Very strange book on learning how to be and feel like a human. Interesting concept on life and how we function in society. ( )

This novel centres on an alien who has come to Earth and taken the place of mathematician Professor Andrew Martin on the evening that he answered the Riemann hypothesis, a supposedly unsolvable problem whose solution, if revealed, could change the human race's evolutionary progress . A far more advanced alien race doesn't believe Earth is ready for this knowledge and dispatches an agent to eliminate (don't they all?) anyone that the real Andrew Martin has told about his discovery. What follows is a philosophical analysis of humanity. The alien is, at first, disgusted by humans but slowly becomes fascinated with our way of life.

I have previously read and enjoyed the author's 'How to Stop Time' and 'The Midnight Library' so was quite excited about reading this one. The novel’s opening sentence:

‘I know that some of you reading this are convinced humans are a myth, but I am here to state that they do actually exist’,

set a heady expectation from the outset.

Essentially 'The Humans' is a story that comes in two halves. In the first half we follow the alien struggling to pass as a regular person. We watch him be confounded by the concept of wearing clothes, have to fake conversations both with and about people he has never heard of, and be horrified by every type of food he encounters (to name just a few). The multiple incorrect conclusions he arrives at make this part of the story light-hearted and very entertaining.

In the second half the tone changes. The alien realises that he has become captivated by humanity, in particular with Andrew Martin's wife, Isobel, and son, Gulliver, and all the experiences it provides. In particular poetry, music and more importantly love, a concept that doesn't exist on his own planet.

Although I really liked 'The Humans' I didn’t enjoy it quite as much as I did the two previous novels. In both 'How to Stop Time' and 'Midnight Library’ the plots are constantly shifting and adapting. In contrast the plot of 'The Humans' evolves gradually as the alien’s outlook changes. Although this change in attitude felt natural the story lost a little of its magic as it went on IMHO.

At the core of this novel is the importance of being your own person and not being afraid of failure; all of which is summed up in it’s conclusion and acts as Haig’s message to his readers. At around 300 pages and with brief chapters (some only a page long) this is a quick read, and although the tone does shift very quickly from comedic to melodramatic, I would still recommend that you read this book and take a fresh look at humanity. ( )

Was für ein bewegendes Buch. Der Klappentext hat mich zunächst zweifeln lassen, aber da ich von dem Autor bereits ein Buch (Wie man die Zeit anhält) auf meiner Favoritenliste habe, habe ich beschlossen, ihm eine Chance zu geben. Zu recht. Selten ein Buch gelesen, das das Thema Menschlichkeit so auf den Punkt bringt wie dieses.

Das aktuelle Buch des Autors ist gerade auf meiner Wunschliste deutlich nach oben gerutscht. ( )

I really liked this book. I was slightly hesitant at first, but then the story just sucked me and then gave me a new appreciation for being human and seeing the wonders and mundane and subjective beauties in this world. There were many parts of this that I wanted to write down and remember, but I may just have to reread it to appreciate it. ( )

A book club pick :)

Nice book. I think I wanted more.

An alien is on Earth with a mission: to stop a mathematical breakthrough before anyone finds out about it, because humans are too barbaric to be trusted with it. (“a human is a real bipedal lifeform of mid-range intelligence, living a largely deluded existence on a small water-logged planet in a very lonely corner of the universe.”) So the alien takes over the body of professor Andrew Martin, the mathematician responsible. Andrew Martin dies. (Why are aliens always nasty?)

Then the alien Andrew Martin (I will call him AAM, ha) has to find out who else knew about the maths thing and eliminate them. This means the AAM has to blend in among humans. The disorientation in the beginning of the book is a lot of fun. Humans are insane, awful, cruel, and weird in all kinds of ways. Their planet is strange.

“I was not really used to weather you had to think about. But this was England …”

“Indeed, war and money seemed to be so popular on the news it should
more accurately be described as The War and Money Show.”

Pretending to be human means you have to handle humans, including your “wife” and “son”. AAM does it in his own unique way. Whoa, he has a family now. Perhaps humans merit further study, he tells his “employers”. This is all quite heart-warming and chuckle-worthy. I didn’t think the book handled some of the tragedy and the ethical issues very well, though. From the first pages, I knew this wasn’t the most philosophical novel ever, but it bothered me.

Anyway, AAM discovers that humans can be kind and care about each other. Also, Earth has peanut butter, tea (“it tasted like comfort”), and Emily Dickinson’s poetry. Awww. (This is the second book I read this year that referenced Emily Dickinson. Universe, are you trying to tell me something?)

Naturally, there is a heartbreaking crisis towards the end. The ending is nice, there is hope for AAM.
Throughout the book, we veering dangerously close to twee and the astute exploration of human condition that is Hallmark. I am very thankful we never crossed the line! I did have fun and a few warm chuckles.

Favourite quote:
”There is only one genre in fiction. The genre is called “book”. ( )