Self/less is the debut novel of Australian multidisciplinary artist AViVA. She tore into the music scene in 2017 with her unique sound which connects listeners to her and has formed a community of fans known as “Outsiders”. It was no surprise to me that her debut novel mirrors some of the themes found in her music and I was very excited to discover more.
Set in an Orwellian, dystopian city where for the last 70 years all forms of self expression, such as music, art, religion, sexuality etc, have been banned and are treated not unlike an infectious disease. It was confronting reading this book when I did as I was in the midst of multiple COVID-19 lockdowns here in Melbourne. The protagonist, Teddy, has lived her life following the rules the leaders have set out to keep the city infection free but on the eve of the initiation into the beginning of the rest of her life she finds the courage to ask the questions she has struggled with about her community. When she finds another society, hidden from her previously, she learns the truth and must decide whether she fights against the oppressive regime. But how can you fight when the world is so tightly controlled and surveilled? And who can she trust?
As I mentioned previously, Self/less really hit home for me living in the world’s longest and one of the strictest lockdowns. I felt like this allowed me to put myself in Teddy’s shoes and really experience the story authentically. Following in the footsteps of older YA dystopian fantasy, like The Hunger Games and Divergent, Self/less takes it one step further and really connects her audience to the struggle. Set in a not so distant future, with a virus-esque landscape the world building is developed authentically and the powerful language choices made it all seem like a near reality. It inspires critical thinking about our own society and for our future.
The characters within the book are the real shining moments. I can read a book with an epic plot, but if I don’t feel connected or care about the characters it always falls flat for me. Each character, both main and secondary, exist independently with their own personalities and habits. Each character is given the opportunity to grow throughout the story as they are challenged to confront their views of society and the people around them.
There is a strong theme of oppression throughout the book particularly focused on the loss of cultural and personal expression. It is clear that AViVA has an important message here and shines a light on the importance of music, art and self expression in our society and offers a view on how our lives would change when these things are taken from us.
A unique and exciting addition to this book’s release is the Instagram page @selflessbook which provides readers with propaganda messages from the book, character profiles and images along with pre-order information. This social media presence really draws you in and allows you to experience similar things to Teddy.
Overall, I can see this book becoming just as big as its predecessors. It is filled with well-written and deep characters, a captivating plot and inspires independent thought about the life we live. AViVA has created a reading experience not just a novel and I am looking forward to seeing where it goes.
Self/less is available from Amazon, Book Depository, and other good book retailers, like your local bookstore, as of September 28th 2021.
Will you be picking up Self/less? Tell us in the comments below!
Synopsis | Goodreads
A world where self-expression is banned.
A world where survival is everything.
A girl who will be heard.
Seventeen-year-old Teddy lives in the walled-in city Metropolis. Radical laws condemn all forms of self-expression and creativity, and the lives of the people are carefully constructed and controlled by the City Council: We watch because we care.
When Teddy finds out the truth behind one of the City’s biggest lies, she slips out into the darkness of the City after curfew.
She is captured by a stranger and held prisoner in an old bomb shelter that lies beneath the City. Here, Teddy discovers that there is a world beneath Metropolis, a world where a growing web of clans are fighting to keep their humanity alive, and waiting for a leader to unite them and lead them back up into the light.
