Let me start by saying this is a short story. Asylum is thought-provoking and interesting novel.

The story is about Barry James who is detained in a quarantine facility. He lives in the reality of where he is and the imagination of his make-believe world.

What I found most intriguing were the journals. Hoping to read more by this author in the future.

Thanks so mich for early access this was a tremendous read. An author that beings so much of modern living into the most compelling of stories. Highly recommend this book and will be watching for more thanks

I enjoy dystopian stories once in a while, and I enjoyed this one! It is on the shorter side, but I enjoyed reading Barry's journal entries.

We met Barry James, incarcerated in a treatment facility in the middle of a South African desert, his life ruled by a vile lung disease that will end his life. It is three years in the future, 2023, and the world appeared different from the one in which we now reside but somehow it also felt like taking a step back in time, Barry’s lung disease similar to TB, its victims also incarcerated but with one difference, many would survive, in Barry’s case he would not.

So how did Barry accept his fate, and how did he face each day knowing it could be his last? This was the premise in which Low based his book, Barry’s thoughts tumbled out in the form of notebooks, as they revealed glimpses of a troubled past, of a man that was a bit of a loner. His interactions with other patients were limited, almost as if he had drawn within himself, perhaps the only way he could cope.

What impressed me most was that Low never gave much away, either about Barry’s past, his age, his family. He gave us mere hints, made us think, and read between the lines to fill in the gaps, to piece together who Barry was. I don’t think I ever worked him out completely, but I don’t think that was ever Low’s intention to give us a full, rounded and open character. What he did give us was a man at odds with the world, and most importantly with himself. His musing, his dreams were, I felt, his way of coming to terms with his past, his illness and to hopefully make peace and accept his fate.

For all its quietness, and deep thinking, Asylum also had its dramatic moments, like small interludes, that jolted us out of our thoughtfulness, made us leap up and take notice.

Low exposed us to the natural elements of the African Karoo, its great expanse, the heat, the dust, the rain, the need for survival. He gave us the merest hint of politics, of a changing world that you somehow knew would impact on the insular world of Barry and his fellow patients. The consequences were not quite what you expected but profound and moving, Low’s narrative poignant, eloquent and devastating, that left me thoughtful, unsure of how it made me feel. A step away after the turn of the final page provided clarity and an appreciation for an author and his quiet, understated and masterful prose, a novel that was self assured and a pleasure to read.

Although i felt this was a really gripping novel, i did find it a bit short. It wasn’t much of an original but i did find it scary at some parts and gave me that creepy, thriller, asylum feel to do it. I can totally understand why Marcus has been shortlisted 9Mobile Prize for Literature as his writing style and story telling is totally immersive.

Thank you Netgalley for my copy of Asylum by Marcus Low.

Asylum is a compelling read where we follow our main character Barry James at this particular point in his life. We have little idea of the difference between his dreams and his reality. Barry James is in a quarantine facility somewhere in the Great Karoo due to there being a disease infecting the country. He is resigned to the fact that there is no cure so the only way he will leave the facility is if he dies. This is a short read so I won't give anymore away just to say I really enjoyed the authors work. I don't normally read dystopian fiction but this story pulls you in, makes you question reality and makes you hungry to know more. A solid 4 stars from me.

Let me state that I really liked the premise behind this book. I enjoy dystopian novels, especially with a medical twist. So this book was appealing to me but there were things about the writing that didn't read like a typical dystopian book. The narrative starts well but the pacing is slow. I did like the therapist aspect who met with the "patient" and suggested that he write his thoughts and feelings down into a notebook if he didn't feel comfortable discussing them in person. This was a good aspect of the story.. Overall, the book was just okay for me.

#Asylum #NetGalley

I just could not get into this book, no matter how I tried. It's quite bleak, but very hard to connect with the character, which just got annoying to read as the book went on.
I'm not a fan of epistolary or diary style writing anyway, but this just didn't work. Some books, like One Flew Over The Cuckoo's nest make great use of the stream of consciousness style, but it felt awkward and stilted here. When an author is creating a new world, especially in dystopia or fantasy, that kind of style doesn't often work. We're already trying to make sense of the unfamiliar surroundings and throwing an unreliable narrator into the mix can just be frustrating.
Thankfully, it was a short read, but absolutely not one I'd ever recommend.

