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josiee's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic
purplatypus's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Colonisation
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Vomit
maeverose's review against another edition
4.0
This took a long time - about half the book - to grow on me. Up to that point it was very ‘meh’. But then once the stronger sci-fi elements came in I didn’t want to put it down, and the first half became more interesting in hindsight.
I don’t want to say too much, I think it’s better to go into it not knowing much. If you like sci fi stories that involve a mystery but mainly focus on characters, their relationships, and mundane aspects of people’s lives, I would recommend. I found the writing style very easy to read as well, not confusing or difficult as sci-fi books can be for me sometimes, especially with my adhd brain.
The main content warning I would give for this, in the least spoilery way possible: it involves questioning reality. I didn’t personally feel like it was done in a triggering way. It doesn’t dwell on it too much. But if that’s an especially triggering topic for you then that’s something to keep in mind. The spoiler version:It’s a ‘life is a simulation’ situation. It’s never fully confirmed in the book that this is the case, but it’s strongly suggested.
I don’t want to say too much, I think it’s better to go into it not knowing much. If you like sci fi stories that involve a mystery but mainly focus on characters, their relationships, and mundane aspects of people’s lives, I would recommend. I found the writing style very easy to read as well, not confusing or difficult as sci-fi books can be for me sometimes, especially with my adhd brain.
The main content warning I would give for this, in the least spoilery way possible: it involves questioning reality. I didn’t personally feel like it was done in a triggering way. It doesn’t dwell on it too much. But if that’s an especially triggering topic for you then that’s something to keep in mind. The spoiler version:
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence, Murder, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Suicide, Xenophobia, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Drug use, Infidelity, Vomit, and Alcohol
Ptsd flashback involving dismembered bodies - not described in graphic detail. Questioning of reality:maelikesbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I don’t usually like time travel stories, but this was a perfect one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Terminal illness, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Deportation
Minor: Child abuse
galexy_brain's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic
Minor: Death, Misogyny, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, and Colonisation
scifi_rat's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Plot: 3.5★
Prose: 3.5★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.75★/3.75★
Characters: 3★
Worldbuilding: 4★
Ending: 4★
Prose: 3.5★
Pace: 4★
Concept/Execution: 4.75★/3.75★
Characters: 3★
Worldbuilding: 4★
Ending: 4★
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Violence, Medical content, and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexism, Suicide, Forced institutionalization, Stalking, Murder, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, and Injury/Injury detail
bookedbymadeline's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
What a mind fuck?! I’m not a big sci fi reader but this was amazing! It was a quick read with unexpected twists and beautiful writing. I loved the unique story and cast of characters. It could be confusing at times keeping everything straight, but I’m simply blown away!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Misogyny, Grief, and Colonisation
Minor: Suicide
discarded_dust_jacket's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Mandel’s writing is so comfortably and effortlessly propulsive. I have a lot of trouble focusing to read, so when an author is able to write in a way that tugs my eyes and my mind through the chapters fluidly and without the temptation of distraction, it’s something special. With this book, she accomplished that.
I feel like I don’t have much to say about the plot itself. It seems complicated on its face, but it’s actually very simple, and honestly, it’s a story that’s been told before. I don’t think that works against it; I think Mandel’s take on the trope is refreshing and the pandemic element is easy to connect with for obvious reasons.
I feel like I don’t have much to say about the plot itself. It seems complicated on its face, but it’s actually very simple, and honestly, it’s a story that’s been told before. I don’t think that works against it; I think Mandel’s take on the trope is refreshing and the pandemic element is easy to connect with for obvious reasons.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence, Misogyny, Suicide, Murder, and Colonisation
clemrain's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
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.
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.
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 ending caught me by surprise.
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
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Colonisation, and War
Minor: Genocide, Gore, Misogyny, Racism, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
caterina_1212's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.75
Not into this book, it's too self-aware. I'll have to avoid books that bring up pandemics in 2023.
Content Warnings
Minor: Misogyny