Good book with dust jacket from the author of The Beach
*The Coma* by Alex Garland is a psychological thriller and surreal novel that explores themes of identity, consciousness, and the nature of reality. The story follows Carl, a man who is brutally attacked on a subway and subsequently falls into a coma. As Carl navigates his internal world, the novel blurs the lines between dreams, memories, and reality, creating a disorienting and atmospheric narrative.
Garland uses vivid imagery and sparse prose to evoke the eerie, detached experience of Carl's journey, leaving the reader to question what is real and what is imagined. The novel's structure and themes echo existential and philosophical ideas, making it a thought-provoking and unsettling read. The illustrations by Nicholas Garland, Alex Garland's father, further enhance the dreamlike quality of the book.
Overall, *The Coma* is a brief yet intense novel, filled with ambiguity and introspection, that invites readers to delve into the complexities of the mind and self-awareness.
