“Once you surrender to hope, it’s a long road back to reason.”
Benjamin Wood’s The Bellwether Revivals offers a captivating exploration of the minds and madness of geniuses. This bestseller from 2012 immerses readers in the heart of Cambridge, where colleges and spires host a diverse array of students, all striving for greatness. However, it also serves as a commentary on the disconnect between these brilliant minds and the real world, depicted through a series of increasingly ambitious and perilous experiments. Join us at What We Reading today as we delve into the realm of academic genius, scholarship, wealth, privilege, and the pursuit of excellence with our book review of The Bellwether Revivals!
Date Published: 2012
Author: Benjamin Wood
Genre: Mystery, Literary Fiction
Pages: 428
Goodreads Rating: 3.61/5
Premise
Oscar Lowe, a bright and bookish care worker in Cambridge, lives a life vastly different from the students and academics at its famous university. One evening, he’s drawn into King’s College chapel by the beautiful sound of an organ being played.
There, he meets Iris Bellwether, a beautiful and mysterious medical student, and her brother Eden, a brilliant but troubled musical prodigy responsible for the music that coaxes him in. Oscar and Iris start dating, and he soon finds himself immersed in a world of privilege and prestige, as well as the complexities of Eden’s mind. Eden believes his music can cure the sick and injured and will stop at nothing to prove it, leading to a series of increasingly disturbing experiments that entangle Oscar, Iris, and their friends. As Eden’s genius is indulged further, the looming danger grows.
What Worked
The Bellwether Revivals is a beautifully written book that effortlessly draws readers in, making them eager to follow along with the characters. The scholarly ambience of academic Cambridge, combined with the well-crafted characters, creates an enchanting environment that readers experience alongside Oscar.
Now, let’s talk about Eden. The entire narrative of The Bellwether Revivals relies heavily on Eden’s portrayal as a believable yet charismatic and unhinged genius, and Wood excels in this aspect. Eden’s brash and abusive personality aligns perfectly with his delusional belief in his ability to heal through music. Wood strategically withholds certain truths about Eden, which can be frustrating for readers but ultimately adds to his enigmatic nature.
The dark and eerie atmosphere, blending romance, genius, and madness, makes for a captivating journey. Including Cedarbook Nursing Home and characters like Dr. Paulsen and Herbert Crest adds depth to the story, while the recurring theme of music and its influence adds an intriguing layer.
Finally, the structuring of the book deserves a mention. Wood introduces the book at the end of the story, with readers then travelling back in time to work out how events have unfolded this way. It keeps the stakes high across a read.
Check Out Our Book Club Questions For The Bellwether Revivals!
What Didn’t
In truth, there’s very little that didn’t work for us while reading The Bellwether Revivals. However, no book is perfect, and Wood’s work is no exception.
Our biggest issue with the book revolves around the presentation of certain characters, particularly Eden and Iris’ friends. The group Oscar is introduced to includes Yin, Marcus, and Jane, all of whom receive minimal development and lack distinct personalities. While they constantly express affection for each other, there’s little chemistry between them and Oscar, leaving us questioning why they would include someone so evidently outside their social circle. group.
Verdict
Benjamin Wood not only lived in Cambridge but also conducted extensive research while writing The Bellwether Revivals, enriching the novel with detailed settings, themes, and messages.
The book is beautifully written, presenting ambitious ideas and a captivating atmosphere, setting, and characters. It explores numerous themes and prompts thought-provoking questions, making it an ideal choice for book clubs. We were completely engrossed in Oscar’s journey into the world of the Bellwethers.
While some characters and dynamics may feel a bit flat, it doesn’t detract significantly from the overall compelling dark academia narrative. While comparisons to books like The Secret History are inevitable, The Bellwether Revivals stands out as a unique and fascinating piece of literary fiction in its own right.
Our Rating: 5/5
Part-time reader, part-time rambler, and full-time Horror enthusiast, James has been writing for What We Reading since 2022. His earliest reading memories involved Historical Fiction, Fantasy and Horror tales, which he has continued to take with him to this day. James’ favourite books include The Last (Hanna Jameson), The Troop (Nick Cutter) and Chasing The Boogeyman (Richard Chizmar).
