jhugenroth's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
lauridm's review against another edition
3.0
Hmm!!! I am so glad I‘ve seen the movie a few years ago, otherwise I would not been able to imagine half of the imagery described in the book. Loved yet didn’t understand it. Amazed yet so puzzled.
jairbot's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
lighthearted
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
isabellastafford's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
kiesewetter_m's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
3.5
zvermilya11's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
3.75
A bit of a slogue to get through at first, but is also utterly unique and wild.
swamp_gass's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
sarueris's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
sosopablo's review against another edition
2.0
it was a psychedelic escape that quickly became haunting, almost prison-like in the way I couldn't stop thinking about it. Also confusing but really interesting, heavy and disorienting. Might not read the next.
antonism's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 / 5
Imagine HP Lovecraft, Stephen King and Gene Wolfe get together one day to write a book. But for some reason, they are pissed off with each other and don't want to play as a team but instead think "I'm gonna ruin it for them". Well, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer could very well be the result of such a crazy scenario. I was very disappointed with this book; maybe I expected something else or maybe I thought it was a huge missed chance for something great. As I mentioned before, I felt it followed at the footsteps of some great authors but in a way it took the wrong things from them. It reeked with Lovecraft's suffocating atmosphere and psychological terror, it contained a lot of absurd imagination as one would expect from King and the descriptions (as well as some unreliability from the narrator) sometimes bordered towards Wolfe-esque. But it still didn't feel right at all, it didn't excite or move me or even interest me enough. The story felt flat and the flash-backs, other than a literary device to provide a canvas for more words, provided little else.
As for the main character, apparently it was impossible to connect with her. Her introverted character and the way she took decisions or progressed in her analysis of everything made her very distant and rather unrealistic. Also, I like some well-crafted dialogue in my books and in this one there was almost none at all.
Make no mistake, this book is not objectively bad. With its rich and skillful prose, heavy atmosphere and deep mystery, it can appeal to many readers. Unfortunately it didn't work that well for me. As such, I can't personally recommend it.
2.5 / 5
Imagine HP Lovecraft, Stephen King and Gene Wolfe get together one day to write a book. But for some reason, they are pissed off with each other and don't want to play as a team but instead think "I'm gonna ruin it for them". Well, Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer could very well be the result of such a crazy scenario. I was very disappointed with this book; maybe I expected something else or maybe I thought it was a huge missed chance for something great. As I mentioned before, I felt it followed at the footsteps of some great authors but in a way it took the wrong things from them. It reeked with Lovecraft's suffocating atmosphere and psychological terror, it contained a lot of absurd imagination as one would expect from King and the descriptions (as well as some unreliability from the narrator) sometimes bordered towards Wolfe-esque. But it still didn't feel right at all, it didn't excite or move me or even interest me enough. The story felt flat and the flash-backs, other than a literary device to provide a canvas for more words, provided little else.
As for the main character, apparently it was impossible to connect with her. Her introverted character and the way she took decisions or progressed in her analysis of everything made her very distant and rather unrealistic. Also, I like some well-crafted dialogue in my books and in this one there was almost none at all.
Make no mistake, this book is not objectively bad. With its rich and skillful prose, heavy atmosphere and deep mystery, it can appeal to many readers. Unfortunately it didn't work that well for me. As such, I can't personally recommend it.
2.5 / 5