Yesteryear

First time being first to leave a review on a novel. And happy to share a positive one. It was quite harsh and cynical a novel to read, but so up-to date. I'm sure everyone recognized the prototype(s) of the heroes of this book and if not then hello aliens, welcome to the viral world of instagram, we're happy to see u here. The plot of the novel is quite intricate – we’re following a True Christian Americal Familiy, who choose to go viral and share their implacable life on an Instagram. The leader and the brains of this family is a woman, a housewife called Natalie Mills. She builds online world of her dream and makes all and each of living soul of her large household to take part in her show. The family lives on a beautiful rural ranch called Yesteryear (hence the title of the novel), from where she rules her online kingdom of Instagram (3 mil subs) and preaches the true American values such as organic food, natural birth, obedience and loyalty to a husband, home-schooling etc. Of course, we have the other side of the show here- a behind-the-scene one, which is not as perfect and handy as Natalie would like it to be. And we also have an ‘’offline’’ Natalie, who is struggling to maintain her sobriety and wits in control but one day she fails.. It was exciting, nonstop reading, so smart and cynical. I appreciate the skills of the author highly, she managed to lay out all the important issues of instagram influencing – such as to how addicting it may be to both sides and how much power it brings to an average type of person, how this power may engulf and destroy you in no time. The author doesn’t speak openly about the mental issue but surely we read it as we follow Natalies line of thinking, we se how she gradually loses her sobriety and until finally breaks down. We also see an issue of child abuse in this novel, it is not very much outstanding or painful, but Mary’s letter to her mother cries it out at the end. To sum it up – the novel is outstanding, it deserves to be read and analysed deeply just because it touches so impending issues and is so very much up-to date that you just have to give it a thought before you open your Instagram page to dive into the world of influencers design.