once lived.

And then there’s an opportunity to escape.

‘A searing vision of an all-too-possible world... a profound and wholly original voice.’ Henrietta Rose-Innes

‘A forceful and engaging tale that brilliantly blends the real and imagined world and is full of sparkling inventions. This page-turner is bound to be the talk of book circles.’ Niq Mhlongo

'Thought-provoking, alluring and sensitively written... a new thrilling talent' Cape Times

Shortlisted for the 9Mobile Prize for Literature

Genres: Fiction, Dystopia

288 pages

First published April 1, 2017

Reviews

[Bookread2day · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marcus Low is a gifted writer who is a Cape Town based writer and public health specialist. I love finding out how a novelist finds the idea to write their novel and this novel Asylum inspired by Marcus Low that was by the incarnation of patients with drug-resistant forms of TB in SA in 2008. How the story is well written is that it's keeps the reader wondering what is dream and what is real. Barry James is determined coughing up blood. With the suspect of water supply causing infection boiled of large urns filling bottles but still people died.

[Kim Friant · Rating 5 out of 5]

A dystopian story of quarantine and death. Enough said. Of course I was going to read this book and I’m so glad I did! A hospital quarantining a group of men with a dangerous and untreatable strain of lung disease. Yay, hospitals! At first, I felt like I had no idea what was going on. However, the more I read, the more I understood. While there is some action that takes place, it’s a very philosophical and emotional read. There’s also a bit of conspiracy sprinkled in. Overall, it’s an interesting book and I’d recommend it to anyone looking for a fascinating read!

[8stitches 9lives · Rating 4 out of 5]

I can certainly see why Asylum has been shortlisted for the 9Mobile Prize for Literature as it's equal parts compelling and frightening. It has been mentioned by other reviewers that they found the story quite confusing and that differentiating between Barry's dreams and his reality was difficult because they were often blurred together; I think that this was intentional on the part of the author and would like to think that Mr Low was making a point about the tenuous distinction between reality, perception, dreaming and consciousness in general. Make no mistake, this is a great read, but it will not be for everyone.

It's a quick, engaging story that deals sensitively with mental health and the issues surrounding it. The characterisation is interesting and original and Barry was so intriguing and enigmatic. It is the type of read that is thought-provoking and with all the elements in place to make it a page-turner. This is a profoundly disturbing existential thriller which held me captive for the duration and the harsh, unforgiving setting of the Karoo further adds to the tension underpinning the entire novel. The unreliable narration serves to illustrate the vastly different mindsets those with mental health issues face, but at its heart, this is a novel that shows the power and escapism stories can bring to an individual, and I can certainly relate to that.

Many thanks to Legend Press for an ARC.

[Janel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a fairly short novel, I read it in one sitting a few days ago. And I just can’t make up my mind on it 🤔 I enjoy bleak dystopia’s, this one is well written, from the journal entries of our main characters fragile mind.

It reminded me a bit of Fever Dream by Samata Schweblin, not in an “if you liked that, you’ll like this” sense, but (for me), it had that sense of uncertainty to the narrative, the blurred lines between reality and dreams, this sense that I’m missing something (because we are not given everything), and I must piece it together as best I can.

I can see this novel appealing to fans of speculation fiction. It’s also one I’ll likely reread because I feel like I might understand it better the second time around.

*My thanks to the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book*

[Keryou]

خنقني

[Linda Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barry James is in quarantine in a secure unit isolated from the rest of society.

Now, I usually eschew dystopian fiction because it’s not my preferred genre, but Asylum has persuaded me that I am missing a thought-provoking and somewhat disturbing area of fiction. I can’t say I enjoyed Asylum as that would be the wrong description, because I found it perturbing and unsettling, but I loved the vivid and disquieting quality of Marcus Low’s writing. Indeed, although this is a slim book, I think it would reward several readings to uncover its layers of meaning more fully. I found it fascinating.

There’s a bleak beauty and frequently lyrical quality in Asylum, particularly to the descriptions of Barry’s dreams. The landscape is vivid and stark which adds to the menacing aspect of the read. The frequent references to the white sheets and white pill Barry is given made me wonder if I were meant to think of him as an innocent because he is associated with a colour that frequently represents purity.

What is really interesting however, is that, although the reader is ostensibly reading Barry’s own writing in Asylum, he’s never fully knowable. This aspect forced me to consider the way in which society isolates and judges others, in this case those with an infection, and behaves toward them without fully considering an individual. I cared about Barry but I didn’t know if I could trust him.

