hweezbooks's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Lea Kirino is a “lifer”: tested to have superior genes which are further enhanced with medtech, low cortisol, rest and a Nutripak diet.
She’s more than a hundred years old.
Until she thinks she sees her estranged, anti-lifer father on the streets one day. She steps distractedly onto the road and is mistaken for having attempted suicide, and put on observation.
Events lead to her discovering the Suicide Club, lifers who “hold their chins up in defiance” of years of “enforced living”.
“Something has to change. In being robbed of our deaths, we are robbed of our lives.”
“…she felt, deep within her, the violence of what it meant to live forever.”
This was a dystopian tale well worth reading, triggering questions about humanity’s constant pursuit for longevity, if not immortality.
Rachel Heng writes beautifully, and I’ve made sure to read this first work before moving on to her new title of acclaim, The Great Reclamation.
She’s more than a hundred years old.
Until she thinks she sees her estranged, anti-lifer father on the streets one day. She steps distractedly onto the road and is mistaken for having attempted suicide, and put on observation.
Events lead to her discovering the Suicide Club, lifers who “hold their chins up in defiance” of years of “enforced living”.
“Something has to change. In being robbed of our deaths, we are robbed of our lives.”
“…she felt, deep within her, the violence of what it meant to live forever.”
This was a dystopian tale well worth reading, triggering questions about humanity’s constant pursuit for longevity, if not immortality.
Rachel Heng writes beautifully, and I’ve made sure to read this first work before moving on to her new title of acclaim, The Great Reclamation.
abookwormwithwine's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I spent the longest time considering Suicide Club by Rachel Heng to be a young adult novel, but now that I've read it, I see that it is, in fact, adult fiction and dystopian no less! I had no idea what to expect with this one and despite the very unique writing style, I ended up really enjoying it and the story didn't go completely over my head as most speculative fiction tends to do. While Lea is the main focus of the synopsis, she is not the only viewpoint in the book, and I did tend to get confused at times about whose POV I was in. This could be down to the audiobook only having one narrator, but it definitely would have been helpful to have labeled chapters as well.
As with a handful of John Marrs books I have recently read, the storyline in Suicide Club doesn't seem completely implausible, and there are some things that I could see happening in a REAL future world at the rate we as a population are progressing. Besides that, however, this is also a story about family and there were parts that were pretty sad and emotional. This is also on the darker side of things, but I liked the way it ended, and it was short but packs a wallop. While I wouldn't say the audio blew me away, I did enjoy listening to it and I thought Gwendoline Yeo made for a great narrator, especially as Lea. I would say it might be better to read this one, so you can really focus, but if you like dystopian worlds that don't seem completely unimaginable, I would recommend giving Suicide Club a chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
As with a handful of John Marrs books I have recently read, the storyline in Suicide Club doesn't seem completely implausible, and there are some things that I could see happening in a REAL future world at the rate we as a population are progressing. Besides that, however, this is also a story about family and there were parts that were pretty sad and emotional. This is also on the darker side of things, but I liked the way it ended, and it was short but packs a wallop. While I wouldn't say the audio blew me away, I did enjoy listening to it and I thought Gwendoline Yeo made for a great narrator, especially as Lea. I would say it might be better to read this one, so you can really focus, but if you like dystopian worlds that don't seem completely unimaginable, I would recommend giving Suicide Club a chance.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
maryleong's review against another edition
4.0
This book made me bawl like a baby. I'd already been reflecting on my own familial relationships, and Lea's journey of reconciliation with her father, Kaito, hit *hard*. Wrapped in a futuristic world where immortality is becoming the norm, this novel explores what it means to be alive, and what it means to live.
