[SPOILER WARNING]
In the parts of the novel where she’s doing this job, there is always a section from the point of view of the hitch-hiker as they suss her out, which creates empathy between them and the reader, in contrast to Isserley who sees them as animals (the aliens refer to themselves as ‘human’, and to humans as ‘vodsels’). Faber does a good job of making each individual distinct and interesting, showing the range of humanity one would expect among any given group of people. These scenes make up the bulk of the novel, and each one builds its own tension as we see Isserley’s reaction to them, what it shows about her character, and whether or not she will take them or let them go.
When Isserley’s not on the road, she’s at the farm where the ‘vodsels’ are processed. Her relationships with the other workers are strained at best, hostile at worst. They are by and large accommodating of her, but she resents them for their care. The most disturbing parts of the novel are the descriptions of what is done to the ‘vodsels’ at the farm, which I won’t go into here for obvious reasons. A major source of conflict in the book is the arrival of Amlis Vess, the son of their employer, who has differing views to Isserley on the treatment of vodsels. She dislikes but is also attracted to him, and they journey she goes on with him is poignant and touching.
Though the two are very different, both the film and book of Under the Skin are worth engaging with. The premise is so original that it would be worth reading for that alone, but Faber demonstrates incredible skill in his telling of the story and in his writing technique. Under the Skin was his debut, and I’m now curious to read the rest of his work. I slightly prefer the film to the book, since I found the ideas explored more interesting, but there’s no doubt that they’re both achievements in their own right.
Review by Charlie Alcock