Noema is a poignant imaginative tale of religion and faith. In truth, I find it a peculiar book to put into words.
The plot focuses on the adaptation and evolution of an agricultural civilisation trying to deal with natural and man-made threats similar to that of modern times (hunger, deforestation, climate change and criminality). These parallels are a great tool for the reader to reflect on their own world while also following along with the story.
The book begins with a rather obscure introduction and a tale that the narrator will get to as soon as they can. I found this a bit confusing, as the plot jumps about a bit and I was left unsure whether I'd missed information, or was waiting to find it out. This feeling never really left me as I read the book, constantly waiting for a big revelation about the people and the narrator. A revelation does take place but it is one that registers with your subconscious and is slowly brought to the surface.
Noema uses spirituality to comment on the human condition. The reference to The Lost Ones, these taboo people who moved away from traditional ways of life centuries before appear to represent us/modern civilisation - living in open spaces in stone houses. As I read I thought Noema was serving as a warning about city/modern living and losing religious belief or faith and connection to a higher power and the natural world around us. I felt the implication of this is that turning away from spirituality is a destructive life choice because the main focus of this book is religion and faith anthropomorphised. I enjoyed the echoes of familiar religious structures in Noema. I saw a connection between the All Life (Brahman in Hinduism) and the Traveller (a messenger or prophet sent to speak to and interpret the All Life), the stone house for "You" to live (a building or space set aside for worship and spirituality, such as a temples or tombs). Since reading, my understanding has been widened even further, as the All Life more closely resembles Plato's Theory of Forms - that the physical reality is merely a shadow of their true abstract essence, which exists outside of our space and time and would be beyond our understanding.
I think that this is a unique book dealing with a number of complex issues in an interesting way. I think that this is a great book for anyone interested in spirituality and human nature.
Charlotte Walker, A LoveReading Ambassador
| Primary Genre | Historical Fiction |
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