Smart and provocative ... So damn addictive ... The premise itself is the novel’s first achievement—the TV show is a wonderfully abhorrent and ethically dubious monstrosity, and a testament to Rawle’s imagination ... A fantastically and uncomfortably fun drama, one that is particularly enjoyable because of a profane truth: It’s entertaining to watch hot people do psychotic things ... The final third of the book in particular is a hair-raising suite of terrors.
With such a juicy conceit, it would be easy to view the novel as just an easy summer romp. But Rawle is up to something more thoughtful; The Compound joins a budding genre of fiction that uses disturbing televised competitions to critique our social norms ... Thrilling and haunting.
Rawle’s narrative is compulsively readable, written with an understated, sharp grace that lets the surreal details shine. From the first page you feel in safe hands, and it’s wonderful to surrender yourself to such a book. ... The book becomes increasingly addictive. The characters are well observed, and the plot moves with balletic precision towards a bleak and gory finale ... Though marketed as a satire, the political edge is the novel’s least persuasive element. Its critiques of consumerism are broad and familiar; in truth, Love Island functions as a far more layered and unsettling commentary on the world we live in, and it’s not as if viewers are unaware of the show’s dystopian undertones ...The novel’s real power lies elsewhere: in its atmosphere, its pacing and the completeness of Rawle’s narrative control. It’s one of the most engrossing and confidently executed novels I’ve read in a long time.
A masterful, captivating story of materialism and the search for meaning amidst climate crisis and economic instability ... With nuanced characters and a sharp examination of the tearing threads of modern society, The Compound is an astounding must-read.
Manna to fans of reality TV and some haters as well ... Lily’s self-awareness will dawn too gradually for some readers, and the story takes a while to gather steam, but Rawle ultimately balances a shrewd indictment of reality TV’s contrived survivalism with a celebration of the same.
An addictive tale of a fiercely competitive and increasingly dangerous reality TV show ... Rawle’s fast-paced plotting keeps the reader turning pages, as does Lily’s intriguing character development. This portrait of a vapid world contains remarkable depth.