I found myself almost voyeuristically engaged with the story. I felt uncomfortable reading what are presented as the journals of Barry James with some editorial marginalia so that it made me feel complicit in the treatment and incarceration of Barry and his fellow inmates. Asylum confronts the reader with realities and potential near futures that they may not wish to consider. There’s a devastating bleakness and ultimate futility underpinning the narrative that I found profoundly sad.

I finished Asylum feeling I had read a novel written with sensitivity and ingenuity. Asylum make me think. It forced me to look at the nature of identity, death and of society. It didn’t always make for comfortable reading but I am glad I have had the opportunity to immerse myself into its pages.
https://lindasbookbag.com/

[Mandy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I certainly quite enjoyed this short novel, but I’m not sure it amounts to very much, being neither particularly original nor particularly gripping. It’s the story of Barry James who has been incarcerated in a quarantine asylum somewhere in the Great Karoo due to a virulently infectious disease afflicting the country. There’s no cure so death is probably the only way he will ever leave. As therapy he is encouraged to write down his thoughts and memories and it is these journals that comprise the book, as well as some notes attached to them. Set in the near future, it’s a recognisable scenario (the Ebola outbreak, AIDS) but I didn’t take away from the book any real sense of impending doom, and in general found Barry hard to relate to or feel any sympathy for. Many of his diary entries consist of him recounting his dreams, and let’s face it, other people’s dreams are never as fascinating to the listener as they are to the dreamer. It’s being billed as a dystopian novel, which in a way of course it is, but we don’t get to hear much about the background to this illness, nor if there is anything else happening in the wider world. All in all, a promising debut but not one that made much of an impression on me.

[Sarah · Rating 2 out of 5]

I found this story really difficult to get in to. Thankfully it was quite short but despite this, the lack of obvious characterisation made this plot become disconnected from me as a reader, thereby lessening my enjoyment.

The writer uses pathetic fallacy extremely well in this novel. The stagnant, oppressive African heat reflects directly onto the plot and eventually the reader. I think this didn’t help with my enjoyment because it created a very lethargic, dream-like reality and one that significantly lacked realism. Despite this being a dystopian fiction, I could not move beyond the feeling of claustrophobia from the heat, mirrored by James’ incarceration in the medical facility.

James’ character felt like it could have been developed far more. With this dream-like state that envelops the details of James’ bizarre, medically induced dreams, I felt like I could not connect with him in the slightest. Despite reading the whole novel, by the end I didn’t feel like I knew him or his background very well. The plot moves forwards to a planned escape from the facility and this seems to be the biggest event of the novel. And even then, this felt anti-climatic.

I usually am drawn to dystopian dramas such as this, but I felt that the writer just couldn’t deliver on this one. I found myself being bored by the journals that constituted most of the story and maybe it was this that lessened the atmosphere of this read. Perhaps it is this that made me feel not in the least connected to the main character, instead merely intrigued to see how the writer would conclude the story and what James’ fate would be.

Suffice to say, I didn’t really get this one. I think I kind of see what the writer was trying to do, but don’t think this has been successfully achieved. I really tried to enjoy this but could not. Consequently, my rating reflects my interest in the story and how I did eventually become absorbed but not devoured by the plot that was unfolding before my very eyes.

I received a free copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review. With thanks to everyone at Legend Press and Marcus Low for allowing me to participate in this blog tour.

[NerdyChic BookWorm · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a truly wonderful first book of 2021 to get my teeth into.
This novel, written by Marcus Low is a dystopian but not as we know them. The author has taken the genre and flipped it on its head and it my opinion, only made it better.
The story follows Barry James, a 32 year old SA male who is quarantined in a facility in the depths of the desert with a group of other men who are all suffering with a contagious and uncontrollable lung disease.
The novel is set out as journal entries written by Barry and flits between the real world and his dreams.
The prose is incredibly philosophical, emotional, quiet and unlike any other dystopians I have ever read.
Absolutely gorgeous writing and a thought provoking, albeit incredibly sad story about life, loss, waiting for death and the hopes of escape.

