hlizmarie's review against another edition
4.0
Station Eleven follows a variety of characters from before, during and after a flu pandemic that wipes out much of the world. It dances through time showing pieces of these survivors' histories to inform their present day life in this new world. It's not the violent, action-packed dystopian fiction that seems so popular (and which I've read my fair share of) but is a quieter, more nuanced, more introspective view of where these characters have been to get them to this current place and how they'll continue.
I was frustrated with this book at time, wondering where the book was headed, what the point was. I made assumptions based on the post-apocalyptic description that there would be action, violence, struggle to survive. There are those thing but there's a slowness to it all, almost a dreamy quality, that disguises how much is actually going on and how deftly the author has woven the plot together. I was struck time and time again by certain phrases, wording, descriptions used that were so bare-boned truth and so haunting that it gave me pause. I remain in awe of how much the author wove together so seamlessly. As the book went on I saw how the lines were coming together and the ties that bound these people but it was beautifully done. There were no big surprises but I can appreciate how complex the narrative jumps must have been to map out. Station Eleven is the type of book that needs a separate rating system outside of "really liked it" or "it was ok". The plot itself was interesting but nothing earth-shattering. How the book is written is where the magic happened for me.
I was frustrated with this book at time, wondering where the book was headed, what the point was. I made assumptions based on the post-apocalyptic description that there would be action, violence, struggle to survive. There are those thing but there's a slowness to it all, almost a dreamy quality, that disguises how much is actually going on and how deftly the author has woven the plot together. I was struck time and time again by certain phrases, wording, descriptions used that were so bare-boned truth and so haunting that it gave me pause. I remain in awe of how much the author wove together so seamlessly. As the book went on I saw how the lines were coming together and the ties that bound these people but it was beautifully done. There were no big surprises but I can appreciate how complex the narrative jumps must have been to map out. Station Eleven is the type of book that needs a separate rating system outside of "really liked it" or "it was ok". The plot itself was interesting but nothing earth-shattering. How the book is written is where the magic happened for me.
jaimer's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
madisonlmolloy's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
4.0
karebearrawr's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
lexirtaylor2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
groovyjar88's review against another edition
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
0.25
gunstreet's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best books I've read in ages. It is a page-turner not so much because the plot has a mystery that needs to be solved — the world has just enough danger to keep things moving — but more because you need more. I would read this book for 1000 pages. The writing is beautiful, the characters so enveloping and real, the details of their universe painted so perfectly I watched it unfold like a film in my head. I have a feeling this will be one of those books I keep coming back to every couple of years.
ratcowe's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
I just really enjoyed this book. The multiple storylines and timelines weren't confusing like they sometimes can be and everything came together beautifully. An interesting look at humanity after society as we know it has collapsed.
a_love's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5