When I read The First Fifteen Lives of Harry August, I immediately fell in love with Claire North's writing, and her books I have read since have done nothing to cool my ardour. As well as her beautiful prose, she builds fascinating characters and wonderfully intriguing ideas. Her novels are thought experiments, what-ifs of the highest order, using the interface of a single fantastical idea set in the mundane world to examine what it is to be human.
In this novel, we meet Hope Arden. When she was a teenager people began to forget her - teachers, school friends, family. When out of sight for more than a few moments, the concept of "Hope Arden" leaks from their minds and then they are meeting her for the first time.
Grown up, Hope has come to terms with this ability, this existence outside of people's perception - outside of society, because how can someone be part of a society that has no knowledge of them from one moment to the next. She has found, by necessity, a use for her peculiar talents; she has become the world's greatest thief. It isn't just that she can't be picked out of a line-up; if someone is chasing her and she ducks out of sight, her her pursuer will suddenly not recognise her as the woman they were chasing - or remember they were chasing anyone at all. How useful to be able to case a location again and again and again, with nobody able to spot the repetition.
And it is pursuing this calling, at a high class party in Dubai, that she finds herself in the presence of Perfection. It is not just an app, it is not just a life-coach, it is not just a lifestyle; it is a way of life that enables and encourages - even requires - its adherents to seek to perfect themselves. the perfect look, the perfect job, the perfect gym, the perfect partner, the perfect life.
Hope's investigation into Perfection is the perfect setting for North to examine society and belonging, social media and self image, status and identity.
Of course, the real take away message:
Read Claire North.