[Tammy Mahmoud · Rating 5 out of 5]

هذه الرواية ليست رواية عن أشخاص عاصروا المحنة، بل هي يوميات مسجلة لمرضى من داخل احدى مصحات الدرن في جنوب أفريقيا. مصحة وضعت في قلب الصحراء القاحلة لأجسام ضعيفة لم تعد قادرة على مواجهة مرض الدرن في أيام الجائحة ليتلقفهم مرض نقص المناعة المكتسب بمنجله القاسي.

هذا العمل هو تحرير لدفاتر مخصصة لنزلاء المصحة التي تضم المرضى ما بين لحظات يأس وأفكار. ثمانية دفاتر تم فيها تسجيل يوميات المريض وكيف كانت هذه الدفاتر هي الصاحب في تسجيل معاناة حياة النزلاء داخل أسوار المصحة الرهيبة في قلب صحراء كيب تاون.

هنا لن تصادفنا قصص عن الحب الذي نعرفه، أو الأفكار المعتادة التي نجدها في الروايات. هنا النجاة في أن تنسى كل شيء عن العالم فما فائدة ان تتشبث بعالم ربما لا تراه مرة أخرى، فحدود عالمك هي جدران تلك المصحة، فالمحبوسون تمر الأيام أمامهم ببطء وصمت ينتظرون الموت أن يأتي إليهم هادئا وبسيطا أو يبقون على قسد حياة مؤجلة.

تتميز الرواية بهوامش مؤثرة وضعها المؤلف للتعليق والوصف لما جاء في دفاتر المرضى مقدما كتابة تجريبية جديدة ووصفا قويا لما يعانيه المرضى في الحجز الدائم المنعزل عن العالم في وقت انتشار الوباء حتى زمن إغلاق المصحة ف�� بداية عام 2023 وترصد الرواية انهيار الخدمات الطبية والصحية بسبب الإهمال المتفشي في جنوب افريقيا وتواضع مستوى الأطباء وخدمات المستشفيات.

كما تلقى الضوء عن التغيرات والتطورات في مفاهيم الحرية والتبعية والخضوع في جنوب أفريقيا ومدى هشاشة الوضع الحقيقي عما يتم الترويج له وكشفته الجائحة بشكل جلي، ربما تحصرك الرواية في غرفة بيضاء مسيجة تسعى مع المرضى للهروب من هذا الجحيم الأبيض وربما تفقد الزمن وسطهم وتظل الروائح والأضواء والظلام السائد هم الشاهدين على هذه الأحداث بما فيها من مشاهد الألم وصراع المرض والموت كثيرا من وحي عام الوباء الذي جعل العالم يشاهد الموت ويعايش أحداثه بحياد صامت حتى المرضى أنفسهم يتابعون أقدارهم في صمت.

 

تثير اليوميات في عقل القارئ حالة من الذعر ينقلها المترجم بحرفية شديدة لما سجله البطل صاحب اليوميات متوترا حين صدرت أوامر عليا بغلق المصحة ونقل المرضى حينها وقف أمام البوابة المفتوحة لأول مرة وهو من اعتاد رؤيتها موصده ، ويصف حيرة المرضى حين وقفوا عاجزين عن التقدم امام  العالم البادي من البوابة المفتوحة وحين بدأت حركتهم نحو العالم الخارجي هذا العالم الذي تركوه من فترة ورائهم ليجدو العالم أمامهم صحراء ممتدة وتختتم الرواية بآخر ما نطق به المريض " لم يوجد شيء نخاف منه، لا يوجد شيء على الجانب الآخر" ناكرا لألمه وموته يواجه العالم الذي أنكره وتركه في مواجهة مرض لعين وحيدا بلا معين.

تنتمي الرواية الى أدب الديستوبيا ونجد أن أحداثها هي جزء من معاناة عاشها العالم بأسره. كشفت مدى ضعف الانسان وهشاشة الأنظمة أمام الجائحة وبالرغم من هذا الضعف الا انه لجأ لتسجيل ذلك الضعف في يومياته كبديل عن التباعد الاجتماعي المفروض أوقات العزل الطويلة والاستجابة الباردة لأخبار الموت وانتشار موجات الجائحة.

نجحت الرواية في نقل مشاعر المرضى في عزلة المرض القاسي، وقدمت شكلا جديدا في أدب اليوميات القديم بشكل تجريبي مثيرة لأفكار القارئ الذي عايش محنة الجائحة أو واجه فقد الأحباء من جراءها.

