The Hopkins Manuscript

I’m fine with all sorts of grim reading material but apocalypse stories are just TOO stressful. That said, if it’s set in an English village and written by the author of The Fortnight in September, I’ll give it a go! When Sherriff wrote this “cosy catastrophe” in 1939, with war looming, it reflected the anxieties of its readers. But an intriguing foreword (do not skip!) sets the groundwork for something more far-reaching. The literary device also defuses any unbearable dread. You know the worst has happened and can relax and enjoy what follows: the titular manuscript, in which Edward Hopkins records his experiences from the time he learns of the moon’s imminent collision with the earth until he can no longer hold a pen. He’s a bit of a pompous fool and an amateur poultry breeder, all of which provide regular doses of humor to take the edge off his eerie tale. But in the end, his apprehension of the Cataclysm and its repercussions transforms him into an endearing and enduring Everyman. It's the first book that I know will be in my top 10 books of 2023.