Book Review: ‘In Persuasion Nation’ by George Saunders

As part of the Mid Sussex Reading Challenge, over 300 readers had a go at reading a collection of short stories in February. Over in Haywards Heath, local reader Debbie read In Persuasion Nation, a collection of short stories by Man Booker winner George Saunders.

I chose George Saunders’ collection of short stories, In Persuasion Nation, as I recently read and enjoyed his Booker winner Lincoln in the Bardo. He is feted as a surrealist writer, satirist and social commentator. Short stories seem the perfect genre for his darkly comic vignettes.

One of the linking themes in this collection is the influence of advertising on lives taken to the extreme such that, in one story, citizens can be fined for even innocent avoidance of such exposure. Another story is set in an artificial world where the individuals’ immersion in products and advertising is so total that these have become their sole points of reference in their memories – scary stuff!

There’s an anarchic theme in some stories where individuals take the law into their own hands, for example euthanising pets for the alleged safety of a community.

Saunders further explores his themes of what might and might not be real or true and conformity and non-conformity in the ‘new nation’ through a lab experiment, a reality TV show and in advertising vignettes. Death is a recurring theme – literally! I think the author is very clever and I don’t think I understand all he is conveying. He certainly unsettled me, as I’m sure he intends. His stories have stayed in my head. I may re-read them.

I would compare these stories to the Black Mirrors television series.

Reserve your copy of In Persuasion Nation by visiting our library catalogue.

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