The Ferryman, Justin Cronin

About the Book

Founded by the mysterious genius known as the Designer, the archipelago of Prospera lies hidden from the horrors of a deteriorating outside world. In this island paradise, Prospera’s lucky citizens enjoy long, fulfilling lives until the monitors embedded in their forearms, meant to measure their physical health and psychological well-being, fall below 10 percent. Then they retire themselves, embarking on a ferry ride to the island known as the Nursery, where their failing bodies are renewed, their memories are wiped clean, and they are readied to restart life afresh. 

Proctor Bennett, of the Department of Social Contracts, has a satisfying career as a ferryman, gently shepherding people through the retirement process—and, when necessary, enforcing it. But all is not well with Proctor. For one thing, he’s been dreaming—which is supposed to be impossible in Prospera. For another, his monitor percentage has begun to drop alarmingly fast. And then comes the day he is summoned to retire his own father, who gives him a disturbing and cryptic message before being wrestled onto the ferry.

Meanwhile, something is stirring. The Support Staff, ordinary men and women who provide the labor to keep Prospera running, have begun to question their place in the social order. Unrest is building, and there are rumors spreading of a resistance group—known as “Arrivalists”—who may be fomenting revolution. 

Soon Proctor finds himself questioning everything he once believed, entangled with a much bigger cause than he realized—and on a desperate mission to uncover the truth.

Book Links
Releases May 2nd

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My Thoughts

I have no way to review this. So instead, I present my inner dialogue while reading:
What the heck is going on?
Okay, that’s weird, but you signed up to read an ARC, so you knew it would be weird.
Is this a good weird?
I think it is.
Hmm, that has the potential for abuse.
Oh yeah, I saw that coming.
What the heck is going on??!!
Whoa, I like her.
I did not see that coming.
Wait, so they do what? Why would people sign up to do this?
Proctor, what are you doing?
What the heck is going on?
Oh wow, this is so good, bizarre, but so good.
Why haven’t you read this author before?
This is stressful as heck.
I can’t stand the stress!
What is inside this author’s brain?
I’m 80% in, have no idea what’s happening, and I’ve loved every second of this.
Oh wow, that happened.
This author is brilliant; I don’t have the words.
All the stars!

Thank you, Random House-Ballantine, for sending along this gem of a read.