The Lesson: A Novel by Cadwell Turnbull
General Thoughts
This review is for the audiobook edition narrated by Janina Edwards and Ron Butler
The Lesson is the debut novel by Cadwell Turnbull. It is about an alien spaceship that lands on an island in the Caribbean and the ensuing impact on one family. I really wanted to like this book more than I did. It is the type of story that I typically enjoy. A science fiction story where science fiction serves as a backdrop for a character-driven narrative. There were certain aspects of the plot and themes that emerged that I truly enjoyed. One of my favorites is how humans respond to collective trauma. It felt very relevant to the post 2020 world. This is not a typical alien invasion book. Turnbull does such a good job of capturing the banal parts of everyday life and of the inner struggles all humans face that you sometimes forget that this is science fiction. Turnbull loves the US Virgin Islands and has a lot to say about colonialism, racism and religion. I can see the story the author was trying to tell. In my opinion, the narrative became all about the larger themes, resulting in plot and characters suffering. At times, it was confusing and made me feel that parts of the story were missing. That being said, I am very much looking forward to seeing how his writing develops and what stories he wants to tell.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5
Plot
"An alien ship rests over Water Island. For five years the people of the U.S. Virgin Islands have lived with the Ynaa, a race of super-advanced aliens on a research mission they will not fully disclose. They are benevolent in many ways but meet any act of aggression with disproportional wrath. This has led to a strained relationship between the Ynaa and the local Virgin Islanders and a peace that cannot last. A year after the death of a young boy at the hands of an Ynaa, three families find themselves at the center of the inevitable conflict, witness and victim to events that will touch everyone and teach a terrible lesson."(1)
The opening chapters of the novel are really strong. It starts 15 days before the invasion and each section of the opening chapters is a countdown to the arrival of the YNAA. In addition to representing time, it alternates between our family of protagonists. I really felt like I got to know the characters and their struggles. The countdown created a sense of dread and anxiety that I don't get very often from books. I give major points for authors that can be creative with the structure of their novel.
Character
The fundamental challenge I had with this book was that it didn't seem like we spent enough time with our characters. Each of our characters is on the verge of something. They are not happy with where they are in life. The invasion is the catalyst, and it isn't always a happy ending for our characters. Each character is well drawn; you root for them and hope they find what they seek. As poignant as the lesson may be, the downside is that by the time they receive their "revelation," it doesn't seem deserved.
Theme and Historical Context (Spoiler Warning!)
One of the strongest themes that emerged was how humans respond to collective trauma. The alien "invasion" is a worldwide event that affects everyone differently. For centuries, humans have used art and culture as a reflexive and therapeutic tool to understand the world. In a very meta moment, Jackson, the father of the family, is teaching a class called "Post-Invasion Literature." My mind immediately connected to the books that have come out in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic(2). Millions of people are experiencing this once-in-a-lifetime event. It evokes a wide range of feelings: fear, anxiety, joy, love, etc. The collective trauma of both the invasion and COVID gave people an opportunity to pause and reflect on what it means to live a meaningful life.
Bibliography
“The Lesson by Cadwell Turnbull.” Goodreads | Meet Your next Favorite Book, https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41459037-the-lesson?ac=1&from_search=true&qid=uCULfj64zg&rank=1. Accessed 21 Oct. 2022.
Caplan, Walker. “The First Wave of Pandemic Novels Is Beginning in Earnest, with Gary Shteyngart at the Helm. ‹ Literary Hub.” Literary Hub, 16 Apr. 2021, https://lithub.com/the-first-wave-of-pandemic-novels-is-beginning-in-earnest-with-gary-shteyngart-at-the-helm/.
