Advertisement
Books

Bewilderment by Richard Powers: Packs a hell of a punch

Bewilderment by Richard Powers encourages the reader to see the world through the eyes of his nine year old neurodivergent protagonist, writes author Doug Johnstone.

Something weird happens when you’re a novelist. As soon as you write about certain themes and ideas, you begin to see echoes in the work of other writers all over the place. It’s the literary equivalent of buying a certain make and colour of car, then suddenly seeing it everywhere on the road.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers is out now (William Heinemann, £18.99)

Powers won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for his remarkable book The Overstory, a novel that genuinely changed how I view the world.

In comparison, Bewilderment is a more compact and focused story, but it still packs a hell of a punch.

The story revolves around astrophysicist Theo Byrne and his nine-year-old neurodivergent son Robin.

To cope with their loss after the death of Theo’s environmentalist wife, he helps them imagine strange worlds out in space, informed by his work on exoplanets.

Right there on page eight is a discussion of the Great Silence, the theory of possible extraterrestrial life that I used as the title of my new book.

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty
Advertisement

I too used the idea of life on other planets to discuss how we cope with death on this one, and Bewilderment gave me a thrill of recognition.

The book does so much more.

Powers uses Robin’s unique world view to skewer how we disregard our environment, from animal rights to the climate crisis.

As Robin’s behaviour butts up against ‘normal’ society, Theo finds it harder to justify how society is run. When a friend suggests a cutting-edge meditation therapy as an alternative to medication for Robin, Theo jumps at it.

But the conventions of society encroach on their progress, leading to a heartbreaking and nerve-shredding climax.

Bewilderment by Richard Powers is out now (William Heinemann, £18.99)

Advertising helps fund Big Issue’s mission to end poverty

Never miss an issue

Take advantage of our special subscription offer. Subscribe from just £9.99 and never miss an issue.

Recommended for you

Read All
Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever
Corruption

Hedonist ex-MP Victor Grayson tried to expose corruption and scandal. Then he disappeared forever

Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards
Books

Top 5 gritty thrillers, chosen by viral sensation and best-selling author Lloyd Devereux Richards

The Summer We Ate Off the China by Devin Jacobsen review – digging for deepest meaning
Books

The Summer We Ate Off the China by Devin Jacobsen review – digging for deepest meaning

How four women raged a secret propaganda war against the Nazis during World War II
World War II

How four women raged a secret propaganda war against the Nazis during World War II

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue