"The Sunlight Pilgrims"

 The Sunlight Pilgrims

Written by Jenni Fagan

Reviewed by Diana Iozzia

The Sunlight Pilgrims creates an eerie and uncomfortable year 2020 as the world breaks into crisis, as global warming allows for the development of an extinctive Ice Age. Reading this novel in April 2021, after a year of isolation, social distancing, and staying safe from a viral pandemic, feels bizarre. Naturally, the cause of the deaths of many humans on Earth is completely different, but the parallels are haunting.

Fagan tells the tales of Constance, Stella, and Dylan as they prepare for the end of the world as they knew it. Constance and her transgender daughter, Stella, live in a caravan park, wrapped up in the community that they are so determined to protect. Dylan chooses to visit, to the site where his mother had left him a caravan in her will. Dylan and Constance find consolation in each other, while Stella is desperate to keep her life as comfortable as it once was.

Unfortunately, this novel was not one for me. I found many of the elements to seem unbelievable, such as the temperature being below 0 degrees Fahrenheit and it raining. A few of the apocalyptic elements were interesting, such as the animals freezing to death, the freezing temperature preventative measures, and different perspectives of those who are living on this Earth.

Additionally, I found the dialogue style to be distracting and simple, where I prefer to have it be much more of an important part of storytelling. Also, I just found the plot to be very small and limited, when I felt that this novel had much more potential that Fagan could have built upon. The novel turned out to be more of a character study than a plot revolving around the end of time, when I prefer equal portions. I personally did not feel connected or sympathetic to the characters, because we hardly know deep detail of each. I felt that the characters we read were not likeable and just idiotic. I feel I can no longer enjoy immature, adolescent characters like Stella, who repeatedly made dangerous choices and made herself more of a nuisance in each chapter. I liked the character, Dylan, who reminded me of stoic but caring Joel from the The Last of Us video games. I felt that if the story only followed him, I would have enjoyed it more.

I did enjoy learning of some of the consequences of the global warming, but I just felt that we could have explored that a little more. One of my favorite novels of all time is Station Eleven. In SE¸ we see what the world like before a virus hits, during the first arrival and first deaths, and the aftermath. I felt that in The Sunlight Pilgrims we did not see how high the stakes were. Only seeing the beginning of the end, I do not feel as satisfied with the novel as I had initially anticipated. Only chapter 34 of 38 do we even see society locking down buildings, people struggling to find food, and riots. Also, that information is provided in a news broadcast, not experienced by our characters. Due to my lack of connection to the characters, I do not even feel I need to know if they survive. The book is branded as a story of courage and resilience, and I do not feel that at all. The climax incorporates moments of bravery, but I felt like they came all too late. My interest in the well-being of these characters expired eons ago.

I felt so thoroughly disappointed in this novel. If you enjoy apocalyptic or dystopian fiction, I would rather point you in the direction of Station Eleven, I am Legend, After the Flood, or Never Let Me Go.

I rated this book at two out of five stars.

Thank you to Hogarth Press for sending along a finished copy for reviewing purposes.