What readers think of Prophet Song, plus links to write your own review.

After reading four pages, I realized Prophet Song is a book that possesses the reader, so I read it fairly non-stop in two days. First, this is the most disturbing book I’ve read in years. Second, it’s also an intimate portrayal of a country plunging into chaos, painstakingly demonstrated through one family and specifically Eilish’s internal journey. The author’s style is compelling and anchors the reader to the characters and action. I had no problem with the author’s dialogue pattern, in fact, the dialog style seemed natural. I know others compare the book to periods of history. What I read felt like a keen understanding of human nature. Prophet Song is an extraordinary book.





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4.5 star rating

Eilish Stack is the main character and the narration in the third person is largely her perspective and her emotions that propel the story from beginning to end.

The narrative is told unconventionally, with no paragraph breaks. This book won the 2023 Booker Prize.

As extremist ideology continues to spread in our country and others, makes this a chilling and disturbing read on so many levels and it will shake you to your core. Many of us have become immune to what is happening in the world today. We have become desensitised to what we read and see on our screens,

In Prophet Song, Paul Lynch brings this horror to our doorstep as we have seen and read about in many other countries. This story takes place in Ireland, however it could be any country that doesn’t realize the ramifications of what an authoritarian regime could do to a country and its people.

Over the course of Prophet Song the tension and pace steadily increase. Eilish has tried to maintain stability and normalcy primarily for the sake of her children. The authoritarian regime has stripped her of her humanity. At one point, Aine, the sister of Eilish says, “history is a silent record of people who did not know when to leave.” Eilish corrects her and says, “is a silent record of people who could not leave, it is a record of those who did not have a choice, you cannot leave when you have nowhere to go and have not the means to go.” Aine wants Eilish and family to come to Canada, where Aine and her family live.

“Prophet Song” by Paul Lynch would seem like a novel stunt if many award-winning Irish books did not seem similar. There are not many paragraph breaks and quotation marks here. You get the point of dystopian suffering even when unsure what is happening. Although this is fiction, it echoes the complicated fears of the Irish today.

Eilish Stack is a typical Irish wife and mother. Still, her husband is a trade unionist for the country’s workers, a controversial position that results in his sudden capture and eerie interrogation. Ireland descends into chaos and confusion, and the author has the challenge of projecting the nation's bewilderment without confusing the readers. Their leaders are paranoid, vicious, and suffocating.

There is a lot of detailed setup and character development, but I was most interested in the main plot’s story arc: this woman living without her husband and at risk of losing her son. Eilish hangs onto the past because nothing about their future seems promising.

History reminds us that The Troubles eventually improved, but we do not see it coming here in Dystopia.
The echoes of modern culture, where doubt and skepticism surround news from specific sources, resonate strongly. When the government controls information, confusion reigns. The depiction of war from within adds an extra layer of mayhem, mirroring the complexities of our world. The perspective of an innocent resident creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia, drawing the reader into the narrative.

The writing style, characterized by long sentences and much longer paragraphs, may initially feel overwhelming. However, it quickly immerses you in the narrative, intensifying the sense of loss and bewilderment. This is not a book for those seeking an easy, low-key read. The subject matter and writing quirks ensure a challenging, thought-provoking experience.