"A luminously powerful debut in which two women learn to see the world afresh after years of living in the dark."
32-year-old multi-lingual Nova works as an interpreter for the police. Blind since birth, an operation that restores her sight heralds the beginning of a bewildering journey to understand the world from scratch. The novel is brilliant in offering insights into Nova’s experience of blindness as readers feel her struggle to re-learn everything through her newly-opened eyes. While recovering from the operation, Nova meets Kate, who’s in hospital after sustaining a head injury. The women strike up an immediate bond, which becomes a tender friendship – and more – as they find they are entirely at home in each other’s company, able to open up, experience joy and see the world in new ways through each other’s interpretation of the world.
Throughout, Nova’s “Rules of Seeing” notes serve as practical guidelines with metaphoric meaning - “The brain will hang onto objects after you have stopped looking” – and the novel is fascinating on the nature of perception. Nova’s “childlike wonder” when enjoying new experiences is infectious, while the intense expositions of Kate’s husband’s increasingly chilling actions are powerfully authentic and give this novel the page-turning urgency of a thriller. Raw, and radiant with the promise of new life and love, this dazzling debut comes recommended for readers who relish new novels by Mark Haddon, Matt Haig and Marina Lewycka.
| Primary Genre | Romance / Relationship Stories |
| Recommendations: |
Nova sees for the first time, Kate sees life in a new way. A thought provoking book that will have you looking at the world in a whole new way.
I found this a fascinating and thought-provoking story. Kate is a successful architect, she enjoys her work and thinks she has the perfect marriage to Tony until she discovers she doesn’t really know him at all. She ends up in hospital following a fall, or was she pushed, and has suffers a brain injury.
Then there is Nova, a police interpreter blind since birth but following an operation she can see for the first time in 31 years. However, she struggles to come to terms with seeing, it is more confusing than being blind so she makes up rules to try to understand the shapes, objects and colours around her. She is unable to cope and begins to look for a way back to being blind again.... Read Full Review
A gripping novel with an original theme and complex relationships leading to an unlooked-for climax
A gripping novel with an original theme and complex relationships leading to an unlooked for climax.
The Rules of Seeing follows Nova on her journey from a lifetime of blindness into the visual world after a scary operation. Joe Heap develops the theme as though Nova was a new-born baby exploring and experience a brand-new world where everything needs to be tested and comprehended. Whilst working on the “rules” in order to reconcile this sighted world with her new sense, Nova meets Kate (and then Kate’s policeman husband Tony). A secondary theme, leading to the cliffhanger climax, explores the complex relationships that develop within the trio.
Joe Heap’s debut novel is an extraordinary exploration of how the sighted world works coupled to an intense psychological element which left me hooked all the way through.... Read Full Review
Well written and excellent characterisation. To state an old cliche - will make u see the world in a different way ...... !!
Nova has been blind from birth. Now 32, she is offered the chance of experimental surgery that my or may not restore her sight. Part of her screams yes but the pother half screams no - she is happy as she is in her dark box.
She meets Kate who is married to an abusive policeman. This is through the hospital after the former experienced a fall and head injury when backing away from her husband. So unravels a complex relationship between the three main characters and always on the periphery is the matter of sight - both for those who are blind and those who can see. The edges can always appear fuzzy. Kate goes through periods of not venturing outside.... Read Full Review