[Juliet Bookliterati · Rating 4 out of 5]

Asylum by Marcus Low is a new genre for me as I haven’t read the Dystopian Genre before, but after reading this I may read more. Sometime in the future the diaries of Barry James are found and are a piece of social history as they are the only written history of the Plague of 2022 and what it was like to be in the Asylum. Barry’s diary entries make up the majority of the book but there are chapters from further in the future that asses his writings as a piece of historical testimony.

2022, not too far in the future, sees a world that seems to have economic and social problems. There are hints at what is going on in the outside world but for the most part the setting is the Asylum. This is a quarantine facility for male patients of what they term as the plague, Pulmonary Nodulosis, a place where once you are admitted you probably won’t leave until you are dead. On reading the book this facility is more like a maximum security prison with is setting in the middle of nowhere with electrocuted perimeter fence, armed guards on the outside, a dining hall, gangs and no visitors. It’s clinical environment with very little to stimulate the mind give a bleak outlook.

Barry’s dairies give an insight into his character and his psychological state whilst incarcerated. His coping mechanism is to forget the outside world, not to think of those on the outside and his life before his incarceration. We do get snippets into his life before in his meetings with therapist Ms Van Vuuren, an attractive red head, and the doctor in charge, Dr Von Hansmeyer. What is interesting is that he becomes dependent on this meetings with Van Vuuren, and feels they have some connection; we all need to feel listened to and cared about and can’t completely cut ourselves off. As well as life in the asylum, Barry also chronicles his dreams, which are at complete odds with the stark reality of his life. He dreams of snow, dancing in times past and features staff at the asylum, lots of colour and sound. Being set in the Great Karoo of South Africa, snow would not be something he would have seen; the dreams see to be a complete contrast to his life. As he synopsis says there is an escape attempt, but I’m not going to say anything about that, I’ll let you read the book for yourself.

In Asylum, Marcus Lowe gives a vision of the future that seems very real and viable, and this is what makes this book such an unsettling read. We are privy to the thoughts and feelings of one man and how the effects of this forced incarceration and bleak outlook impact him. It’s brilliantly written and utterly compelling and if I say a little bit frightening, this could be our future. A great read that blends a harsh reality with vivid dreams of Barry’s imagination.

[Em-Bee · Rating 4 out of 5]

The best dystopian fiction exploits our anxieties, worry and guilt - about the future and the past.  It makes us think about what could have been, and, if handled at the right pitch, fictionalises prophecies of what could be. Dystopians grab your worries and drag you in, and dump you afterwards leaving you wondering what is to become of our society.

Asylum does exactly that.

'Outside my window the world has died.'

These are the opening words of Barry, an inpatient at a quarantine facility. He's got pulmonary nodulosis - a infectious and highly dangerous condition, that means he needs to be separated off from the otherwise healthy population for their safety, and his treatment.  He's given up. He's resigned himself to the fact he is locked up, with only fellow patients and healthcare staff around him. When they talk to each other at dinner, it's like listening into a chat among prison cell-mates. Outside the landscape is barren, and Barry has trained himself to forget that there are trees, buildings, humans, jobs out there any more.  This is his reality now.

Barry falls from height, badly injuring himself. There is speculation as to whether this was an accident, or a purposeful attempt at his own life. As a result, he is assigned a therapist, Ms Van Vuuren. Their partnership forms the backbone of the rest of the story.

Barry's journals have been discovered in a museum several years into the future, a collective narrative of confusing mixes of memory and dream,physical and mental science. Someone has tried to analyse and make some sense from the books, of Barry's life, his ideas, and his assisting other patients in their hope for freedom.

Barry's mind exists in two worlds - the reality of the quarantine facility, and the dreamscape of his mind. My first thought when reading the book was that the language Marcus uses is beautiful, poet and gut-wrenchingly sad at some points. Barry has nothing. He doesn't have his freedom, or his health. But he has his dreams.

His dreams are filled with people who speak in different languages, of dancing in masks. They are poetic, musical dreams. There is also repeated mention of a white pill; the antidote, the one the promises hope.

What happens throughout the story, I won't tell you any further. You need to read this book yourself to understand the fragile relationship between health and illness, life and death, dreams and reality. But Marcus' narration of Barry is wonderful. There is one section close to the end that has me saying 'you b**tards', and made me remember that humans can be rather cruel, especially in life/death situations. And the ending will leave you in bits.

This isn't an easy read - dystopians, particularly scientific/ psychological ones like this never are. But you will fly through it, you will question everything, and you will attach yourself to Barry like a limpet to find out what is going on in this split world.

