The Review

The whole time I was reading Scarlett Thomas’s “The Sleepwalkers”, I couldn’t help but think of my freshmen year creative writing class in college. Our TA was rather eclectic and constantly wanted us to push the boundaries on what was considered an essay. I feel she would have loved grading “The Sleepwalkers” as the novel challenges conventional storytelling, and whether it succeeds or falters largely depends on one’s tolerance for unconventional narrative structures.

The story is set on a remote Greek island where newlyweds Evelyn and Richard have embarked on their honeymoon. Their stay at the Villa Rosa, a decaying hotel with an ominous reputation, is anything but idyllic. The couple, who are already on shaky ground, finds themselves entangled in a web of jealousy and deceit from the involvement of Isabella, the hotel’s strikingly beautiful and manipulative owner.

As mentioned before, Thomas pushes the boundaries of conventional storytelling as the narrative unfolds through a series of documents: Evelyn’s letters to Richard, entries in a hotel guest book, and a transcript of a recorded conversation. This fragmented style, while initially intriguing, becomes a double-edged sword. The sheer length of some letters and the abrupt transitions between documents can be disorienting. At times, the text seems to deliberately frustrate the reader with unfinished sentences and disjointed passages, leading to a sense of irritation and confusion.

On the positive side, Thomas’s writing is rich with atmospheric detail and biting humor. Evelyn’s sharp wit and Richard’s pompous demeanor offer a darkly comic lens through which their deteriorating relationship is examined. The setting of the Greek island, with its close proximity to the Turkish coast, is vividly portrayed and adds an exotic layer to the narrative. The story also benefits from some clever twists and a dark undercurrent that explores themes of deception and desire.

Overall, The Sleepwalkers is a bold experiment in storytelling. It combines humor, suspense, and psychological intrigue in a manner that is both inventive and, at times, frustrating. For readers who appreciate a narrative that demands engagement and rewards persistence, it offers a compelling, if occasionally maddening, experience. However, those seeking a more straightforward plot might find the book’s quirks and complexities to be a stumbling block.

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Short Review (AKA TLDR)

In summary, this novel is a three-star read for me. It showcases Thomas’s talent for evocative writing and complex characters but is ultimately undermined by its fractured narrative structure and the reader’s need to navigate through its intentional obfuscations. Whether or not one enjoys this book may depend greatly on their patience with experimental storytelling and their ability to embrace the chaos of its construction.