A taut, psychological mind-bender from the bestselling author of I’m Thinking of Ending Things. We don’t get visitors. Not out here. We never have. In Iain Reid’s second haunting, philosophical puzzle of a novel, set in the near-future, Junior and Henrietta live a comfortable, solitary life on their farm, far from the city lights, but in close quarters with each other. One day, a stranger from … with each other. One day, a stranger from the city arrives with alarming news: Junior has been randomly selected to travel far away from the farm…very far away. The most unusual part? Arrangements have already been made so that when he leaves, Henrietta won’t have a chance to miss him, because she won’t be left alone–not even for a moment. Henrietta will have company. Familiar company.
Told in Reid’s sharp and evocative style, Foe examines the nature of domestic relationships, self-determination, and what it means to be (or not to be) a person. An eerily entrancing page-turner, it churns with unease and suspense from the first words to its shocking finale.
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Foe is a tale of implacably mounting peril that feels all the more terrifying for being told in such a quiet, elegantly stripped-down voice. Iain Reid knows how to do ‘ominous’ as well as anyone I’ve ever read.
I loved “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” so I was really excited to read this new book. I was not disappointed. It had a slow, creeping sense of unease throughout, building to a satisfyingly unexpected twisty ending. Audiobook narrator had the perfect quiet voice to perform this story.
I couldn’t put it down. It infected my dreams. A creepy and brilliant book.
I’m not sure that humans have hackles, but something was creeping up my spine as I read this book, and I welcomed the shivers of shock and delight…. A mind-bending and genre-defying work of genius.
This one is difficult to review without giving away the plot, which is unique and intriguing, so I will just say it’s a psychological thriller that focuses on marriage — the the needs (physical and emotional), the yearnings, the expectations, the levels of trust, the anxieties and suspicions — all against a backdrop of isolation. Don’t expect fast-paced action. This one is a slow burn, but I found it entirely captivating. I knew there would be a twist at the end, but I guessed wrong, and was surprised and satisfied. It made sense. This type of book is not my usual cup of tea, but I bought it on BookBub because it sounded different.. It was, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
a slice of the twilight zone an original tale of be carefull what you wish for brilliant
Strange, very strange. Chapters written like acts in a play. Even though the book is finished, I still wonder: When was this (what year)? Was it all a dream?
Fun read. I really enjoyed not just the story but how the story was written. Definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for a short sci-fi/fantasy escape.
Interesting story line but not my cup of tea.
“Our roads aren’t worn out from overuse but from neglect.”
At some point Iain Reid came into my periphery of authors I needed to check out and his two fiction releases, “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” and “FOE” became books I was always told I needed to read. As more people saw my likes, books that interested me etc, these two would always pop up inevitably in conversation.
For one reason or another, both just stayed on my “need to purchase list” and I never got around to it.
Then about a month ago, I was looking at the book section for my son at a local Dollarama, and lo and behold, there sat a brand new hardcover copy of FOE. I didn’t even hesitate. I snagged it, and boy am I glad I did. I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a copy of FOE for my father in law and ordered both a physical copy of “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” as well as snagged the kindle copy so I could start reading it ASAP. I’ll be starting that tonight.
FOE is a unique read in that nothing happens but so much happens. It unravels at a snail’s pace but the entire time the story gallops along.
There are three main characters and a house. Junior, Henrietta and Terrance.
That’s the overview of the story.
One day Terrance arrives at their farmhouse, way out in the middle of nowhere. He tells Junior he’s been randomly selected to be one of the first people to live on the Installation, Earth’s first attempt to colonize space. When he’s leaving isn’t fully known, but they need to prepare and Terrance will visit them a few times before he goes.
Throughout Reid keeps the creepiness factor at an all-time high. Dread and foreboding perspire off of each page and at one point I had this thought; “I know exactly what is going to happen and I have no idea what’s going to happen.”
There is a surreal dual ending that both played out lavishly and expectedly but completely surprised me and left me with so many questions.
This book has catapulted its way onto my all-time favourite books list and I’ve had a number of people say “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” is even better.
Can’t wait and the bonus here is that I’ve found another amazing Canadian writer blazing a trail in dark fiction.
From the opening page, you’ll have an uneasy feeling as you settle in to Iain’s Reid’s brilliant new novel, Foe…. A masterful and breathtakingly unique read. I can’t stop thinking about it.