I bought The Seed Collectors by Scarlett Thomas due to good reviews and a promotion in Waterstones. The synopsis is when Great Aunt Oleander dies she leaves her nearest and dearest a seed pod each. The seed pod may be the reason Clem, Charlie, Fleur and Bryony’s parents went missing but they may also contain the secret of enlightenment. This book follows the Gardner family through their grief, secrets and affairs that entwine and then unravel their lives together.
“I have no idea why everyone thinks nature is so benign and glorious and wonderful. All nature is trying to do is kill us as efficiently as possible.”
I continued reading because I wanted to know what happened to Briar Rose, Plum, Quinn and Grace. I was deeply underwhelmed with the outcome, not only did it not address the mysterious disappearance and assumed deaths of the parents, this book created some completely unlikeable characters I never really cared about or connected with in any way.
The constant switching between characters perspectives when often each perspective is only a couple of paragraphs meant that when reading it was fragmented. Only after reading over half the book could I actually remember the numerous characters which the family tree at the start didn’t seem to help with at all. Including a lot of sexual references and the inclusion of multiple affairs and incest pushes me further and further away from wanting to read about the characters. The enlightenment and messages about consumerism, addiction and ego makes me feel that Thomas was trying more to send a message to readers about the 21st century than trying to write a solid and fascinating story.
This book is extremely hard to read, and I had to force myself to finish it. The obnoxious characters, fragmented reading and displeasing conclusion means that I wouldn’t recommend this, even though Scarlett Thomas is meant to be an amazing writer. Maybe one of her other books would be a better read?