The Unfolding by A.M. Homes offers a unique perspective on contemporary issues, weaving together personal and political narratives. The writing is sharp and insightful, capturing the complexities of human relationships and societal dynamics. However, the pacing can be uneven, with some sections dragging while others feel rushed. While there are moments of brilliance and thought-provoking commentary, the overall execution leaves something to be desired. It’s a compelling read that sparks conversation, but it doesn't fully deliver on its promise. 3 stars.

When Obama becomes President the Big Guy feels it’s the end of the world, and recruits a group of like-minded Republican friends to fight back and make America great again. Things are no better for him at home. His wife Charlotte is an alcoholic and his daughter Meghan also feels it’s the end of her world when she uncovers a long-kept family secret. Melding politics and family dynamics, this is a perceptive and insightful satire which skewers right-wing beliefs and the changing face of the American Dream. The dialogue-driven narrative is in turns funny and terrifying. All the characters seem slightly unhinged, which is only too plausible when we here in the UK read about American dysfunctional politics. A great read.

I felt the was too difficult to get into and the characters were not very likeable. The setting was inhibitive

The novel’s premise is interesting, and the book is promising at the outset, drawing the reader in as it lays out the setting and the characters. But the book falters from there as the primary plot device (the murky schemes and machinations of some wealthy white men) remains undercooked and vaguely menacing rather than clever, interesting, funny, or realistic. Indeed, the novel hints at nefarious impacts of the cabal’s efforts, but the scheme is all so incredible and slapdash that the entire premise falls flat.

I will buy this book to finish later, as I did not manage to finish this in time - but it is in line with my interests - I love her writing style and recommend her to everyone!

This author is always very profound and I love their work. The story is layered in heart, meaning, and tension. I really enjoyed it.

Having enjoyed A.M.Homes' earlier work, I found this very disappointing. It seemed to be two books: one about a dysfunctional family and one about US politics and the parts didn't mesh together properly. The characters were all very unsympathetic and I found their conversations particularly irritating, especially those of the circle Big Guy was putting together, who declaimed rather than talked normally. If this was intended as satire, it really didn't work for this UK reader and I wasn't sure which audience this was intended for. I felt that the author may have started writing this quite a while ago and events overtook the plot.

Highly recommend this political satirical book set in the US following the election of Obama as the first black US President.

This is a fascinating analysis of the forces at play to subvert society: The burgeoning power of the ultra religious right wing, the power of “ big data”, the working class white voters. Knowing what we know now in a post-Trump era, makes the book even more interesting. Highly recommended.

The Big Guy loves his family, money and democracy. Never named in the novel, Big Guy is disturbed and devastated by the results of the 2008 Presidential election. With like-minded men and friends, he develops a
scheme to disrupt the new status quo. Big Guy also has challenges facing him in his home life, as secrets begin to unravel and his wife falls off the wagon. Meanwhile, his daughter Megan is also awakening to her own dreams for the future. Dark and funny, this is an original and challenging read.

A.M. Holmes' political satire The Unfolding was a strange read for me. I found it a little heavy going in parts and at times too 'on the nose'. However, since I finished it I've found myself thinking a lot (too much) about the Big Guy, his right wing cronies, his extreme wealth and power, his delusion and his broken family. The story ultimately left me feeling quite unsettled, as any good political novel should. In conclusion, I think the fact that it surprised me, and didn't go where I thought it would, is actually credit to the skilful writing of the author.

Political, but funny in a dark way. Interesting and well-written. Didn't really invest in the characters or plot, but the observations were worth reading.

I loved the premise of this and enjoyed the parallels between the personal traumas experienced by The Big Man, Meghan and Charlotte, and the political upheaval. The beginning was quite electric and it was interesting to see the reaction of a dyed-in-the-wool Republican to the election of Obama. It was a pity that I found the satire too obvious and most of the book consisted of macho meetings which became slow and a bit boring. Even the funny set pieces were a bit stagey-feeling. Although the book held my attention until the end, I never felt that the characters came to life and the planned coup was always so nebulous as to lack any real power. This is the first A M Homes I have read and, whilst it wasn't my cup of tea, I suspect that if you've read her earlier books, you will like this one. There's a lot to recommend it, it just never took off for me.

