Rachel Cline

A middle-aged woman enters into a negotiation with her childhood best friend and confronts the damage done by their eighth grade teacher, who molested them both.

The Question Authority

Jessica 

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Review was previously posted here on Booked J. As always, a copy of this book was provided by the publisher or author in exchange for participating in the blog tour/my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way. 

The Question Authority is truly a gem of a novel and perfectly timed with the #METOO movement as it grows. With this era, with these truths coming to light, we've all felt compelled to reevaluate things that have happened in our lives directly or indirectly. Most of us have a story that ties into the movement.

Which is what drew me to it. The Question Authority wasn't what I expected in terms of pacing and story, but that's not a bad thing. In-fact, the entire thing was poignant to a degree that made my skin crawl with reminders of some inappropriate things we've all seen or heard in life. I thought the slow pace of the novel worked to its benefit and really made everything all the more cutting.

There was something about Rachel Cline's prose that felt like the cool brush of something sharp. Just a bit of pressure that is a dull ache but still felt. I can't explain it too intensely. I really enjoyed it for this reason.

I thought the story told raised a lot of interesting questions about our perspective then vs. now. As a teenager, I let a lot of questionable statements and advances pass. Even though I graduated nearly 10 years ago, the movement has raised a lot of voices up to the platforms they deserve and looking back on stuff, you have to think, what happened? Why did this fly?

The Question Authority reads like a cross between a procedural drama and a non-fiction crime novel. It, at times, feels like a confessional too. Which ultimately strengthens its voice, not unlike the movement itself. All of these qualities make it very thought-provoking and utterly compelling.

Overall, I really appreciated what Cline's created with The Question Authority. Seeing the conflict and questions in the past and present for Nora's narration was definitely my favourite part of the novel. 

The Question Authority is well written and thoughtful; just as timely as you've been told--and a damn good read.

The Question Authority

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