A novel that probes Western political naiveté and, often hilariously,
the relationship of the individual to society.
When Charlotte is kidnapped panic is only held at bay by a sardonic
Inner Voice, which alternately consoles and condemns. When the Middle
Eastern dictator Kassem questions the writer about why she had killed
him off in her last book A Hero, he triggers a surreal month of
captivity. While Kassem appears determined to explain every warlike
action, Charlotte attempts to instill humanity in the dictator. Inner
Voice's incredulity at such hubris provides much-needed comic relief in
an increasingly tense situation, as the unbearable loneliness unleashes
a storm of unexpected sexual fantasies and complex feelings. When the
promised release date comes and goes, Charlotte embarks on a hunger
strike, which ultimately brings about a joyful reunion with her family.
However, home quickly disintegrates into another form of confinement, as
Charlotte discovers that Kassem had used her for his propaganda,
streaming their interactions live online. Media interest drives the
introverted writer inward; as her ability to function normally
deteriorates, Charlotte becomes convinced that her existence is a
liability for her children. Ultimately a post-modern fable, the novel
cleverly plays with perceptions of truth while exploring the concept of
imprisonment, the wider impacts of social media, and challenging
widely-held assumptions about fame. A Hostage probes Western political
naiveté along with novelistic hubris as it, often hilariously, explores
the relationship of the individual to society.
Fiction.
