Book Review: ‘The New Wilderness’ by Diane Cook

In this latest review, local resident Emily shares her thoughts on The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. This dystopian novel follows a mother and daughter trying to survive in extreme circumstances, and was shortlisted for the 2020 Booker Prize. Have you read it? Let us know what you thought!

I am reviewing The New Wilderness by Diane Cook. This is her second book; she has previously written a volume of short stories.

The New Wilderness is about the damage that people inflict on the world and the effects of that damage on lives and relationships.

The book is set in a world that has been ravaged by human behaviour. Bea lives in a vast city with her daughter Agnes and partner Glen. The pollution and smog are poisoning Agnes and in a desperate bid to save her, Bea and and her daughter (along with eighteen other volunteers) sign up to take part in a radical research project. They must learn to live a nomadic life in the last remaining Wilderness, going to great lengths to ensure their presence leaves no trace on the landscape. Agnes comes to love their new life and feels at one with nature. However, nothing is as it seems in the Wilderness and Agnes’ new way of life is under threat.

There are a great number of characters within the story. Their lives are tough and they have to look out for themselves. As such, many are not very likeable. I found it hard to warm to any of them. But I haven’t been able to stop imagining what they look like and what they experienced in the City that led them to willingly give up their lives and sign up to such a risky venture. Bea is especially hard to get to know. Everything she does is to protect her daughter but at times it seems she doesn’t really care for her.

I wouldn’t say I especially enjoyed The New Wilderness but I found it gripping and couldn’t put it down. I keep finding myself thinking about it when I’m supposed to be focusing on other things!

If Emily has inspired you to give this book a go, you can reserve your copy to collect from your local library by visiting the library catalogue.

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The views expressed in this review are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of West Sussex Libraries.