We Spread

By Iain Reid

FINALIST FOR THE GOVERNOR GENERAL’S LITERARY AWARDS

The author of the “evocative, spine-tingling, and razor-sharp” (Bustle) I’m Thinking of Ending Things that inspired the Netflix original movie and the “short, shocking psychological three-hander” (The Guardian) Foe returns with a new work of philosophical suspense.

Penny, an artist, has lived in the same apartment for decades, surrounded by the artifacts and keepsakes of her long life. She is resigned to the mundane rituals of old age, until things start to slip. Before her longtime partner passed away years earlier, provisions were made, unbeknownst to her, for a room in a unique long-term care residence, where Penny finds herself after one too many “incidents.”

Initially, surrounded by peers, conversing, eating, sleeping, looking out at the beautiful woods that surround the house, all is well. She even begins to paint again. But as the days start to blur together, Penny—with a growing sense of unrest and distrust—starts to lose her grip on the passage of time and on her place in the world. Is she succumbing to the subtly destructive effects of aging, or is she an unknowing participant in something more unsettling?

At once compassionate and uncanny, told in spare, hypnotic prose, Iain Reid’s genre-defying third novel explores questions of conformity, art, productivity, relationships, and what, ultimately, it means to grow old.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Release date: Sep 27, 2022
• ISBN: 9781982165062

Iain Reid

Iain Reid is the author of four previous books, including his New York Times bestselling debut novel I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman wrote and directed the film adaptation for Netflix. His second novel, Foe, is being adapted for film, starring Saoirse Ronan, with Reid cowriting the screenplay. His latest novel is We Spread. Reid lives in Ontario, Canada. Follow him on Twitter @Reid_Iain.

Reviews for We Spread

[jmchshannon · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

We Spread is the latest psychological thriller by Iain Reid, and boy, is it a doozy. This time around, Mr. Reid explores dementia and old age. Through Penny’s eyes, we experience what it is like to forget to accomplish mundane household chores, forget the names of things, and lose time. If that isn’t scary enough, we also experience life in a long-term facility. As Penny succumbs to more lost memory, all we can do is sit, watch, and wonder if we are getting the complete picture. After all, Mr. Reid is an expert in misdirection or at least making you think it is misdirection. After yet another intense novel, Mr. Reid is quickly becoming a must-read author!

[twink_2 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I've read all of Iain Reid's books. Each one has brought something different, unusual and unexpected. And that's also the case with his latest - We Spread. Penny has been living in the same apartment for fifty years. Her partner has passed on. Penny has been getting out, but really has no contact or relationships with others, excepting her landlord. She has a bit of memory loss (and sure, doesn't everyone her age?) So, my thinking was that We Spread would be an lament for aging. It was and it is. But it's much more. As an observer we are witness to Penny's failing memory and her deteriorating physical condition until the inevitable happens - she has a serious fall. Unbeknownst to Penny, her partner had arranged for just this eventuality. Penny is moved to Six Cedars Residence, a small long term care facility in an older house, surrounded by trees. There are only four residents and two staff members at the home. Penny, although distressed by the move, is impressed. And it's wonderful. Or is it? What we come to know of the other residents and staff is through Penny's eyes and experiences. The reader is left to their own imagination and interpretation of what she encounters. And my mind had more than one outlook and outcome happening. The tension rises with every page turned. Reid's dialogue is sharp and short and is very effective in 'speaking' for Penny. Out loud and internally. Aging, art and relationships and more are also explored. There's much food for thought for everyone in We Spread - whether it's yourself or a family member. As the book neared the final pages, I still had not made up my mind as to what was really happening. And the ending? Perfectly Iain Reid. The audio version of We Spread is so very good. The reader was the fabulous Robin Miles. She has such an expressive voice. Her voice is easy to understand, clearly enunciated and has movement in every sentence. Miles embodied the character of Penny perfectly! I could believe I was listening to an older women with memory issues. I could feel her fear and frustration of the changes of herself, as the atmosphere at Six Cedars. The pace of her reading matches the story, with pauses at significant points. Miles excelled at depicting the emotions of Penny. A fabulous performance of a stellar book.

[stahl2ricco · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

“As passions decrease, character is revealed.”This book was a real page turner! Well written, good suspense, and lots of deep insights into the topic of aging, being alone, and relationships. And then it started ramping up with the mystery of "what's going on at the elder care facility?", and that had me hooked too! Was this going the horror route, or the sci-fi route? Was this going to be like the facility in "Happy Gilmore", but darker? Is Shelley the second coming of Nurse Ratched, or just misunderstood? Is anything actually going on, or is Penny just getting confused in her old age? I was pretty amped up for the ending!But, there was no payoff. At least not one that I appreciated. When I rank this that "I Liked It", it means I liked everything but the ending, but really, the ending was everything for this story. A mystery that ends in mystery is not my cup of tea.