The Compound: A GMA Book Club Pick

I have to admit, as a sucker for all kinds of Reality TV shows, it sounded really promising. And as it happens, I couldn't stop reading! Even if some chapters seemed kind of boring, just describing their daily lives from waking up in the communal bedroom and taking a swim, doing challenges to earn personal items, you just knew, there was drama around the corner. Obviously I love the drama and it's what keeps you going when you are watching Reality TV. As the show moves on, we get to see the real faces of our contestants (THE MASKS ARE FALLING) and clearly there is more to this, than just entertainment. It gives ''Love Island'' with a touch of ''The Hunger Games'', as the competition gets more ruthless and dangerous.

Was für ein wilder Ritt! Die sehr unterschwelligen, kritischen Töne haben mir besonders gut gefallen. Irgendwie war der Roman auf eine Art auch super unaufgeregt, was vermutlich an der Protagonistin lag. Ihr Ausharren und doch auch ihre Gier konnte ich nicht immer nachvollziehen. Dennoch fand ich es super spannend herauszufinden, ob es Lily bis zum Ende schafft und ob sie sich nicht doch entgegen ihres Charakters entscheidet.

Whether you love reality TV shows or you're their biggest hater, I think this book is the one for you!!! The start of the story is very abrupt,, you sort of just get thrown into the Compound, just like Lily herself, and it makes you so curious to know what's going on. I found the novel to be an amazing character study with loads of honestly quite unlikable characters but that just made them all the more interesting to me >.< Aisling Rawle presents a really good critique on capitalism and consumerism while also discussing themes like friendship, honesty and life purpose, all wrapped up in a thrilling story. Overall thsi was a stunning debut(!!) novel and I'm already looking forward to whatever Aisling Rawle decides to write next <3

Lily has decided to sign up for the Compound. She feels stuck in her job and the Compound offers a way out. The rules are simple: an even amount of men and women do tasks to be awarded gifts like food and accessoires. Whoever spends the night alone is out, and whoever is voted out for rewards is out as well. The fewer contestants, the higher the rewards and the higher the stakes. Flashing with genuine darkness, Rawle exposes reality tv's preying on people's vindictiveness and monetary struggles. An engrossing read.

To escape her depressing daily life the main character Lily participates in a questionable reality TV-Show. 10 women and 10 men live together in a big compound in the middle of the desert. To aquire food and personal luxyury items they must complete diffent tasks given by the management of the show and the audience watching. Soon the atmosphere is influenced by distrust, since nobody can tell if the other characters are genuine in their actions or if they are just comleting their personal tasks. Additionally the competition to stay in the compound and win the show gets more intense and even escalates to a dangerous level. Rawle crafts a slow-burn narrative where every piece of information feels significant. The atmosphere is thick with suspense, and Rawle excels at making the reader feel the weight of the protagonist’s isolation and growing paranoia. The Compound itself almost becomes a character in its own right. An interesting novel which combines the pleasure of enjoying superficial entertainment and the impetus to reflect on current topics and the political state of our world.