Reviews tagging 'Colonisation'

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel

65 reviews

cloddaily's review against another edition

mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

A well paced time-mystery with a noir lilt. I enjoyed being able to get glimpses into each characters worlds. Although it does tend to nudge the reminder that we are, in the scheme of the universe, quite small, the text also uplifts that those small things, small folk, small moments are sometimes those that change our lives, and the ones of those around us, the most. I devoured this book — incredibly unique and timely in a way that didn’t make me angry or disparate (like so many pieces described as “timely” nowadays so often do) but rather appreciative and enamored of the things that make my own world beautiful and worth enjoying. As an added bonus, the book is not a difficult or dense read. Extremely well done. I imagine I will continue to think about the events and musings of “Sea of Tranquility” for quite some time. 

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Content Warnings

Minor: Mental illness, Colonisation, War, and Classism

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

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Cancer, Chronic illness, Death, Misogyny, Forced institutionalization, Grief, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Classism, and Pandemic/Epidemic

mysticfaerer's review against another edition

adventurous mysterious reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Colonisation

genorgana's review against another edition

mysterious 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? No

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Grief, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Gun violence and Colonisation

Minor: Suicide, Forced institutionalization, and Murder

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

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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

emmagreenwood's review

mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Confinement, Death, Suicide, Grief, Gaslighting, Alcohol, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic

caebrown's review against another edition

emotional hopeful mysterious reflective tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Confinement, Death, Mental illness, Suicide, and Death of parent

Minor: Colonisation

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.

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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:

’life is a simulation’ theory

bloomingpear's review against another edition

mysterious reflective tense 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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Sexism and Colonisation

Minor: Alcoholism, Gun violence, Suicide, Vomit, and War

bookboi2432's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic

Minor: Gun violence and Colonisation