Review: Hate by Alan Gibbons

Received from Publisher

Title: Hate
Author: Alan Gibbons
Publisher: Indigo
Publication Date: 10 April 2014
Source: Review Copy
Rating: 4.5/5

Synopsis from Goodreads

Eve’s older sister, Rosie, was bright and alive and always loved being the centre of attention. Then one day, she is brutally murdered. Six months later, Eve meets Antony and discovers that he was there the night Rosie died and did nothing to help. Is there any way she can ever get past that? Inspired by the Sophie Lancaster murder in 2007, which saw Sophie and her partner Rob viciously attacked in Stubbylee Park, Bacup, Lancashire because of the way they dressed. This is a hard-hitting real-life thriller about friendship, courage, loss, forgiveness and about our society and communities.

REVIEW BY BETH

Hate is an exceptionally well executed novel that takes its inspiration from the true, terrible story of Sophie Lancaster, murdered for looking different. Gibbons’ inspiration is clear throughout and he deftly manages to craft a new story that puts the mindlessness of such events into a little perspective.

Hate is a dual narrative with Eve, the sister of brutally murdered Rosie and Anthony, a witness who stood by and did nothing, taking turns to tell their story and come to terms with everything they have been through. It’s hard, to begin with, to feel anything but confusion for Eve, she can’t possibly work out how to continue as before, her entire family has disintegrated. Her mother has been swallowed up by Rosie’s forthcoming court case and fight for justice whilst her father has shrunk into nothingness, afraid and broken. Eve is somewhere in the middle not knowing what to do, only thinking ‘What would Rosie do?’ but this all changes when Anthony arrives.

Anthony’s story is fascinating as it’s clear he is haunted by Rosie too and the events of that night and his inability or choice to do nothing. Whilst Eve is powered by fury and grief, Anthony is engulfed by grief and frustration at his choices.

Scenes throughout this novel are hard to read, especially in light of the story’s inspiration, but Alan Gibbons should be praised for not holding back. The murder scene is very hard going but it’s through this you get a chance to see Anthony’s perspective as well as watch (read?) in horror as both Rosie and her boyfriend are beaten beyond belief, for absolutely no good reason.

As the story progresses the second plot, focusing on Eve’s friend Jess and her recently out homosexual brother is a chance for Anthony to do something he couldn’t do before. I would say it was a little predictable as the cues and hints as the story built were quite obvious but this didn’t detract from its power.

The back of the book features a range of thoughtful questions which would be brilliant for a book group or in a classroom discussion (this novel should be read in classrooms with no doubt).