The Blue Book of Nebo

By: Manon Steffan Ros

Narrated by: Manon Steffan Ros

Prize-winner in three categories of the 2019 Wales Book of the Year Award, The Blue Book of Nebo paints a spellbinding and eerie picture of society’s collapse, and the relationships that persist after everything as we know it disappears. After nuclear disaster, Rowenna and her young son are among the rare survivors in rural north-west Wales. Left alone in their isolated hillside cottage, after others have died or abandoned the towns and villages, they must learn new skills in order to remain alive. With no electricity or modern technology they must return to the old ways of living off the land, developing new personal resources.

While they become more skilled and stronger, the relationship between mother and son changes in subtle ways, as Dylan must take on adult responsibilities, especially once his baby sister Mona arrives. Despite their close understanding, mother and son have their own secrets, which emerge as in turn they jot down their thoughts and memories in a found notebook. As each reflects on their old life and the events since the disaster which has brought normal, twenty-first century life to an end, The Blue Book of Nebo becomes a collective confidante, representing the future of their people and a new history to live by.

In this prize-winning and best-selling new novel, Manon Steffan Ros not only explores the human capacity to find new strengths when faced with the need to survive, but also the structures and norms of the contemporary world.

©2022 by Manon Steffan Ros (P)2022 by Firefly Press

Hard to understand

The reader has a hard to understand accent. I suggest you listen to the sample before purchasing

Lyrical and contemplative

Lyrical and contemplative dystopian tale of a mother and her son, and then daughter, after what appears to be “The End.” Very affecting interiority of both of these characters, and their relationships with each other and isolated others. For me, the main thrust of the story was to cause the reader to contemplate what’s really important, or not, about being alive. And to spend time with the idea of what “The End” —of anything—really even is.

The end of the world

The finding of a soul, and the growing of a heart. A transformation in so many ways. Oddly (and wonderfully) paced.