ari76's review against another edition
3.0
I'd actually give this book a 2.5 rather than 3, but I rounded up because the premise was fascinating, the writing was generally solid and during the the first half of the book I barely put it down to brush my teeth. The trouble came as more exposition about Lea's past was revealed without the simultaneous exposition of various aspects of this "life-loving" society. First off, my favorite character was undoubtedly Lea's father because of his background and honestly, understandable reactions to these rapid shifts in society. The main-ish character Lea did at times strike me as immature given her 100-year lifespan, but I feel she still was written with nuance and a backstory that intrigued me more as a reader (especially the violent elements) even if it wasn't completely sensical. Meanwhile, the secondary main-ish character Anja had more dimensions/depth and her mother's experience exemplified the fundamental flaws of Hong's super-health oriented society. I liked reading about her experiences, but think her point of view could've been a separate book or at the very least more completely represented. Overall, I thought both of their characterizations, certain events in the plot and overall descriptions of the society lacked the fullness that would make the ending and therefore the book, make the most sense. For example,
Despite my feelings about the book's lack of execution, I think Rachel Heng is an engaging author whose work I want to continue reading. She definitely has the imagination and ability to make a product that keeps your brain stimulated, so I'm confident with time her work will only get better.
Spoiler
the all-knowing characterization associated with the Ministry fell flat when Lea was able to actively engage with her "anti-sanct" father multiple times over months without any further action or intervention from her "observers". I enjoyed Lea's memories of growing up as a family with her non-lifer brother Samuel, father and mother but felt they were not always presented in a way that aligned with the ongoing plot. I found myself also frustrated by the lack of exposition about the human organ market, mostly because Lea's job was an organ trader and I wasn't sure how that fit into the narrative of a super-tech oriented society where machines could generate SmartBlood and other inorganic body mechanisms. I had more concerns, but these are the ones the come to mind now.Despite my feelings about the book's lack of execution, I think Rachel Heng is an engaging author whose work I want to continue reading. She definitely has the imagination and ability to make a product that keeps your brain stimulated, so I'm confident with time her work will only get better.
devinfeyded's review against another edition
2.0
This book came very close to being good, but never quite got there. I enjoyed the premise and its promise, but felt it was incomplete. The characters didn't stay with me and I felt it dragging towards the end.
anaiira's review against another edition
3.0
If I were feeling generous, I would give this book the benefit of the doubt and acknowledge the underlying theme (the symbiotic relationship between mortality and a meaningful life). It's additionally interesting by positioning the philosophical question in a near and possibly likely future and has very much a Black Mirror sort of tone.
The novel feels hollow. Something feels missing, and I suspect the author knew this too. There is a lot of compensating for this hollowness with catty gossip about a futuristic social ladder predicated on genetics and longevity, some social commentary about the relationship between wealth and wellbeing, and a depraved, almost indulgent scenes of destruction.
If I had to guess, it really did feel like there was going to be a climax of utter and wanton destruction, but the pacing of the ending was off, so it missed the mark.
The novel feels hollow. Something feels missing, and I suspect the author knew this too. There is a lot of compensating for this hollowness with catty gossip about a futuristic social ladder predicated on genetics and longevity, some social commentary about the relationship between wealth and wellbeing, and a depraved, almost indulgent scenes of destruction.
If I had to guess, it really did feel like there was going to be a climax of utter and wanton destruction, but the pacing of the ending was off, so it missed the mark.
tilda_bookworm's review against another edition
2.75
Hated the animal cruelty and didn't think it made sense for the character or the overarching themes of the story (which seemed to be about the kindnesses of death/when killing is right). I also was baffled by the whole boat thing at the end but maybe I missed something! I liked some aspects of this book. It was very readable and the premise was good. No idea what the point of some parts or characters were. Not sure what Anja felt about the Suicide Club.
Spoiler
why did she demand the boat in a way that made it seem like it was gonna be an important factor in a plan she'd come up with, when really it was just for a nice day out? What was the significance of the boat?jasminenoack's review against another edition
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
crossyc's review against another edition
Not for me! Maybe will try again some other time but I just wasn’t into it.