The marriage act :

Select an Action

Title :

The marriage act : a novel / John Marrs.

Title:

The marriage act :

Author:

Marrs, John (Freelance journalist)

Format:

Books

Physical Description:

421 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm

ISBN:

9781335005939

Production / Publication Information:

Toronto, Ontario, Canada : Hanover Square Press, 2023.

General Note:

Includes reading group guide.

Summary:

"Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society's ills--the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single. But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives--monitoring every word, every minor disagreement...and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor and obey"--

Language:

English

Genre:

Geographic Term:

Great Britain -- Fiction.

Subject Term:

Marriage -- Fiction.

Electronic surveillance -- Fiction.

Single people -- Fiction.

Interpersonal relations -- Fiction.

Totalitarianism -- Fiction.

Holds: Copies:

Available:*

Material Type	Library	Call Number	Item Barcode	Location
Book	Searching... Andover - Memorial Hall Library	FICTION MARRS	31330009334560	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Groton Public Library	FIC MARRS	37003701944911	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Hamilton-Wenham Public Library	FIC MARRS	30470002103645	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Lawrence Public Library	FIC MAR	31549005018824	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newbury Town Library	MAR	32127001356131	Searching... Unknown
Book	Searching... Newburyport Public Library	FIC MARRS J	32128004175460	Searching... Unknown

Bound With These Titles

On Order

Summary

What if marriage was the law? Dare you disobey? Black Mirror meets thriller with a dash of Naomi Alderman's The Power in this dark, high-concept novel by the bestselling author of The One.

Britain. The near-future. A right-wing government believes it has the answer to society's ills--the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which actively encourages marriage as the norm, punishing those who choose to remain single.

But four couples are about to discover just how impossible relationships can be when the government is monitoring every aspect of our personal lives--monitoring every word, every minor disagreement...and will use every tool in its arsenal to ensure everyone will love, honor and obey.

"The king of near-future what-ifs is back with a smart and chilling page-turner. Twisty, unsettling, scarily believable and thought provoking, this is his best yet." --Ellery Lloyd, author of The Club

"Clever, compelling and terrifyingly plausible. A near future nightmare that grips from the first page and never lets go. THE MARRIAGE ACT is a brilliant examination of relationships and the power we let others have over us. And talk about a page-turner. This one will leave you with paper cuts!" --C. J. Tudor, author of The Chalk Man

Don't miss other suspenseful reads from John Marrs (you'll never see the twists coming!):

The One The Vacation The Family Experiment (coming soon!)

Reviews (2)

Publisher's Weekly Review

Marrs (Keep It in the Family) delivers a smart Orwellian thriller set in a near-future U.K. where the financial impact of several pandemics has led to drastic measures. Multiple economic reboots failed, leading the government to conclude that it could only turn things around by "making people understand that they're better off emotionally and financially when they're in a committed relationship," which would make "them want to work smarter and harder." Now incentives, including tax breaks and increased access to medical care, reward those who sign up for a "Smart Marriage," an arrangement which includes consenting to AI devices being placed in married couples' homes to randomly record conversations and send alerts when they detect potential problems between spouses. The impact of living in a world where privacy is minimal and those not "smart married" face discrimination is cleverly explored through several vividly portrayed characters, including vlogger Roxi, who wants government surveillance to be expanded, and Corrine, a member of the resistance to the oppressive regime. Marrs builds on techno-dystopian ideas explored in prior books (there are Easter eggs connecting this outing to both The One and The Passengers) to craft a scarily plausible world. Readers will be riveted. (May)

Booklist Review

In this new novel from Marrs, author of The One (2016) and The Passengers (2018) and set in the same time line as both but a direct sequel to neither, the right wing British government enacts the Sanctity of Marriage Act, which is designed to punish those who are single and encourage citizens to enter into Smart Marriages. Far more draconian than its name suggests, this "marriage upgrade" requires participants to abide by strict rules, such as government monitoring and intervention from Relationship Responders who determine the fate of the union. Alternating chapters follow the lives of several people impacted by the Act, including a woman who dreams of internet fame, a seemingly happily married couple, and a Relationship Responder. The characters (both central and supporting) are vividly drawn, and their stories uniquely captivating. Marrs transforms a slightly out-there premise into a gripping, completely believable story full of surprises that prompt reflection. Absolutely compelling.