+34
An analysis of Simon Wroe's novel Ghost Month, exploring a London where the dead return annually and the resulting impact on the living.
In the cinematic landscape of The Sixth Sense, the revelation of seeing dead people was a shocking twist that left audiences breathless. However, in the imaginative world created by Simon Wroe in his second novel, titled Ghost Month, this supernatural occurrence is treated as a mundane, if slightly inconvenient, part of being a resident of London.
The narrative is meticulously structured, beginning on the first of September and concluding on the final day of the month. This specific period marks the annual return of the deceased to the city streets. While these spectral visitors might possess a faint pallor or emit a peculiar scent, they are otherwise indistinguishable from the living.
They occupy the city with a sense of entitlement, appearing wherever they wish, a phenomenon that has become a seasonal regularity over the past five years. The novel centers its narrative on four distinct individuals, each navigating the complexities of this mass haunting in their own way. Among them is nine-year-old Eddie, whose perspective provides a poignant yet humorous lens on mortality.
Eddie observes the attention his deceased brother receives at the family dinner table with a mix of envy and skepticism. Ultimately, he concludes that death is an unattractive prospect, primarily because it would preclude him from enjoying chocolate treats such as Wispas or Aeros.
Then there is Jane, a teacher who finds herself in the awkward position of renting a faux husband to satisfy the expectations of her judgmental mother. In a world where ghosts are mute, visual appearances carry an immense weight, and Jane uses this to her advantage. Gideon, the heir to a property empire, represents the intersection of wealth and mortality, questioning whether there are spiritual debts or consequences that his vast fortune cannot resolve.
Finally, Lil, a woman experiencing homelessness, is described as a ghost of her former self even before the official ghost month begins, highlighting the invisibility of the marginalized in a city obsessed with the visible dead. Wroe demonstrates a remarkable ability to build a fantastical world with conviction and a sharp sense of wit. The societal integration of the supernatural is rendered through clever details, such as advertisements on the London Underground offering 'hexes for exes'.
Even the beauty standards of the city have shifted, with the heavy application of blusher becoming a necessary fashion choice to mask the ghastly pallor of the grave. This pragmatism, where the dead are seamlessly folded into political discourse, children's games, and celebrity gossip, serves as a biting commentary on the absurdity of modern existence. By treating the impossible as ordinary, Wroe highlights how human beings are capable of normalizing almost any situation, no matter how surreal.
Despite the brilliance of the setting, the novel is not without its shortcomings. The critic notes that while the world feels lived-in and fleshed-out, the central characters sometimes feel hollow in comparison. There is a tendency toward over-explaining the thoughts and backstories of the protagonists, which can strip away some of the mystery and emotional resonance.
Furthermore, the extreme polarities of some characters—ranging from unbearable arrogance to absolute destitution—can veer into cliché, reminiscent of a predictable Dickensian narrative where redemption is almost guaranteed. These elements occasionally hinder the emotional impact of the story, making the character arcs feel slightly mechanical.
Nevertheless, Ghost Month remains a uniquely compelling exploration of the ridiculousness inherent in death. The humor woven throughout the text does not diminish the gravity of the subject but rather accentuates the peculiar and individual ways in which people experience grief. It is a thoughtful, if slightly uneven, inquiry into the possibility of coexistence with loss.
While some moments may feel underwhelming, the overall conceptual strength of the novel ensures that it lingers in the mind of the reader long after the final page. By juxtaposing the horrific reality of death with the banal routines of London life, Wroe creates a story that is as unsettling as it is heartwarming
Simon Wroe Ghost Month Literary Analysis Contemporary Fiction Grief
Ireland Latest News, Ireland Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Walking past the decaying industrial plant, I swore I heard a Soviet ghostFrom a Cold War nuclear programme to the modern race for rare earth magnets, this quiet Estonian city can’t escape geopolitics
Read more »
Mortgage switching activity surges as homeowners look to lock in interest ratesHome-loan approvals up 15% last month to €2bn, banking body says
Read more »
Markéta Irglová pays tribute to Glen Hansard a month after his deathMarkéta Irglová took to social media to pay beautiful tributes to Glen Hansard a month after his tragic passing.
Read more »
The Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi: What the snow leopard tells us about ourselvesThe Ghost of the Mountains by Kulbhushansingh Suryawanshi: What the snow leopard tells us about ourselves
Read more »