Alon Shalev

The Accidental Activist by Alon Shalev is a novel based upon the McDonald’s libel trial that took place in England in the 1990’s. In the novel two young activists, with nothing but raw determination, take on a multinational corporation that tries to silence them. At the same time a young computer programmer discovers the power of the internet after he sets up a website to support the cause of the woman he wants to have a relationship with.

I'm torn on this one. On one hand I really was engrossed in the actual story of the legal case. It totally held my attention and was, in truth, the reason I accepted a review copy. It's always inspirational to read about ordinary citizens taking on multinational corporations and some of their nefarious practices. It was also very interesting to learn about Great Britain's archaic libel laws that were still in place in the 1990s. The courtroom drama part of The Accidental Activist was riveting.

On the other hand, I also experienced two less than stellar impressions.The rather graphic sex scene at the beginning of the novel seemed out of place, especially in comparison to the rest of the novel. To be honest, I would have stopped reading right then except for the fact that I had promised to review the novel. I was glad I kept reading because the scene was a fluke. The novel improved dramatically and I was hooked... but that just reinforced the awkwardness of the early sex scene.

The other thought I had was this: Since it is set in the 90's during the time when the internet was just emerging as a powerful tool to influence people and spread information, the setting also had the effect of making the novel feel dated because the internet is now so much a part of our daily lives. The 1990s wasn't that long ago, but, in the case of technology, it was. Keeping this dichotomy in mind while you are reading will be helpful. It's likely any "historical" novel that is actually set in rather recent times will induce the same feeling.

All in all, I enjoyed The Accidental Activist and would Recommend it, especially if you enjoy courtroom dramas.

Come back tomorrow for a guest post by author Alon Shalev where he discusses his "Transformational Fiction."

Disclaimer: I accepted a copy of this novel for review purposes.
http://shetreadssoftly.blogspot.com/

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When I was approached to be part of the blog tour for Alon Shalev’s novel, The Accidental Activist, it didn’t sound like the kind of novel we normally review but the concept and the quote below from the bio I was sent convinced me to take part.

“Alon Shalev has been a political activist since his early teens and believes that fiction can help create a better world. Shalev strives through his writing to highlight social and political injustice and to inspire action for change. A consistent theme that runs through Shalev's novels is his characters' capacity to become empowered to help create a better and more just world. “
Read the rest of my review at http://popcornreads.com/?p=2316.… (más)