Book Review

Book Title: Hush

Author: Dylan Farrow

Publisher: WEDNESDAY BOOKS

DYLAN Farrow is best known for accusing her adoptive father, Woody Allen, of molesting her when she was 7. Years later, Farrow wrote about the 1992 incident, which Allen has denied, for Nicholas Kristof’s column in The New York Times.

Since then, Farrow has become a fierce advocate for abuse victims. Now, Farrow has ventured into the realm of young adult fantasy fiction with her debut novel, Hush. It is hard not to see the book as a feminist parable of her own troubles.

The story is set in the dystopian land of Montane, where 17-year-old Shae and her mother have been ostracised by their town after Shae’s younger brother, Kieran, dies of a plague called the Blot.

Montane is ruled by the Bards, an all-powerful cabal who have harnessed the power of words through their Tellings to rein in the deadly disease spread by ink. When the novel opens, Shae yearns to be good and follow the rules but she fears she has been infected.

After training, she learns how to harness her own magical powers and sets out to restore justice to her ruined land. |