“I Cheerfully Refuse” is a near future dystopian novel that I “read” via an audio version. I keep not reviewing it because I loved it and want to do it justice, but it is a novel that is easy to inadvertently spoil. Generally speaking, there has been some climate related disaster that has resulted in serious food shortages, epidemics/deaths, lack of jobs, health care and a new power structure completely based on wealth. Desperate people have indentured themselves to the wealthy “Astronauts” for six year contracts. Breaking that contract can include the punishment of death. Rainy and Lark, a happily married couple, live along Lake Superior. Rainy is a talented bass player, Lark a bookstore owner in a time when many people no longer read and books are considered evil in and of themselves. She buys up libraries from old estates. Lark and Rainy rent a room to Kellen, a young man with many secrets. He provides Lark with a copy of a book from her favorite author, a book she has searched for called, ” I Cheerfully Refuse.” Kellen warns Lark and Rainy to watch out for Werrick but gives them no context or details. Meanwhile, we start to hear about a new drug, Willow, that causes death, with whole families and lonely people being found here and there — gone.
For reasons I will not divulge, except to say this is based on a familiar Greek myth, Rainy must run away. He sets off alone to sail on Lake Superior with an inadequately equipped boat and little sailing experience. His journey takes him to towns that have adapted to the changes in varied ways, some with merchants, some running wild with danger, some with few inhabitants, many with spies that may report you to your pursuers. He has to find fuel and food so over and over he must expose himself to others. Along the way, he takes on a little girl who needs help, Sol. He starts to teach Sol her letters and reads her “the” book. They are constantly in danger, facing hunger, dead bodies that float to the surface, corrupt people and unknown pursuers. Eventually Rainy and Sol land in a very dangerous predicament in a setting where we meet a host of incredible characters.
I’m sure some would find parts of this novel boring. At least on audio, I was mesmerized, with each new venture dragging me into the understanding that lovable Rainy’s is always and forever a “good guy” in a world that has far too many “bad guys.” He has love to spare even when beaten down and when faced with desperate situations, his ingenuity serves him well. The characters, good and bad are artfully drawn I will reread “I Cheerfully Refuse” just to better understand their reasons for being/how they each serve the story. Of course, because it is not too far in the future, the novel is both eerily scary and abstract. The writing is lyrical and intense. The journey feels longer than it is. The settings are marvelous. Read it if this sounds like it’s up your alley because it’s definitely a new favorite for me.
The Narrator, David Allen Baker, was excellent.
They Called me Bookworm 