A.M. Homes proves once again that she is one of the best wordsmiths in contemporary American letters.
The US is going to hell in a handbasket controlled by a drone, and she knows how to make you hear the bloody drone....
Great fiction, magnificent fiction and that's it

I have been trying to write this review for weeks and I am still no clearer on my thoughts on this one.
Having read some of the authors previous novels and reading the synopsis of this one, I was really looking forward to this one and then I began reading.
I found myself easily distracted after reading the opening chapters and other books lured me away on several occasions, so this was quite a disjoined read for me for that reason. It is rare this happens to me.
There were elements I enjoyed of the book but overall, it fell short for me. Five years ago, I think this book would have had a much bigger impact on me and it irrationally bothered me that I didn't know the protagonist's name.
I enjoyed some of the political commentary and dynamics, but the book lacked heart for me and didn't work for me as a reader as satire.
No fault on the writing which was excellent just missed that spark for me..

One of the wonderful things about getting older is that I feel increasingly comfortable not finishing books I dislike - it’s my momento mori.

I did not like this. I sped read, then rolled my eyes, then gave up. I really enjoyed Homes’s May We Be Forgiven which was funny and irreverent and big-hearted, but this dark satire on a Republican billionaire - only referred to as the Big Guy - and his breakdown post-Obama in 2008 fell flat. The Big Guy assembles a team of other Republican billionaires to organise a conspiracy to win back America (apparently this was prescient rather than reactive). Meanwhile, his alcoholic wife goes to the Betty Ford clinic, and his teenage daughter in her Virginia boarding school goes through a coming-of-age, Obama-induced existential crisis.

It’s all too wink wink nod nod, full of smug dialogue and tiresome caricatures.

#TheUnfolding #AMHomes

This satire focuses on a group of characters who we meet just as Obama is elected for the first time. They are Republicans, reckoning with both the loss of their candidate, but also the loss of what they see as 'their America', which a black President seems to confound.

But as the book goes on, we increasingly see how the characters, especially our main one, come to see that they have maybe missed something about the changing tide of the country.

The book focuses on this period in 2008, but nods towards 2016 and 2020, perhaps suggesting we should have seen some of this coming all along.

I received an advanced copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

‘The news has hit the room like death.’

My thanks to Granta Publications for an eARC via NetGalley of ‘The Unfolding’ by A. M. Homes.

This dark political comedy-drama opens in the early hours of 5 November, 2008 as o group of wealthy Republican businessmen gather in a Phoenix hotel bar to anguish over the results of the Presidential Election.

Among them is the Big Guy, an important contributor to the GOP: a man who loves his family, money and democracy. During the period between the election and Barack Obama’s January 2009 inauguration the Big Guy formulates a plan to ‘take back America’ recruiting a group of likeminded men to his conspiracy.

This is undoubtedly a sinister premise, though Homes doesn’t portray the Big Guy as an over the top baddie. As the conspiracy develops there are definite echoes with how bipartisan politics in the United States has developed in the 21st Century with an emphasis upon the use of disinformation to create confusion and uncertainty.

The novel also follows his wife, Charlotte, as she deals with her dissatisfaction through self-medication and their eighteen-year-old daughter, Meghan, as she comes-of-age and needs to navigate between her father’s expectations and her own dreams for the future.

Overall, I found ‘The Unfolding’ a fascinating novel both in terms of the personal journeys that its three protagonists undertake as well as its political themes. I also enjoyed the snippets of historical facts that Homes scatters throughout the narrative.

I've enjoyed AM Homes in the past but this novel, set between the election and inauguration of Barak Obama over the winter of 2008-9, was quite hard for me. Its highly nuanced, very steeped in American politics and fascinating. But I had to stop regularly to investigate things!

The protagonist his wife and daughter show us a lot about how wealthy American society works. Gradually a plan to oppose Obama in the future emerges. The 'old white men' drawn together to start this process are a fascinating, idiosyncratic group. Towards the end of the novel it is possible to see the manipulation of truth and opinion which actually took place. This along with the identification of the extreme right wing of society as a target group, was chilling.

All in all this is interesting but quite hard work. I'd like to read a sequel though!

Really enjoyed so well written enjoyed the political aspects and the family their lives and disjunction.So well written so entertaining another five star read from this author.#netgalley #granatabooks

This book was pitched as being a darkly funny satire about current politics in the US but it is a satire that doesn't like about things that there is no need to be a satire about.. It does not add anything to the conversation that has been taking place since 2016. There is a character named The Big Guy who is meant to be a stand in for the Trump Movement but it really doesn't say anything interesting.

When I applied for this advance copy I thought it was going to be a satire about the aftermath of Trump's election and instead I found a huge amount of criticism towards the Obama election and administration which immediately diminished my interest. As a UK reader who does not know a lot about US politics, I admit that a lot of this book went over my head and neither the plot nor the characterisations were enough to overcome that.