ArtsEtc.

‘The Raw Shark Texts’ tells mind-bending tale

Memory loss has long become part of society, especially as people age. However, unless there is a severe traumatic event, it is uncommon for people to lose their entire memory. Although it is more typical for people not to lose their entire memory, this is not the case for Eric Sanderson.

In “Raw Shark Texts,” a novel from British author Steven Hall, the reader is taken on a mental rollercoaster much like the plot chaos of “Memento,” all in an attempt to understand what has happened to the protagonist.

The story begins as Eric wakes up in the middle of a floor in unfamiliar surroundings, with no recollection of who he is. Actually, he’s in his own house, but recognizes nothing. Stumbling down the hall, Eric finds the number of an “emergency contact,” a Dr. Trey Fidorus, and is sent off to make it through the world on his own after meeting with her. This abandonment from a friend is just as confusing as it sounds, and it isn’t explained until later that Eric’s “first” self told the doctor to explain nothing to him. Thus, through letters and memorabilia of the past, he manages to piece together a life left behind from the mysterious “first” Eric Sanderson.

This thought-provoker is not only fun to read but might make readers truly question their concepts of reality.

Eric’s memory loss is caused by a shark that feeds on the mind. This shark is hard to describe, but the reader is led to believe that it is just like the shark familiar to us all — with the exception that it travels through the waterways of the mind as opposed to living in the seven seas.

Learning to fend for himself, Eric embarks on a quest to save the bits and pieces that are left of his memory and, in essence, live. Isolation appears to be the key, but this route begs the question, if given the choice between a life of isolation or eventual death, which would you choose? A life alone could be imagined to be cold, empty and pointless. Is life truly worth living if no one even knows that you exist? Eric must ask himself how much he is willing to lose.

The story here is engulfing. It almost forces readers to put themselves in Eric’s place and question what life really is. Moreover, “The Raw Shark Texts” is a thriller that reveals new information at every turn and contradicts any conclusion that the reader has come to about what has caused Eric’s amnesia.

Sympathizing with Eric, it is difficult not to internalize the ideas brought up and to question reality. Those daring enough to test their views on life will enjoy “The Raw Shark Texts.” You may even find yourself checking for that dangerous “thought shark.”

 

4 stars out of 5