Review: The Humans by Matt Haig

It's hardest to belong when you're closest to home...One wet Friday evening, Professor Andrew Martin of Cambridge University solves the world's greatest mathematical riddle. Then he disappears. When he is found walking naked along the motorway, Professor Martin seems different. Besides the lack of clothes, he now finds normal life pointless. His loving wife and teenage son seem repulsive to him. In fact, he hates everyone on the planet. Everyone, that is, except Newton. And he's a dog. Can a bit of Debussy and Emily Dickinson keep him from murder? Can the species which invented cheap white wine and peanut butter sandwiches be all that bad? And what is the warm feeling he gets when he looks into his wife's eyes?

Review: what a funny yet thought provoking novel! I'd had this novel sat on my kindle for some time, but then I was lucky enough to meet this author in person and he was so funny and genuinely nice to talk to that I had to bump it up my TBR pile. I actually ended up getting this on audiobook and listening to it on my commute, it added a lot of colour and laughter to my trip on the m4 that's for sure! This novel is pretty hard to summarise so whoever wrote that blurb did a good job. How do you explain to someone that this novel is about being human, is about square numbers and is about some sort of alien who wants to destroy only those who know a certain mathematical formula, but at the same time is hilarious and funny and fast paced and definitely not a sic if novel? Blows my mind! 

I loved the idea behind the storyline, someone coming and discovering the human race, knowing practically nothing about it, is spitting a greeting on this planet? Why is it we have to cover our bodies with clothes? I also loved the development of this story, the more this creature learns about the human race, the more he enjoys being a part of it and the more easily he understands the decisions made by those around him. There are definitely some life lessons in this book as to how to tackle those big decisions and how not to sweat the small stuff, and yet there are some hilarious hilarious moments too! 

The characters in this novel weren't as much the stars as the actual act of discovering the human race and how to fit into it when you're brand new to it is. The professors and their wives are interesting but we don't know much about them as characters just as how they relate to the theory about prime numbers. Those that live on the other planet aren't really characters either, but none of this matters because the storyline is what hooks you in and makes you want to keep reading (or listening). I think this book would appeal to many different audiences because of its interesting subject matter and it's humour and is the perfect read for any time of year!