Title: The Authenticity Project
Author: Clare Pooley
Published: February 4th 2020
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Pages: 416
Genres: Fiction, Contemporary
RRP: $32.99
Rating: 3.5 stars
Six strangers with one universal thing in common: their lives aren’t always what they make them out to be.
What would happen if they told the truth instead?
Julian Jessop is tired of hiding the deep loneliness he feels. So he begins The Authenticity Project – a small green notebook containing the truth about his life.
Leaving the notebook on a table in his friendly neighbourhood café, Julian never expects Monica, the owner, to track him down after finding it. Or that she’ll be inspired to write down her own story.
Little do they realize that such small acts of honesty hold the power to impact all those who discover the notebook and change their lives completely.
A story about connection, community, and the kindness of strangers.
Review:
‘Julian wondered what had happened to the little notebook he’s left there. He often felt like he was slowly disappearing without trace. One day, in the not too distant future, his head would finally slip under the water and he’d barely leave a ripple behind. Through that book, at least one person would see him – properly. And writing it had been a comfort, like loosening the laces on those uncomfortable shoes, letting his feet breathe a bit more easily.’
After a career in advertising, the author of The Authenticity Project, Clare Pooley, felt the need to pen a novel based on the complex construct of the ‘truth’. In a profession where the quest for perfection often results in an unclear presentation of fiction and fact, Clare Pooley was inspired to explore the idea of authenticity in her novel, aptly titled, The Authenticity Project. This uplifting and one of a kind novel provides us with a fictional glimpse into a series of connections, forged by the desire to attain truth.
At age eighty four, Julian is a man who is lonely, with no connections in his life and he pours all of his thoughts into a notebook. This notebook proves to be an essential guidebook, which Julian passes on to strangers to discover in a café. Named The Authenticity Project, this powerful notebook and confessional tool inspires a sense of pure honesty, as well as critical self-reflection in those who are touched by the presence of this book. This seemingly insignificant book has far reaching effects, as the latest recipient decides to track the owner of the book down with interesting implications. The Authenticity Project is a story for present day times.
A little pre novel author bio catch up I always like to conduct prior to reading a new novel by a unknown writer, revealed that Pooley created the popular blog ‘Mummy was a Secret Drinker.’ Although this was published under a pseudonym, I was immediately very interested in Clare Pooley’s writing. I was really looking forward to The Authenticity Project, even the title had me intrigued.
The Authenticity Project is a little book with a difference. It is presented in quite a playful and even fanciful way, but once you dare to delve a little further, the strong themes, along with the pertinent messages arise. This is a book that really made me stand to attention and examine my own thoughts, as well as behaviours in relation to my constructs of truth, authenticity, the strive for perfection and happiness. It can be confronting, but also life affirming. I felt cleansed by the reading experience The Authenticity Project offered.
Pooley sets her book out in the form of a number of shifting perspectives and it can take some time to get used to this, so be patient. There is an extended cast that fills the pages of this novel and each brings a different story to the entire fold. The connections are clear and are linked to the overall themes Pooley explores within her set piece. Overall, I thought The Authenticity Project was a book that displayed creative flair and it was definitely a break from the norm. I also appreciated the way the community was presented in this novel, which begins with a lonely eighty four year old. We also meet a number of significant figures from both genders, varying ages, professions, life stages and backgrounds. It was refreshing to see a book represent such diversity, with the overarching theme of credibility defining the novel as a whole.
The Authenticity Project demonstrates the power books hold and their ability to help us engage the process of critical self-reflection. For me personally and I am sure I speak for many readers out there, Clare Pooley’s book will offer a soul searching experience, in our disconnected world. If anything, The Authenticity Project will not only gift you with an enjoyable reading experience, it will make you think a touch more about your life.
The Authenticity Project by Clare Pooley was published on February 4th 2020 by Penguin Books Australia. Details on how to purchase the book can be found here.
To learn more about the author of The Authenticity Project, Clare Pooley, visit here.
*I wish to thank Penguin Books Australia for providing me with a free copy of this book for review purposes.
