The Wonder by Emma Donoghue

For some reason - even for authors I can't get enough of - I am of the mindset that once an author publishes a "New York Times Bestseller," that's it; they're done. Like the Tubthumping of novels. So I was equally surprised to not only discover that Emma Donoghue - of Room fame - had released a new novel, but that it was added to none other than Reese Witherspoon's Book Club. Sorry, Oprah; your's is so 90's. Room, with it's unique viewpoint yet not-so-unique storyline, left me with author trepidation, much like some people feel for Gillian Flynn. But after I read the premise of The Wonder - a young girl who is believed to subsist on little else than water and thin air for four-plus months - oh, there was no question I had to read this book, Reese Witherspoon recommendation aside (but that definitely helped).

Though an avid reader, the history of the Fasting Girls - known throughout Europe in the 19th Century - is a subject matter I was/am not at all familiar with. And while Donoghue's novel is mainly fiction, it is exquisitely researched and effectively communicated. The language and stilted prose have a tendency to muddy the scenes, but overall adds to the experience of reading the story. And Donoghue's electric, deeply troubled characters lend credence to a tale that could just as easily sore on its own merits.

This story, so deeply rooted in pious faith, is at times both blasphemous and devout; where the lines between dutiful faith and obvious logic simultaneously strengthen and blur; when God leads us to where miracles and science co-exist for the whole of mankind. A true testament to a young mind's devotion to her God and family, Anna - The Wonder - teaches Nurse Lib not only of the pitfalls, but also the restoration, of faith, and how it can happen to the most unlikely among us. Reminiscent of Unholy Night, The Wonder not only spotlights that often evil is done under the cloak of religion, but that faith is also the safety net when there is nothing left, which, more often than not, means using the tools God has already given us.

Told with an abrupt, stoic, bitter tone, none of the characters are particularly likable but all are somewhat relatable and make us question what we would do in Lib's position; or the mother's; or Anna's; or the doctor's; or even the priest's. Stunning, gripping, horrifying, and enigmatic, Donoghue's story is brilliantly executed and effectively constructed, and is one of those rare reads sure to spark discussions among book clubs and college courses the world over.