A beautiful read that deserves all the praise it has received.

[CenReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Happy Bank Holiday Monday go you all.
Having been asked to participate in @legendpress latest book blog your for Asylum by Here is my opinion of it.
Where to start with this book. Its quick read but at the same time it is dark and did send shivers up my spine. It certainly kept my interest.
It's based around life in an asylum with also dealing with being quarantined from a deadly illness.
It's a frightening read yet compelling and the same time. I was hungry to know more of what was going to happen. It deals with mental health issues.
There is so much more to this book and you need to read it to find out more.
Despite it being such a dark read I would recommend it.
Thanks to @legendpress for my arc
#asylum #gifted #bookcommunity #bookobsessed #bookstagrammer #booknerd #bibliophile #ilovetoreadbooks #bookstagram #bookblogger #readerofinstagram #bookstragrammer #readinglover #bookdragonqueen🐉 #reading #blogger #booksbooksandmorebooks #bookchoices #ilovereading #literatureisbeauty #bookreadersofinstagram #books📚 #readingtime #bookblogtour

[Charline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sometimes the smallest books pack the biggest punch and that is certainly the case in this memorable 206 page book by Marcus Low.

Barry James is an ordinary man in extraordinary circumstances. He has been detained in a quarantine hospital for 3 years with a mysterious plague like illness that affects the heart and lungs. Barry has all but given up hope of re-joining the outside world. But then there is a chance to escape.

Set in the near future, this smart, engaging story is a real page turner. Barry is encouraged to write about his time in the facility and his diary entries make up the majority of the book. Lines are blurred between dreams and reality, but I enjoyed the unreliable narrator aspect of the story. And I loved the eerie, melancholy atmosphere created throughout the story.

If you love dystopian fiction then hurry and put this to the top of your TBR list.

[Between The Pages (Gemma M) · Rating 4 out of 5]

So this is a first for me reading the dystopian genre. I absolutely loved it. An easy, short read which I could easily have devoured in one sitting. It is told through Barrys journals while he is in a quarantine camp.
At first I thought well surely much can’t be happing being stuck in there… I was wrong. I felt sorry for Barry and the gentlemen within the camp however, there was friendship, hope and a little love within those walls. They just wanted freedom, a life and adventure which they eventually got but at a price. The ending broke me…
A beautifully written story. Glad I got the chance to read it. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.

[Nicki Markus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Asylum is in some ways a difficult book to rate. I enjoyed the psychological aspects of the tale and the dystopian situation in which the story was set, which presents a world that could all-to-easily become reality. However, I felt the pacing let things down. The opening was very slow and meandering, and the action only really picked up about two thirds in. I'm glad I read it, as it raised some interesting points and offered a fascinating psychological study of someone in a difficult position. However, the plot and characters never gripped me and the ending fell a little flat. I would give Low another try if he writes any future works, but Asylum is not one I'd want to reread.

I received this book as a free eBook review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Karina Szczurek · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down!

[Jouri · Rating 4 out of 5]

كتاب جميل استمتعت فيه وخلصته بسرعة. شفت اشخاص يقولوا انهم واجهوا صعوبة فا��انسجام فيه وغيرهم يقول انه كئيب، بالنسبة لي ما شفته كئيب وحبيته مرة لولا النهاية اللي للأسف كانت مفتوحة..

[Kim Ebner · Rating 2 out of 5]

Please visit my book blog at: www.thebuzzingbookmark.com

The entire time that I was reading this novel I kept thinking about the review I was going to write. During my reading of this book I was unsure how I felt about it, and I'm still slightly unsure now. It had its moments, but overall, I'm feeling a little underwhelmed.

I was really excited to read a thriller by a new South African author. As most of you know, not only am I a huge fan of thrillers but I'm also South African, and so this book ticked my initial boxes. I'm all behind supporting local talent, and so if I could read this book and give the author and his book some publicity in the process, then great, I was all for it. For these reasons I really wanted to love this one. I wanted to finish this book and shout its praises from the rooftops. Unfortunately, on turning the final page, I just didn't feel very passionate about it and so I won't be doing much singing.

