Reviews with content warning for Murder - Station Eleven

Oh this is a tough one! Personally, I liked it. But you will definitely not like it if you expect this as a dystopian novel with its usual suspense and shebangs. It's calmer than that and the book is more of a slice-of-life which happens to be set in a post-apocalyptic world. Don't expect the book to propose new ideas in the dystopia genre

Very minimal spoiler that details on the antagonist:

Spoiler

The Prophet is not that vital in the plot and it's not really intended to. Don't expect a suspenseful chase of sorts. He's nicely written though! I love the approach on the identity reveal.

The prose is so damn good but it barely has any plot. Some main characters also have not much of personality. Very minimal spoiler that details on the protagonists:

Spoiler

Kirsten (the main protag and the actress) is not that distinct but her narration is nice. I liked Miranda and Clark (since they are arguably the most fleshed-out characters). There's also Jeevan but hmm... there's a big time-skip from pre to post so he's a bit wonky and didn't really mattered—though, his pre-apocalyptic life is nicely written.

On to the prose: it's good. Like so-many-highlights-good. The tone is consistent (that is: slow) and I loved how it's built up—this is a book that seems planned from start to finish. I personally liked how the Prophet is handled but it might not be enough for others. The ending is heartwarming and I think it's such a fitting end! Solid read, and I'll definitely check out the author's other books! :)

Content Warnings

rebeccarudisill's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark hopeful tense slow-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

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oriana095's review against another edition

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adventurous dark reflective sad 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

4.5

Content Warnings

amsswim's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

I loved this book, wow. This is the 20th book I have read this year and my favorite one so far. A multiperspective book on a fast acting pandemic with time jumps before and after this apocalypse. That basic intro into the book alone would've had me by the chokehold, I knew it had to do with a post-apocalyptic society but nothing more. It was the little moments for me though, that really made this. WHile the plot overall I found very interesting, the environment and motivations were all very realistic to me which made the small moments in this world all the more meaningful. I must read from me!

Content Warnings

annaofjesup's review against another edition

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adventurous reflective 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

4.0

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kayleejanes's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark inspiring mysterious sad tense 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? No

5.0

Content Warnings

leahgustafson's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring 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? No

5.0

I had been meaning to read this one for a while now but have held off because I wasn’t sure if it was too soon for a “pandemic book.” I am glad I didn’t read it in 2020 as originally planned. In the beginning I did have BIG COVID flashbacks, but those quickly went away as the book takes a completely different turn.

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It was interesting to me how much I loved this book since it is so different from my usual 5 star reads. This is an absolutely beautiful exploration of humanity and the human experience. I was left with a greater appreciation for life in general, and I found myself looking at the mundane parts of my days differently.

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Emily St. John Mandel’s writing is absolutely stunning. I especially appreciated her beautifully detailed descriptions of the small routines and habits of the characters’ lives. I did enjoy how the characters were loosely connected and didn’t mind that there wasn’t a deep dive into any one character. Usually I’m all about characters and their development, but the way this story is structured, it speaks to the human experience as a whole rather than any one individual’s experience.

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My inner English Major gushed over the Shakespeare tie ins. I also loved how the mantra, “Survival is insufficient” (from Star Trek Voyager) is woven throughout the story. This line sums up the central message of the story as well as leaves the reader with something to reflect on in their own lives.

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This is one that everyone needs to read at some point! It’s a quick but thought-provoking read. Yes, it is about a global pandemic so make sure you’re in a good place for that.

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