Thank you to the publisher for allowing me an ARC of this title. Asylum by Marcus Low was an interesting read. I had trouble really focusing and getting into this story. I enjoyed some parts, but just did not connect much to the characters and plot. I liked the writing style with the journal entries by the main character, but there was just something missing for me the entire time. Dystopian stories are sometimes hard for me to connect with personally. I think it was a good book, just not my usual cup of tea.

Honestly, I had a hard time getting into this book, and even when I did, I found myself wondering why I did! Incarcerated because of illness, the main character seems to have trouble distinguishing his dream world from reality. I really would not recommend this book, but this is only my opinion.

I wasn't really a fan of this book. The cover, title, and concept made me want to read it, but it didn't live up to expectations.
I felt that nothing really happened and not enough was revealed, although the atmosphere of madness was quite effective.
This one just wasn't for me unfortunately.

Well, this was definitely a different read. The story of a man living with an incurable disease inside a "treatment facility" that is basically a prison. On the advice of his psychiatrist, he starts keeping a journal. His journal not only describes his experiences throughout the day, but his dreams during the night. And, sometimes, the line between dream and reality is pretty murky.

I liked this book. It didn't wow me. It didn't blow me away. But I liked it. I liked the concept and the execution. I'm a sucker for a book written in a kind of journal format. I also enjoyed the "notes" we got from the person that found the main character's notebooks. The setting was different, but intriguing. I really wish it had been fleshed out a little more. Actually, I think that's my main issue with this book. Everything seems a bit flat, from the characters to the setting. Still, it was short book, so I found it to be an enjoyable diversion. I could have gone for a little more creepiness, if I'm being honest, as well. There were definitely some good bits where I was suitably creeped out, but I wanted more!

Either way, this book was fine. Not terrible, not great. Just... fine.

Set in the near future, Asylum tells the story of a man who has been detained in a hospital with illness that affects his heart and lungs. The narrative often blurs between dreams and reality which keeps the reader on their toes and makes for a compelling read.

Recommended.

With thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the arc.

This novel was not at all what I was expecting... in a good way! I thought it would be more about the main character’s journey while being sick, but after I finished the novel, I felt like it was more like I followed the character’s thought process instead. He seemed emotionless at times, but it he just didn’t want others to feel for him in any way. He felt trapped by his sickness, but resigned at the same time. This is not a happy novel by any means, but it was definitely interesting.

A very interesting read . Twists and turns to keep you engrossed. Wondering which way the author is going to take it. Nice and easy to read. Flows well. Enjoyable to read

Really rather disappointing with characters I couldn’t care for...

There were good descriptive passages cleverly giving a feel for the sparse, arid, and isolated location, but I have read far better supposed dystopian novels.

I received this book free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks NetGalley!

I always have high hopes for books dystopian stories. overall, this was a short easy read about a respiratory illness ravaging people and told through "journals" while in quarantine.

Definitely check it out.

So this is a first for me reading the dystopian genre. I absolutely loved it. An easy, short read which I could easily have devoured in one sitting. It is told through Barrys journals while he is in a quarantine camp.

At first I thought well surely much can’t be happing being stuck in there… I was wrong. I felt sorry for Barry and the gentlemen within the camp however, there was friendship, hope and a little love within those walls. They just wanted freedom, a life and adventure which they eventually got but at a price. The ending broke me…

A beautifully written story. Glad I got the chance to read it. Highly recommend. A well deserved four stars from me.

This book was weird. I enjoyed some aspects of it, I enjoyed reading about the main character but as you can never tell what's fact or fiction it was quite hard to keep up with.

I received an advanced digital copy of this book from Netgalley.com and the publisher. Thanks to both for the opportunity to read and review.

Asylum is an poorly executed take on a dystopian novel, which it really wasn't. It's poorly written and difficult to get through.

1 out of 5 stars.