SarahRae

“Moon Beaver” begins with Benny Henderson, an inhabitant of the increasingly drab Norwich, who finds himself struggling to retain his sense of originality in a city that has been permeated by Company rhetoric; it is being blanketed by propaganda that forces the relinquishment of an individual identity in order to create manageable conformity. As the city slowly grows greyer and falls deeper into an abyss of Company compliance, a young woman of unspecified age and origin, who calls herself Moon Beaver, unexpectedly enters Benny’s flat while he is in the middle of a bubble bath and entrances him with her “cult of one.” From thence on, he unquestioningly allows the strange woman to invade his life, deplete his savings, and guide him away from his fiancée, Louise, as they venture overseas. Enthralled by her spontaneous lifestyle and her belief in her own immortality, Benny attempts to learn from her the mysteries of time, which she purports to manipulate. It is clear to Benny that he will eventually be abandoned by Moon, and thus feels as if every day with her could be the last. The occult of Moon Beaver pervades and complicates the lives of every character: Louise attempts to come to terms with Moon’s sense of freedom, and ultimately her own, as she delves into Moon’s indeterminate past; Lou, a Midwestern hen farmer from the States, tries to reconcile his love for his hens with his love for Moon; and Benny, attempting to understand Moon’s philosophy, concentrates on negotiating issues of time and sustainability outside of the Company norm. Andrew Hook’s “Moon Beaver” is a novel of life, death, and the transitory time spent in between. Moon’s character and sense of self is eerily inspiring and makes for a read that is both absorbing and beguiling. The issues raised by Hook are poignant to everyday life, and the consequences of living in every kind of way are potentially haunting: how do we immortalize our finite selves, and how do we do so without sacrificing the people we love?

derosa2035

An oxymoron for the ages: Moon Beaver is a REAL satire. Packed with the disposition of time in relation to human life, Andrew Hook's Moon Beaver delves into the inner strength and power of the human race. With a theater-esque setting, this novel takes you into the lives of five people. Benny and Louise who work for the Company, Alice and Christian who run a small "business," Lou who owns a failing chicken farm, and Moon. A young woman who affects the lives of everyone in the novel. From travelling to being stationary, Moon Beaver tackles every issue people face on a day to day basis. This novel is a delight to read and will leave you questioning youre own life choices and your current state. Are you truly happy? Is your job consuming your life? Do you sometimes feel like switching all of your senses into off mode? If so, Moon Beaver is the title for you. Surrounded with humor as well as class, Moon Beaver is a must read, especially at a cross-roads in your life.