Walking the Wall

I pretty much gulped down Children of Men by P.D. James like it was a well loved desert, and for a rather depressing book, it was also very good. I think that P.D James is an excellent writer, at least based on this book, the first of hers I’ve ever read. The main character, Faron, isn’t in any way likeable, although unlike some people I have read, I did sympathize with him. Really, none of the characters are all that likeable, which is, in my opinion, a testament to James’ writing skills that she kept me fully engaged without making my feeling any connection with the characters. I read one reviewer who said that James’ paints a picture more than she writes a novel and I have to agree with that–it really is beautifully written. For me, the book asks the question, do we retain what is good in humanity…like justice, compassion…even if there is no future. Do we hold ourselves to a higher ideal just for the future, or do we retain these ideals simply because they are right…and right in this very moment.

"It was reasonable to struggle, to suffer, perhaps even to die, for a more just, a more compassionate society, but not in a world with no future where, all too soon, the very words ‘justice,’ ‘compassion,’ ’society,’ ’struggle,’ ‘evil,’ would be unheard echoes on an empty air" (112).

Some people grabbed at power, some people lost all interest in being anything at all, and, luckily, some people tried to hold onto ideals.