THE ECHO CHAMBER by John Boyne

 

This is fabulous. A bang-on commentary on the relationship we, as a society, have with our smart phones and all it offers us. And how easily that small device can actually become the controller of us. Witty, biting, oozing sarcasm, this novel is extremely funny, allowing us to laugh at the stupidity of others, but also unloading a sense of unease on the reader as we see slices of ourselves in the characters, and possibly the story lines.  It is possible to see yourself standing on the brink of the social media rabbit hole.... 

This modern day morality tale is told through the Cleverley family. George is a very famous broadcaster, a 'national treasure', a man who claims to be a good person, liberal and embracing in his views. And so famous he can say and do what he wants. But also of the establishment. And bullet proof. And having an affair with a therapist. He is married to Beverley, a famous romantic novelist, possibly on the wane and would seem not to have written an original word or phrase for several books now, who employs a ghost writer - always nameless. Beverley has recently appeared on Strictly Come Dancing, her partner the devastating sex bomb Pylyp from the Ukraine. George and Beverley have three young adult children - Nelson, a sensitive soul who is a school teacher, Elizabeth who does nothing except live through her Twitter and Instagram accounts, focussed entirely on becoming an influencer. At all costs. Then there is is 17 year old Achilles, a boy of dubious morals who thinks blackmailing middle aged men into the idea of a relationship with him is a good way to get rich. Rather surprisingly they were, until quite recently it would seem, a functioning happy and communicative family. What changed you may well ask.... you don't need to look too far to see...

Over the course of a few weeks these entitled, boorish, greedy and selfish individuals (with the possible exception of Nelson), find their carefully constructed world blows up. A lot happens of course, to get to the point where it all comes crashing down, and it is a very entertaining ride getting there. At the centre of it all? The disconnection with the real world through that smart phone. This may well make you question your relationship with the digital world, and how we use it. You may not walk away from your device but you may look at it with a little more respect!