"The nine novels that followed include a clever critique of the American health-care system (So Much for That, 2010), a family drama about the obesity epidemic (Big Brother, 2013), an economic dystopia (The Mandibles, 2016), a satiric look at the growing popularity of extreme endurance sports (The Motion of the Body Through Space, 2020), and an exploration of the social costs imposed by increased longevity (Should We Stay or Should We Go, 2021)."
"She has a wry observational intelligence that propels her well beyond her personal orbit. She is also adept at unpacking psychological states and analyzing relationships with almost clinical incisiveness. Her writing is witty, and startlingly precise. We Need to Talk About Kevin describes a man as a "stringy cerebral type whose skittering metabolism burns chickpea concoctions at a ferocious rate.""
Lionel Shriver's novels cover a wide topical range, including critiques of American health care, the obesity epidemic, economic dystopia, extreme endurance sports, and longevity. Her fiction emphasizes observational detail, precise wit, and clinical analysis of psychological states and relationships. Protagonists are active and plots are thoughtfully devised rather than relying on sensational twists. Recent work tackles immigration and is described as going off the rails, suggesting uneven execution. Overall, strengths include sharp social observation, clear prose, and effective characterization; weaknesses can appear when handling highly charged contemporary themes.
Read at The Atlantic
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