Scan barcode
shmabbyabby's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
It's very dark but only if you stop to think about it. The haunting kind of dark, not the kind that has you crying while reading.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Death
chasinggrace's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
slow-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
3.0
Who are you when society and humanity are stripped away? How do you find meaning in life when you know how it will end?
This book highlights the joys of solitude, the energy in curiosity, and begs the question: who am I outside of my relation to everything I know?
I didn’t have a very strong emotional reaction to this book, probably because the main character is so detached in the way she recounts her life.
What is interesting is that while the character has never KNOWN a man, she has observed men. I could muse about her obsession with the guard and its origins, how one’s sexuality develops in the absence of both genders, how the respect for the man who died in dignity was bestowed only on him, and not really on the women who have died in the same fashion…
This book leaves you with more questions than answers, and in that, directly reflects the main character’s life experiences.
This book highlights the joys of solitude, the energy in curiosity, and begs the question: who am I outside of my relation to everything I know?
I didn’t have a very strong emotional reaction to this book, probably because the main character is so detached in the way she recounts her life.
What is interesting is that while the character has never KNOWN a man, she has observed men. I could muse about her obsession with the guard and its origins, how one’s sexuality develops in the absence of both genders, how the respect for the man who died in dignity was bestowed only on him, and not really on the women who have died in the same fashion…
This book leaves you with more questions than answers, and in that, directly reflects the main character’s life experiences.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicide, Dementia, Grief, and Abandonment
tashba's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Confinement and Grief
Minor: Cancer, Infertility, and Suicide
kayanoelle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
I don’t know why but this book scared me😭 It’s been 15 minutes since I finished it and I still feel a deep sense of restlessness and anxiety. I thought it was brilliantly written and brought up a lot of questions for me about the way I live life and what we are even doing every day.
Not the full five stars because some phrases were a little repetitive (maybe that was a stylistic choice because their life was repetitive but still).
Not the full five stars because some phrases were a little repetitive (maybe that was a stylistic choice because their life was repetitive but still).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement
Moderate: Death
Minor: Cancer, Miscarriage, Suicide, Dementia, Murder, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
mmarquis1158's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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? Yes
3.0
I really enjoyed the first half! There were so many questions and such great buildup! I couldn’t stop listening to it. But once the women were out of the bunker, it felt a little slow. I was really disappointed that we really got no answers. I feel like the message on social themes, feminism, humanity, etc. could have still been effectively communicated while also giving us a little bit of an explanation. I like books that make me think and leave some things to the imagination but with this book, everything was a big question mark. There was just so much build up for what felt like nothing. I REALLY wanted to like this book more than I did because I’ve heard great things but it just felt like it was lacking major plot points that I had a hard time getting past.
Like WHAT HAPPENED TO THE GUARDS?! I feel like you can’t have such a turn in plot and not even hint a little bit of what’s going on. The idea of sirens making everyone immediately flee is so eerie and I was dying to know more.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Physical abuse, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Cancer, Death, Infertility, Sexism, Suicide, Blood, and Grief
alixcallender's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, and Dysphoria
Moderate: Cancer
Minor: Sexual content and Dementia
catagonus's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I couldn't put this down, possibly because there are no chapter or section breaks. Though steeped in a central mystery, the point is not the mystery itself, but rather coming to terms with living life without answers. Can't we all ask ourselves, why did this life happen to me? Why is the world like this? If you're looking to get answers by the end, you won't get them, but I didn't find it unsatisfying.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Suicide
Moderate: Dementia
andreanunezdecaceres's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicide, and Grief
samchase112's review against another edition
dark
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
A true modern classic. I’m so glad this slim, thoughtful, mysterious volume has been brought to a wider audience, because it needs to go even wider. Wow, wow, wow, I’m already looking forward to a reread.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Suicide, and Blood
Moderate: Suicidal thoughts, Excrement, and Grief
Minor: Miscarriage and War
yvonne_yvonne's review against another edition
challenging
dark
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
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement and Death