Autumn, by Ali Smith, was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize in 2017 and is the first of the Seasonal Quartets. Set in 2016, just after the UK Brexit referendum, this story reflects on what society has, and may well, become following this momentous event. Told through the eyes of Elizabeth, a 32-year-old arts lecturer, as she spends many hours sitting with her 101-year-old childhood neighbour, Daniel, who is in a deep sleep (the one that usually comes before death). We hear of the time when Elizabeth and her mother first became neighbours with Daniel, and how Elizabeth was drawn to this elderly gentleman who was surrounded by art and full of wisdom. He tells her about his life, his art and the artists he knew, and, in particular, one from the 1960s - Pauline Boty - a pop artist who died tragically young and who has been mostly forgotten. Elizabeth and Daniel may not have been the most obvious of friends, but he was crucial for her personal development and in broadening her horizons. In a world where division and an unwillingness to compromise, or even feel compassion for others seem rife, this novel sees hope in the changing of the seasons - humanity has seen so much, things come and things go in the big picture ... history teaches us that. Plus, it puts a spotlight on the importance of art and culture in our lives - whether it provides comfort or joy or just makes us think! There is a dreamlike quality to the writing which draws the reader in, and you suddenly find yourself learning things without really trying. Not a difficult read, but one which seeps into you and stays a while.
My STAR rating: FOUR.
Length: 272 print pages.
Price I paid: £2.98.
Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
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