For me, there just wasn't enough action and suspense in this novel to label it a true thriller. None of the characters specifically shone or stood out and in fact, I found them a little dull. At one stage during my reading of the book, I actually stopped (this was at about 60% of the way through) and asked myself, so what has actually happened in this book so far? Unfortunately, the answer to that question was, not much. It was very slow going at times and genuinely, not a lot happens. The main character Barry has been detained in a quarantine facility, he's been seeing a psychologist that he quite likes and he's planning his escape from the facility. Genuinely, that's the full extent of the story at three quarters of the way through the book. Yes, of course there's a little more to the story than that, but really, it just amounted to fluff and didn't really add to the "thriller" aspect. 

The truth of the matter is that the pace does improve in the last third of the book but it was all a little too late for me. By that stage I had pretty much decided that this was a very average read. On turning the last page, I was also left with the overwhelming sensation that I had missed something, that I hadn't fully understood this story. And I think that's true. Talk about an unreliable narrator! I didn't know when he was telling the truth, when he was concocting things, when he was dreaming, whether the people he talks about actually existed at all or whether he was just losing his mind. I was just confused. And that's strange for me because normally I love books that are a bit weird, a bit off the wall. But this one just didn't do it for me. I'm sad about that, but I need to be honest and that's my honest opinion.

The thing about reading and about reviewing books in general is this: every book has a reader somewhere that loves it. This is a fact that I've learnt over many years and after reading hundreds upon hundreds of books. I can thus sign off by saying that this book didn't blow me away. It wasn't to my taste. Does that mean that you will feel the same way? Absolutely not. As always then, let me leave you with this - if the blurb appeals to you, then give this one a go. And if you're South African and you can support local talent in the process, then fantastic.


My Rating: * *

Publication Date: April 2017 (South Africa)

Genre: Thriller

Format: Trade Paperback

Source: Review copy received from the publisher. Many thanks to author Marcus Low and Pan Macmillan SA for my copy.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This dystopian novel is set in the near future, in 2023. Barry James is being quarantined in a secure facility located in the hot, arid Karoo desert of South Africa. He and his fellow patients are suffering from pulmonary nodulosis, a lethal disease called the “new plague.” Barry has been confined there for over three years; in that time he has cut all ties with the past because “looking back is madness.” He is just waiting to die.

After Barry attempts suicide, a psychologist suggests that he keep a journal. His notebooks form the narrative core of this novel. In a preface, the editors/compilers of these notebooks suggest that they be read “as a meditation on the psychology of illness.”

This is not an action novel with a lot of suspense. Barry describes his daily life which is a routine of eating, sleeping, taking medications, and staring out the window. He is very lethargic so it is obvious that he is struggling with depression. Occasional visits with Ms. Van Vuuren, the psychologist, or chats with Dr. Von Hansmeyer, the resident physician, provide some relief from the monotony.

Barry’s only escape is dreams: “They are the only way out of here – in those dreams anything is possible, any horror, any one, any thing, even snow.” He sleeps so that he can dream: “Dreams. What bliss to close your eyes on this carnage, to slip into blackness and be swept away to another world.” Barry describes his dreams in great detail; in all of them, snow is falling, as if he wants to inhabit a world that is a total contrast to his reality. He comments, “even in the most bleak of worlds we’ll find something to hold on to . . . even if that is something as impossible as snow in this god-forsaken wasteland.”

Barry is an unreliable narrator. The effects of his medication often leave him unable to distinguish between reality and delusions. Likewise, he is not above fabricating stories to tell the psychologist. In the preface, the reader is told that the journals are “in effect an internal monologue that straddles the precariousness of what are essentially two worlds – one real and one imaginary.”

The book is an examination of the psychological effects of a terminal illness and isolation: “We are sick and therefore we are isolated, locked up. We must wait out our days here, and then die – so that the healthy ones, the ones we have forgotten about, may live.” And the world outside the facility is not a haven either; there is a suggestion that the outside world is falling apart because of climate change: “’The whole country is now nothing but army and private contractors protecting the rich. And as long as they have these droughts and floods, nothing will change. All downhill from here.’”

I cannot say that I found this book unputdownable. At times, it is tedious. But, of course, that tediousness is a reflection of Barry’s daily existence. It is thought-provoking and suggests that there may be no true asylum (shelter and protection) for us in the near future.

Note: I received a digital advanced reading copy from the publisher.

Please check out my reader's blog (https://schatjesshelves.blogspot.com/) and follow me on Twitter (@DCYakabuski).

