Description
Wild Abandon by Joe Dunthorne is a quirky, bittersweet, and quietly sharp novel about the implosion of an idealistic dream. Set on a crumbling commune in the British countryside, it captures the absurdity, tenderness, and dysfunction of a family — and a way of life — coming undone.
At its heart is Don Riley, a control-freak commune founder clinging to his utopian ideals while everything around him falls apart: his wife Freya has retreated to a yurt to figure out whether she still loves him, their teenage daughter Kate is sampling the intoxicating delights of “normal” life at school, and young Albert, left unmoored, falls for an eccentric doomsayer who feeds his paranoia about the end of the world.
It’s a darkly funny story about disillusionment, family bonds, and the fallout of failed dreams. Dunthorne’s writing mixes humour and melancholy with a light, clever touch — perfect for fans of Jonathan Coe, Nick Hornby, or Marina Lewycka.
If you like your fiction offbeat, character-driven, and laced with dry British wit, Wild Abandon will hit the spot.
