Anthem

By: Noah Hawley

Narrated by: Shiromi Arserio, Noah Hawley

Length: 15 hrs and 24 mins

Publisher's summary

What does it take to change the world? The “epic adventure” (Booklist) of a band of unlikely heroes on a quest to save one innocent life who may end up saving us all.

For decades, Judge Margot Burr-Nadir has worked tirelessly, case by case, to administer justice from the federal bench of the Eastern District of the United States. Her position already seems like the highest possible honor. So she is surprised when a call comes from the President of the United States inviting her to accept his nomination to the Supreme Court—not least because in choosing her, in an unprecedented attempt to heal a divided nation, the President has reached across party lines.

For Margot, this should be among the brightest spots of an already charmed existence. But the call comes on a family trip to visit their oldest daughter, Story, who has, without warning, vanished as if spirited away in the middle of the night by forces unseen. Margot soon finds herself thrust onto the national stage in the middle of every parent’s worst nightmare.

The desperate search for Story’s whereabouts soon intersects with the mission of teenagers Simon Oliver, Louise Conklin, and a young man known only as the Prophet. Together, they have escaped from the Float Anxiety Abatement Center in Chicago on the trail of man known as The Wizard: an unimaginably wealthy, almost mythical figure of unspeakable evil who has for years been taking whatever he wants without reaping the consequences. Stopping him, this band of young people hopes to accomplish what their elders can’t or won’t do: fix a broken world.

Noah Hawley’s new novel is an adventure that finds unquenchable lights in dark corners. Unforgettably vivid characters and a plot as fast and bright as pop cinema blend in a Vonnegutian story that is as timeless as a Grimm’s fairy tale. It is a leap into the idiosyncratic pulse of the American heart, written with the bravado, literary power, and feverish foresight that have made Hawley one of our most essential writers.

©2022 Noah Hawley (P)2022 Grand Central Publishing

Critic reviews

“Hawley taps into our existential anxiety—and transforms it into a hefty page turner that’s equal parts horrific, catastrophic and, at times, strangely entertaining.”—New York Times Book Review

“Hawley the fiction writer is at his best when pitching his taut setup and its well-drawn cast of characters.”—USA Today

“Anthem is a Great American Novel for these tumultuous times—a provocative work of fiction that sees to the heart of things, cuts through the noise, and asks, 'How can we change, before it’s too late?'"—Esquire

Wow. Just wow.

This book is fantastic. As a Stephen King fan, I see a lot of The Stand here (obviously) and a lot of Kings character development, without too much waffling. The statistics and bleak interludes are moving and terrifying, but are exactly the experience I am having in my day to day life as a 33 year old with a 2 and almost 5 year old daughter.
This book is brilliantly walking the line between fantasy; witches, wizards, a group of teenagers taking on the task of saving the world, and grounded reality; an Epstein character, suicide, abuse, fear, confusion, global warming. I bought and read this book on a whim as it was one of a handful recommended in the NYTimes daily newsletter, and am so glad I did, it has become one of the best books I’ve read to date. Thank you for a wonderful book, I look forward to exploring more of your writings.

“Anthem” Challenge

This book is entertaining, thought provoking, and very well written. Anthem leaves you slightly unsettled and debating a number of issues in your life as well as that of the world.

Paint by Numbers, but not in a bad way

Yes, this novel is a reaction to America of the last decade. But I’m grateful that the writer painted within the lines when needed. And outside the lives when necessary.

Woman narrator is incomprehensible

Hawley is a good narrator, but the woman is hard to understand. She has a wonderful voice and great dramatic flair but many of her words are unintelligible. Maybe because she’s a Brit doing an American accent (which she does extremely well). I had to rewind a lot to catch some of what she was saying. Fascinating story, though, as are all Hawley’s books.

I didn’t think I’d like this book…..

I really enjoyed it even though totally out of my wheel house. I cared about these kids, hoped he would bring it all together somehow and he did! I don’t want to give anything away. It’s a bit of a wild ride but interesting trying to figure it out. Many points to discuss with BookClub.

*trigger warning* suicide.

Somehow I missed the part where the storyline revolved around the suicides of teenagers when I read the description.

Creepy! Anxiety Producing! Excellent!

Do not read this book if you have anxiety issues! It will not help a bit. Excellent distopian story. I loved/hated it!

I'm disturbed.

I can't decide if I love or hate this book.
If I had to describe it in one word, that word would be schizoid.
It leaves me feeling uneasy. Disturbed.
I suppose art should disturb us.
This book might be a work of genius or of insanity. And yet, it feels important. Maybe even defining.
I can't judge it. Maybe you can.

The opening really does say what needs to be said

This is a book with twists and turns, flawed characters, triggering events, and everything that makes it feel almost too real. It mirrors the events now, just a few years in our future. It comments on live, it is realistic, seemingly hopeless, but ultimately one of the most hopeful reads from a dark time in history as told and understood by English speakers.

You will feel this tug at many emotions, you will wonder who, if anyone, is truly good. If you don’t reflect on your relation to the events unfolding and how it impacts who should be the future…you are a11.

Clever but flat

Clever writing. I can truly say I never quite knew where the story was going to take me.

The storytelling unfortunately suffers from some myopia. Progressives are portrayed as victimized innocent visionaries while conservatives (Christians, QAnoners, Trump supporters) are simply portrayed as angry, compassionless cardboard cutouts.