What Kind of Paradise by Janelle Brown

Amy     

Lynnie  

 

historical fiction, family drama

Jane was raised by her father in a 700 square foot cabin in the middle of the Montana woods during the 1980s and 90s, away from civilization and without most common household luxuries. Her father was brilliant but anti-government, paranoid, and reclusive. She had only one person she could call a friend with whom she rarely had contact. But she didn’t realize this was an unusual life until about age 17 when she began to want more exposure to the world and more control over her own existence. On the day she planned to escape, her father’s shocking actions completely changed her life.

Amy’s Review

This book has strong vibes of Educated by Tara Westover and The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls—parents who have checked out of society and raised their children outside of modern reality, according to their own distorted world views. But this one was different, and possibly more egregious, since it was only Jane and her father in the family. There were no other people from whom Jane could learn about different types of personalities and socialization. And her lack of communication/news from the world stifled her understanding of human interaction and invention. All she knew was what her father taught her and she worshipped him throughout her childhood, up until she made a secret discovery which caused her to doubt her father’s integrity.

This book was entirely engrossing and topical. Even though it takes place a few decades in the past, the technology concerns in the novel still resonate and make even more sense today. Did Jane have some lucky breaks? Sure. But What Kind of Paradise is relatable, suspenseful, and parts will break your heart. I really enjoyed Janelle Brown’s writing.

I both read the Kindle version and listened to the audiobook. The main audiobook narrator, Helen Laser, did a terrific job. I thought she was perfect. Peter Ganim’s brief sections were a bit one-dimensional but his material was also one-dimensional so all is forgiven. I give them an A as an ensemble.

 

Lynnie's Review

 

While I found Jane's life fascinating, I found that after a certain point the story itself was completely predictable. There was really only one way everything could play out and... it did. Many years ago I read Janelle Brown's Watch Me Disappear and felt the same way. It was interesting, but most people enjoyed it much more than I did.

I'm not sure I would have read What Kind of Paradise if my sister and some other friends hadn't loved it so much. But don't let my lack of enthusiasm dissuade you from reading it, particularly if you like a thriller. The characters are interesting and I enjoyed revisiting the 1990s technology (though I'm going to stubbornly refuse to call this historical fiction) and remembering the internet's early days.