[Jessica Hinton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Those who enjoy dystopian fiction will no doubt be drawn to this one, as I was - which promises a nearby dystopian future in which an unknown respiratory illness has ravaged humankind and many sufferers are being kept in quarantine. Along with our protagonist, Barry James, we are not privy to what has happened in the outside world, so it is up to the imagination to envisage what society might exist outside of the treatment facilities confines.

This is not a book with a huge amount of action, which I find unusual for a dystopian theme, which are usually action packed. Although there is a 'prison-break' type escape involved, actually not a lot happens. The format of the book is almost all based on James' journals and so it is very introspective in nature, especially as he tries to disentangle his reality from the vivid nature of his consuming dreams. (It's always difficult to absorbed by other people's dreams anyway) However, for readers that enjoy focussing on a character study of how one individual reacts to such extreme circumstances and the slow breakdown of his determination to survive and personality, this will provide an interesting read.

Partly, I found engaging with this book a bit difficult at times, as the protagonist reacts to everything around him with such apparent apathy. He really only seems to engage with the escape plan just for 'something to do', to escape from the monotony of his days. It's hard to care about the outcome, when the main character doesn't care that much about his own survival.

Having said that, there is a lot of underlying tension in this book that slowly builds; I always felt that there was some reveal just lurking around the corner, or some big event that would undo everything we knew so far, but it never transpired. This book left me with more questions than answers, something I personally find uncomfortable and unsatisfying, but I'm sure other readers will be fascinated by.

Low is obviously a talented writer and is able to bring about a despairing atmosphere to this book that really takes hold. The book has a very dream-like, ethereal quality to it, that is intentionally and carefully crafted. I'll be on the look out for future work by this author.

This is not a book about actions, or that comments on how this outbreak of disease affects the wider world. It keeps its sphere of focus very restricted - just on the inhabitants of the facility and the medical staff they interact with. It does however make you consider our own feelings about those unfortunate souls basically kept in captivity, in order to stop the spread of an infectious disease and the morality of this.


Asylum was released on 15th April 2019 by Legend Press.

Big thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for the free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

[Debra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Set in a long term quarantine facility in Africa this is billed as a dystopian novel. I am not sure I would exactly describe it as that as although there are difficulties outside the hospital this is not a worldwide or even nationwide pandemic. The book centres around the writings of one man who is in this quarantine facility, the life in there and the occasional glimpse of the outside world. This is achieved through his diaries as well as there being various comments and discussions about the diaries.

I need to say from the outset that I didn’t get on with this book and gave up after 25%. I felt I’d read a quarter & had given it a good chance. It may improve after this but I don’t know.

I found the book quite disjointed and, frankly, quite dull. I felt the author was trying to create a book in the style of “The Handmaid’s Tale” by Margaret Atwood by having sections which discuss the diary. I felt the author was trying to create an event – the quarantine hospital & its inmates which are then being studied at a later date. If this was the author’s intention it didn’t quite work.

Nothing much happens in this book. People come to the gates, a fight happens in the yard and the diarist has a setback. I wouldn’t have minded if the book was looking in detail at the people whilst nothing much was going on but it didn’t. The people were merging into one with little definable personality.

On the plus side I did like the fact that this book is set in Africa. Usually this type of book is set in America & occasionally Europe. I wish the author had made more use of this fact with the outside country affecting the hospital. There is occasional mention of instability in the outside world & finance issues but only a passing comment. Maybe that happens later?

This book just didn’t work for me.

I received a free copy of this book via Netgalley.

[Kerri · Rating 3 out of 5]

First off, many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me access to the e-ARC of this book! Now, time for my thoughts.

Well, this was definitely a different read. The story of a man living with an incurable disease inside a "treatment facility" that is basically a prison. On the advice of his psychiatrist, he starts keeping a journal. His journal not only describes his experiences throughout the day, but his dreams during the night. And, sometimes, the line between dream and reality is pretty murky.

I liked this book. It didn't wow me. It didn't blow me away. But I liked it. I liked the concept and the execution. I'm a sucker for a book written in a kind of journal format. I also enjoyed the "notes" we got from the person that found the main character's notebooks. The setting was different, but intriguing. I really wish it had been fleshed out a little more. Actually, I think that's my main issue with this book. Everything seems a bit flat, from the characters to the setting. Still, it was short book, so I found it to be an enjoyable diversion. I could have gone for a little more creepiness, if I'm being honest, as well. There were definitely some good bits where I was suitably creeped out, but I wanted more!

