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Elizabeth, Bry and others all take their turn at being sympathetic and deeply sanctimonious and annoying. I think the author did a great job of showing how easily people rile each other up on this issue. I am a fervent believer in vaccinations, but even I recoil from someone yelling in my face how I must do this and I must do that or I'm morally-challenged and selfish. I like how the author never presented this as good vs bad because, like most things, it's more complex than that. I loved this book. It put me through the emotional wringer. A genuine rollercoaster that asks big moral questions with beautifully drawn characters who left me in tears but also full of hope Sharon Horgan More so than ever, we live in a polarised world,’ says Emily. ‘With Brexit it’s, are you in or are you out? With vaccines it’s, are you for them or against them? Battle lines and sides are drawn up without pausing to try and understand why the other person thinks and feels that way. Every opinion we have is weighted with our own experiences, and the different pressures we feel from those around us. I wanted the reader to see that in life there isn’t always a straightforward right or wrong.’ Except this is MMR and how many parents were scared or ignorant or didn’t want the MMR for their babies for all sorts of reasons.
Of the two main characters, Elizabeth the pro-vaccine mum is highly strung and painfully neurotic, while anti-vaxx mum Bryony is a messy, hippy mum “just doing her best”. The author chooses not to come down on one side or the other in the story which I found a bit pathetic and will only serve to enhance vaccine hesitancy in those who are that way inclined. They weren’t exactly chalk and cheese; more like cheese and pineapple - a weird, unexpected pairing that just worked”. Do you agree with this statement about Elizabeth and Bry’s friendship? Why do you think it “just worked”? The Herd is a wonderful book, skilfully written, compassionate and balanced. It grips from the start and doesn't let go, sending us on a journey that's both timely and controversial, through masterful storytelling, brilliantly drawn characters and huge swathes of emotion. Jenny QuintanaThe story of this book was presented in such an interesting way – I really enjoyed the alternating chapters with the extra POVs from unnamed outsiders to the court case, although I think it would have been great for this to all tie-in with the main storyline. The characters weren’t exactly likeable, but the whole thing was compelling enough to continue reading and their unlikeability even made the story more interesting. The story had a great lawyer burn and I love that I didn’t see it coming, even though there was something off – I couldn’t work out what! I felt a bit of vindictive pleasure watching it all play out since all the characters were so over the top in this debacle. But then on the flip side, there is a woman here who really needed post-partum help (as many do) and didn’t get it – and there is something to be said for bringing that to light. Overall the book was enjoyable and contained interesting observations regarding how people react to things they don’t know anything about, how parents think they know more than doctors and the lasting effects that rash decisions and judgments can have on a person’s community. Brit, VIC, 3 Stars Little do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child's birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined. Edwards said: "Frankie and the whole Transworld teamhave already been so welcoming and supportive. Their enthusiasm and vision for my novel is incredibly exciting and I am overjoyed to find such a fantastic home for The Herd." It is hard to imagine a more timely novel. A fascinating exploration of all sides of a particularly knotty, politicized issue.' Jodi Picoult Little do they know that they differ radically over one very important issue. And when Bryony, afraid of being judged, tells what is supposed to be a harmless white lie before a child’s birthday party, the consequences are more catastrophic than either of them could ever have imagined . . .
A well-timed examination of the vaccine “debate” that covers the whole spectrum of thought and opinion. The Herd encourages you to take an empathetic look at the reasoning behind people’s decisions, both pro and against, as well as the murky waters between. Teagan, SA, 4 StarsI got well and truly into this story. Focusing around the main two characters (mothers /friends) and could definitely see both sides.
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