My Petition for More Space Review

 It's time for another

“For me space gives, derives from, and is peace of mind. One has to make it for himself. 

One has to seek it, strive for it, if necessary fight for it—certainly ask for it.”

The premise of the novel (written in 1976) is that in the near future, we run out of space. It takes four hours to walk to work because streets are congested, cars are no longer allowed, one must live in a space of mere feet, in order to have a child you have to petition the windows, and the only lines longer than at the windows of the petition offices are at the last remaining city park. You have to wait days to catch a glimpse of an empty space through the high windows, but entering the park is prohibited.

The novel's protagonist is a writer, or at least he could be, if he had more space to breathe. The entire novel takes place over the course of a few hours as he waits in line with his petition. There is a young lady in front of him and as they talk, he begins to imagine a life with her. It is illegal to make arrangements with other people waiting in line, but he asks that after they reach the windows, she wait for him. 

Photo from Here

This novel was one of the most original I have read in a long time. Hersey created such a strong mood of intense claustrophobia that as you read, your mind begins to play tricks on you as the characters' do. My Petition for More Space is like most Dystopian novels in that the protagonist must try to maintain an inner peace and steadfastness as those around him cave to the mindless comfort provided by the system.  If you like mind games and that kind of novel (and you know who you are, my 1984 and The Handmaid's Tale fans) then definitely find a copy.

I got agitated at several parts, for instance, when a claustrophobia and frustration induced line fever breaks out and threatens to disrupt all he has waited for (people standing in line just start to scream but cannot move anywhere) and when he finally reaches the windows and must convince the voice behind the glass that he deserves more than his fellow man. 

The novel was quite effective, I just can't help but think how much better the story could have been portrayed through a different medium. A play version of this novel would blow your mind. I would stage it in the round or even in the aisles of a theatre, so the audience becomes part of the throng waiting at the petition windows too. The "line fever" scene I described would take on a whole new meaning.

Just a thought.

Read it! It will take you four hours. It's interesting and thought provoking. Seriously, read it.

I also posted some quotes from the novel here, so check those out if you are so inclined.