Either way, this book was fine. Not terrible, not great. Just... fine.

[Shelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

Abook about life in an asylum while being quarantine for a deadly disease?! Sing me up, this is the book for me. Or so I thought. Great synopsis and premise, a subject rarely written about.

However, this left me with much to desire. At about 21% through I was not connected to the main character nor was the story unraveling in a intriguing way. Wishing that the author would have had more character development for me to attach myself to the main character.

There is very little background story as to how everyone got infected what was the disease and how it effected the rest of the population much after I realized it was TB, but wished there was a better emphasis. As much as I do not enjoy too much of a back story, some is necessary in order to get invested in the characters. I also was confused with the preface and some of the narration in between the journal entries. There was a lack of coherent details that would have been conducive to the over all reading experience.

The writing was just average. Then there is the ending, which the inevitable occured. It was also predictable. I understand that this might be more related to government and how much power they have if there was a killer plaque and the injustice of the government, but I wish the execution was better!

[Shahridzuan Azali · Rating 4 out of 5]

Personally, it wasn't much of an enjoyable read but it was interesting to get a taste of Barry's mind. The diary-like form worked to the intended effect and, despite his pessimism, I found myself rooting for Barry. Something I don't usually experience for characters of his nature.

The reason this book wasn't really for me is because I'm more of a plot-driven kind of reader; characters come second for me. Having said that, I find this to be worth reading. There's a hint of suspense and sprinkles of melancholy. Given the pandemic, this book hits pretty close to home. You will truly get a feel of what it feels like living with a disease within the confines of a hospital.

I gave a 4-star score despite my lack of enjoyment because this is a neat piece of work. For the right kind of reader, this would be one literary ride.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this when it first came out and was really impressed. I needed to check something so just meant to reread the first chapter to remind myself of details, but got drawn in again by the compelling story and beautiful writing.

There is an added layer of appreciation when reading a novel about a deadly disease while the world is in lockdown over a deadly disease.

In Asylum sufferers of the disease have been quarantined in isolated hospitals. The narrative follows a patient/inmate quarantined in the karoo, interspersed with comments by a later researcher working on his journals, which are preserved at the Museum of the Plague. There are many levels of this work which is well worth reading.

[Amira Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Maybe more of a 3.5.

It was different from my usual genre. I enjoyed it but I kept losing focus, whether that was a slump I'm in or the book I'm not sure.

Barry James lives between 2 world's. Trying to figure out which are delusions and which are not became the main fascination and focus of reading the book.

Incarcerated due to a serious lung disease which is highly contagious, the story tells of friends, escapes and waiting for the end of life. The delusions just help to pass the time of day.

Set in South Africa the scene of the dry hot landscape all around the hospital sits vividly when reading this novel.

I think I would try another Dystopian novel just to see if it is my kinda thing.

[Layla Rodgerson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt that it had an interesting premise. However, I felt that the writer really could have gone deeper into the plague details. The “prison” escape was a bit weak. The main character was annoying. He didn’t care about his mortality and seemed to be indifferent. Not exactly someone you want to keep reading about. Jonathan’s nickname for Barry was very aggravating. I was sick of reading, “hey, sport” over and over. The end was a major let down! The author really could have done a lot more with this story. It was a disappointment for sure.

[Naomi Stock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Once read, this book will stay with you. I couldn’t put it down. Marcus Lowe gives a vision of the future that seems very real and viable, and this is what makes this book such an unsettling read. We are privy to the thoughts and feelings of one man and how the effects of this forced incarceration and bleak outlook impact him. It’s brilliantly written and utterly compelling and if I say a little bit frightening, this could be our future. A great read that blends a harsh reality with vivid dreams of Barry’s imagination.

[Ahmed Gohary · Rating 2 out of 5]

رواية من الادب الجنوب أفريقي عن مصحة لعزل مرضي السل والالتهاب الرئوي في الصحراء ،بطل الرواية يموت ببطء وقد قرر كتابة مذكراتة ليسرد فيها تجربتي الأليمة مع قليل من الاحلام والهواجس

الرواية من وجهة نظري مملة وطريقة السرد مربكة والأحداث قليلة جدا علي حجم الرواية ، واضح من تقديم الكاتب ان لة انشطة مجتمعية وعلي مايبدو علي ان القصة تنتقد الرعاية الصحية في جنوب أفريقيا وهذا شيء جيد جدا لكن في النهاية الرواية لم تعجبني