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takarakei's review
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? It's complicated
4.25
I have read the introduction written by Karen Joy Fowler included in this version now 3 times. The first time it was sent to me by a friend to convince me to read this book. Then again obviously when I read it. And a third time after I finished I went back and read it again, to really understand what the hell was going on! (Sometimes I just need to read analysis of something to fully comprehend it) That third time really blew my mind! WOW!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
The only thing I didn't love about this was the flashback parts about the MC's life prior to the expedition. I understand they were included to build context for her relationship with her husband and why our MC even decides to go on the expedition. But they oddly went into a bit of a lit-fic-y kinda realm, which to me felt a little out of place with everything else going on. I just cared way more about what was happening on the expedition and found myself less interested in her husband in general *shrug*
I do think I will probably read the rest of this series in physical form vs doing exclusively audio to be able to follow along better!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Violence, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, and Murder
Minor: Animal death, Cancer, and Sexual content
pupipupapa's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gun violence, and Gaslighting
Minor: Ableism, Cancer, and Sexual content
mikathereviewer's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Summary of my review: Book and film aren't alike AT ALL, fascinating and shocking discoveries, character depth (protagonist only), special nickname, first person POV prevented us readers to get to know more and feel more indulged while reading the story, too little happened for a stand-alone story
Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms … to share with the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives.
I watched the film when it came out and I did know there was a book, but didn't read it till now. But here we are!
(And before you ask: The film is VERY different from the book. Some ideas were implanted into the film, but most didn't even exist in the book)
As said near the beginning of the book all characters were trained to leave personal stuff behind; Meaning that one is only there for the task to discover Area X and should only focus on that. So we of course don't get any friendship or the sort there. But we get the backstory of our main character which at least makes us connect a bit with her.
There were so many crazy things happening, but can't mention them as that would spoiler the fun. But they were so cool and interesting to read about!
The backstory we got of the main character was so detailed. We get every now and then a bit new information or just general memories of her. It made me feel more connected to the character, especially with relatable scenes like this:
"I didn’t care about politics except in how politics impinged upon the environment. I wasn’t religious. All of my hobbies were bound up in my work. I lived for the work, and I thrilled with the power of that focus but it was also deeply personal."
Some might disagree now but the nickname the husband gave the protagonist sounds so special and original. Like I never got called like that and the best thing is; It doesn't sound cringe (since there is a meaning behind it).
I like third and first person, but for this story I would say the third person would have been better (bonus points for different POV's as that would make the story more exciting).
We are reading this story to DISCOVER. How do you discover a story the best? By having a narrator that knows everything and isn't RESTRICTED.
We had only 4 characters and it felt too little, honestly. Originally it was 5, but 1 left us already before they even got introduced to us readers. Or maybe character depth was the thing I missed, as the protagonist was the only one we really got to know. But there is a reason behind why we don't get to know the others so can't quite argue with that. I don't know it felt like something was missing, especially in the plot. It felt slow-paced sometimes, but in the end we didn't get as much information or intense scenes as I initially thought before reading this book. Feel disappointed.
03. August 2024
Where lies the strangling fruit that came from the hand of the sinner I shall bring forth the seeds of the dead to share with the worms … to share with the worms that gather in the darkness and surround the world with the power of their lives.
I watched the film when it came out and I did know there was a book, but didn't read it till now. But here we are!
(And before you ask: The film is VERY different from the book. Some ideas were implanted into the film, but most didn't even exist in the book)
As said near the beginning of the book all characters were trained to leave personal stuff behind; Meaning that one is only there for the task to discover Area X and should only focus on that. So we of course don't get any friendship or the sort there. But we get the backstory of our main character which at least makes us connect a bit with her.
There were so many crazy things happening, but can't mention them as that would spoiler the fun. But they were so cool and interesting to read about!
The backstory we got of the main character was so detailed. We get every now and then a bit new information or just general memories of her. It made me feel more connected to the character, especially with relatable scenes like this:
"I didn’t care about politics except in how politics impinged upon the environment. I wasn’t religious. All of my hobbies were bound up in my work. I lived for the work, and I thrilled with the power of that focus but it was also deeply personal."
Some might disagree now but the nickname the husband gave the protagonist sounds so special and original. Like I never got called like that and the best thing is; It doesn't sound cringe (since there is a meaning behind it).
I like third and first person, but for this story I would say the third person would have been better (bonus points for different POV's as that would make the story more exciting).
We are reading this story to DISCOVER. How do you discover a story the best? By having a narrator that knows everything and isn't RESTRICTED.
We had only 4 characters and it felt too little, honestly. Originally it was 5, but 1 left us already before they even got introduced to us readers. Or maybe character depth was the thing I missed, as the protagonist was the only one we really got to know. But there is a reason behind why we don't get to know the others so can't quite argue with that. I don't know it felt like something was missing, especially in the plot. It felt slow-paced sometimes, but in the end we didn't get as much information or intense scenes as I initially thought before reading this book. Feel disappointed.
03. August 2024
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Death, Blood, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Gore, Gun violence, Self harm, Suicide, and Suicide attempt
Minor: Alcoholism, Animal death, Cancer, Confinement, Sexual content, Excrement, Grief, and Alcohol
kuronekostea's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
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
5.0
Absolutely loved this book. The way Jeff VanderMeer builds the mystery of area X keeps you guessing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence
Moderate: Sexual content, Violence, and Grief
charlieeee's review against another edition
challenging
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Violence, Suicide attempt, and Murder
Minor: Body horror, Cancer, Cursing, Gun violence, Sexual content, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
theirgracegrace's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Annihilation starts off with a series of questions, but its ending does not answer them to incredible effect. The plot centres around an expedition of four scientists who are the twelfth expedition to a place called Area X, where a strange historical event has led to the complete removal of human civilization. What this "human civilization" is replaced with, and what the four uncover about each other, tells a harrowing tale about what it means to be human.
I was recommended this by a friend who was into biology, and I can definitely say it was a worthy recommendation! I read it all in a handful of sittings over the course of twenty-four hours and this was because I could not put it down. Each revelation is followed by something even more tense and terrifying, and the ending leaves so much unanswered...leading nicely into a second and third book. An amazing read, all in all!
I was recommended this by a friend who was into biology, and I can definitely say it was a worthy recommendation! I read it all in a handful of sittings over the course of twenty-four hours and this was because I could not put it down. Each revelation is followed by something even more tense and terrifying, and the ending leaves so much unanswered...leading nicely into a second and third book. An amazing read, all in all!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Death, Emotional abuse, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Torture, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Bullying
Minor: Cursing and Suicide
One of the characters uses hypnosis on the others, including a (ineffectual) command to kill themselves.spaghett's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror
Minor: Gun violence and Sexual content
sophieamreacher's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Strange and intriguing, I just had to keep reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Cancer, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Murder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gaslighting, Abandonment, and Injury/Injury detail
jess2obsess's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Suicide and Suicide attempt
Minor: Sexual content, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
draven_deathcrush's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
I just thought it was boring. Maybe I didn't understand it, but I really didn't like it. I just wanted to read a book, so I picked this up. It was easy to get through, I finished it in a day, but it was just boring. I just didn't care much about it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Violence
Moderate: Sexual content and Suicide