Engleby

by: Sebastian Faulkes

Published by: Vintage Books

Reviewed by Laura Cococcia

(Also available in audiobook)

Engleby is an exceptional narrative: the sad tale of a man battling with society as a result of the abuse he’s received in his life. Supporting a semi-interesting, often trite plot, Faulkes’ mostly first-person storyline pulls us into the mind of this disturbing, yet intriguing, individual with intricate detail and dialogue that becomes an exploration of the human mind.

Throughout the novel, the reader journeys through the seemingly unsettled mind of Michael Engleby. A classic borderline schizophrenic, Engleby has frequent memory loss and is romantically fixated with Jennifer, a girl who is uninterested in him. His intelligence, however, is astounding; he excels through his school years and pursues the field of journalism after graduation–a somewhat ironic career given his apparent inability to relate well to, or even like, people. Without revealing too much of the plot, the story proceeds through twists and turns that almost predictably, result in tragedy and violence.

The book is almost entirely written in the first person in extracts from Engleby’s diaries, it is only towards the end that others take a turn at the narration and the reader learns how the world views Engleby–and this view is in sharp contrast to Engleby’s version of things.

The true intrigue comes in the way the reader can so easily relate to such a disturbing character. Whether we judge him as sociopathic, narcissistic or simply removed is irrelevant; it is clear that Engleby’s ability to relate to other–whether family, friends or schoolteachers–is related to some sort of mental flaw. However, the reader’s conflict comes when realizing that many of Engleby’s thoughts are highly relatable–Engleby is simply more confident voicing his true opinions without a filter.

It should also be noted that there’s also a significant amount of English history that plays into the novel, which those prone to historical fiction will find educational and helps sets a richer context.

Those appreciating the intricate analysis of the mind, this is the book for you. For those more attracted to a juicy, action-driven mystery plot: don’t dismiss the read, it’s just a slower ride.

Armchair Interviews says: Another good fiction for your reading pleasure.