Reviews with content warning for Gore - Sea of Tranquility

Mandel is always such a pleasure to read. I deeply appreciate her storytelling.

It took me a while to get into this book. I’m not sure what it was but I think it was the pacing. It’s nailed a bit in the beginning but once the book picks up it’s hard to put down.

The characters in Sea of Tranquility are small and—in turn—real. I deeply feel for all of them. The hurt I feel for these characters isn’t easy to describe without spoiling the book and rambling for paragraphs. But Mandel has a talent for writing real people living their real lives. And without it, the ending on the books wouldn’t land as hard.

This book is a simulation of sorts. And all it’s hurt and joy makes it real. Which creates this complete feeling when you’re done reading. It’s not a novel idea to say that the world being a simulation doesn’t matter, what does is that it feels like. However, Mandel presents it beautifully.

I love the writing style of this book. I wish this were longer. I want to know more about all of these characters. I have read about some of them in Glass Hotel and Station Eleven, and I hope as I read more of Mandel’s work I’ll run into the other characters as well. Especially Edwin. He’s such charming character. Back to the writing though, I love a past future and present and Mandel really kicks that idea up a notch in this novel. So fun to follow the narrative.

The dialogues are real. They feel like human interaction and it’s easy to get invested in them. The literary cadence is effective most times.

the repetition and anxiety of Olive wanting to return home is contagious. And the pang of delivery through a nonchalant conversation that she never made it home is insanely effective. Not to mention that it really shows Gaspery’s character development. If someone is gonna drown they’re gonna drown, to I couldn’t just let her die. It’s good. And the repetition of “this is real” and then the halt of “I’m convincing myself it is”. Also, good.

They’re effective but not necessarily unique.

The ending caught me by surprise.

I was expecting Gaspery’s ending to be the jail sentence Olive found. A nonchalance for a nonchalance. But him being the anomaly and the discrete way of delivering it did catch me by surprise. I keep going back on forth on if it was good to add in Gaspbery’s perspective of interviewing himself. Maybe it fit best to just leave the story at him recognizing his face after the surgery and picking up the violin. However, that would be too cliche. It’s already inching towards the line by having Gaspbery be the anomaly. (Maybe I’m having over reaching cringe from Doctor Who’s time child arc). It’s just kind of flat. I’m also left wondering if it’s proof of a simulation or just the science of a paradox and time travel. The book would’ve been five stars if not just for this.

It’s not easy to write time travel. I don’t care much about the science. I only care about a good timeline and something that isn’t corny. Just good writing, science can be bad. It’s fiction afterall. Madel’s time travel sections are very entertaining.

I really wish this book were longer. I know the plot was centred around the shared experience of all the characters and we did get a good glimpse into the characters lives but I just want more.

Great book, it made me think and added new perspectives into my life.

Content Warnings

sovteck's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.0

Really earnest and gentle. I enjoyed it a lot, but it felt thin/underdeveloped in some areas.

Content Warnings

gjkennedy's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? N/A
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

First off, just because I couldnt find the appropriate warning, if you struggle with things that question the nature or legitimacy of reality (anything that would be tw with something like “unreality”) do NOT read this!! seriously I don’t have huge problems with that and it still made me feel weird. its definitely not safe for people for whom that would trigger delusions or anxiety or other distress.

Beyond that, it was a really good book. The answer became satisfying at the very last second, and for me every reveal was both perfectly reasonable but still surprising, though I suspect if you read slower and take more time to think you may be able to guess yourself. However, I dont see good foreshadowing as a downside, just a note. Not a five star because while it was perfectly pleasant and well written, it didn’t really evoke a really strong feeling for me. I enjoyed the characters and there were good moments of sympathy, but I never felt close enough to them to touch what they were feeling myself. But again, that may just be me. I would 100% recommend this book for a quick read for someone looking for an upside to the life theyre living.

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