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Fanatics (2011)

by William Bell(Favorite Author)

3.14 of 5 Votes: 6

ISBN

0385670273 (ISBN13: 9780385670272)

languge

English

genre

Horror

publisher

Doubleday Canada

series

Garnet and Raphaella

review 1: Garnet Havelock and his girlfriend/soulmate Raphaella Skye investigate the appearance of the spectre of a Dominican monk at the nearby mansion of a recently deceased professor. At the time of his death, the professor had been doing research on the fanaticism of this monk and his torture, execution, and burning by the Italian Inquisition. A second plot concerns Garnet's discovery of a GPS and cell phone at what seems to be a militia training camp in the woods near Orillia, Ontario. Garnet is a pivotal figure in the resolution of the mysteries surrounding both strange occurrences.Bell's parallel plots are fast moving, his characterization is sound, and the love between his two main characters is affecting. His articulation of the theme, however, is rather heavy handed. We're... more fairly regularly bopped over the head with the notion that democracy suffers and intolerance thrives when small, exclusive groups of men press for adherence to a single religious truth and for the establishment of a theocracy. This was the case during the (Catholic Church's) Inquisition and it's the case now when Islamist adherents use terror and torture to make others toe their lines. Generally, the book is well done. Certainly, it's highly respectful of young readers' intelligence, based as it is on historical figures from the time of the Inquisition. An added note: Bell's book works well without the (sometimes troublesome) language and graphic sexual scenes that are often seen in young adult texts. However, some of his ideas may still ruffle the feathers of fundamentalist readers...so the book is subversive in its own neat way--challenging younger readers with its more liberal ideas about religion, sexuality, feminism, and marriage/family life
review 2: Using fanatics of various faiths as the linking trope, Bell weaves a story for his main characters that is equal parts supernatural thriller and mystery. Recently graduated from high school, Garnet seeks to set himself up as a master carpenter while his girlfriend, Raphaella, stage manages dramatic productions. His talents at woodworking earn him a commission in an estate that leads him into danger, both other-worldly and realistic. In many ways this novel reads like a "Da Vinci Code" for young adults. Laden with secular moralism, the book still manages not to negate the positives of religion entirely. It raises legitimate and honest questions about the purpose and expression of faith (referencing examples primarily from historical Catholicism and modern-day Islam), theocracy, terrorism, and fundamentalism. This is a novel full of discussion points, but is perhaps one geared for the more mature YA audience. less

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