Carry On

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Average customer rating 4 (2 comments)

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Whether it’s choosing a family or being the “worst Chosen One to ever live,” the question of choice in the face of “destiny” constantly claws its way to the surface throughout Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On (2013). Set in the meta environment of an alternate universe character writing fanfiction about her universe’s Harry Potter, the screw-subtext versions of canonically straight characters, Carry On launches immediately into a rewrite of the final book in the series, relying on readers to fill in the rest. Centered around the “worst Chosen One,” Simon and his suspected vampire of a roommate Baz, the book opens with a world plagued by a powerful magic thief which Simon is destined to defeat. He did not choose to be a Chosen One, though, just as Baz did not choose to be positioned against Simon. As the magical war rushes toward a seemingly destined track, both boys must react or risk the destruction of everything they love. As a response to the heteronormativity of Harry Potter, Carry On offers readers another choice to consider in the world-risking, wizard-school genre, crafted as fanfiction, one of the leading access points for LGBTQIA+ readers to recreate media to see reflections of themselves. While the first half reads as expository-heavy, the popularity of Carry On demonstrated a readership for more LGBTQIA+ literature in the mainstream and set a trilogy in motion.

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Let me start off by saying I enjoyed reading Carry On. Was it the best writing I’ve ever read? No. Did it have its fair share of cheesy/cringey moments? Yes. But would I recommend it to a friend, especially one looking for a book that has characters that aren’t strictly heterosexual? Definitely. When I first opened up the book and started reading, I was shocked at the similarities it held to Harry Potter. It felt as though it was ripping off a story I love, but as I continued reading I was able to see that it was a different take on the genre that so many have connected to. Carry On provides a different perspective on fantasy and on the norm, and is able to reach out to new audiences and form connections with groups who are underrepresented. It was a truly readable experience, and each page drifted by easily. As a reader, I was engrossed in the text and the plot, and found myself rooting for the unlikely character the book positions you first to hate. Carry On is a dynamic novel that challenges the norm, and for the I respect what the author, Rainbow Rowell set out to accomplish, and I recommend this book to anyone who felt like Harry Potter just wasn’t enough.