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suzanne2712's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
tense
fast-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? Yes
5.0
mgreer56's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
3.75
hdbblog's review against another edition
4.0
Not since I read Station Eleven have I fallen this hard for a book that is fairly bleak, but so beautifully done that it pulls you in. Trashlands is a look at the land of Scrappalachia. A world after a cataclysmic world climate event has decimated everything that we once took for granted. Numerous plants and animals alike, a thing of the past. A new generation of people exist who can barely comprehend a world where things were once single use, or convenient. Instead, this is a world of survival. One where a single wrong step can mean your death. And yet? People manage to thrive.
We all know that characters are my favorite parts of stories, and so I have to give a ton of love to Alison Stine for the vast tapestry she weaves. Coral and her family are vivid, and sturdy. Even if the reader is thrown into the story without much explanation, it’s not hard to understand Coral’s way of being. She is used to a world where men rule, and women suffer the consequences. She has known hurt, and loss, in a way that has altered her forever.
Around her are numerous other people, each eking out their own meager life as best they can. From Trillium, the tattoo artist, to Foxglove, the sex worker, each one has their own unique way of dealing with the world. I loved that Stine didn’t attempt to build any fake levity here. This story pulls no punches. It shows each person’s struggles in vivid color, but that also allows the little bits of happiness to leak through and shine brighter. It’s the kind of story that once again reminds us that we should be more present in the moment, and thankful for what we have.
This would have easily been a five star read for me, if only it did a bit more of a deep dive on what actually occurred to cause this new world. Since I am heavily a character driven reader, it didn’t bother me as much as it might some people. The way this story is told is almost poetic in a sense, which makes sense now that I know Stine is a poet as well. The story walks this line of tense atmosphere that keeps you on your toes. I was happy to see the people I met fully fleshed out, rather than quickly rushed over. The world never felt large per say, but in a way that felt like exactly what it was supposed to feel like. Still, for people who are more focused on world building, Trashlands may feel a little unsatisfying.
The other slight issue I had was that some of the messages here felt a little heavy handed, especially set against such a poetically told story. Again, this is definitely a story that is pushing people to pay attention to climate change and our part in it. It never pretends not to have its own sense of feminism either, with the female characters constantly assessing this “after” world ruled by men. These things never pulled me out of the story, but I do feel they might affect other readers differently so they are worth mentioning.
Am I glad I read this book? Absolutely I am. It was gorgeous. A huge round of applause to Alison Stine and this work of art.
We all know that characters are my favorite parts of stories, and so I have to give a ton of love to Alison Stine for the vast tapestry she weaves. Coral and her family are vivid, and sturdy. Even if the reader is thrown into the story without much explanation, it’s not hard to understand Coral’s way of being. She is used to a world where men rule, and women suffer the consequences. She has known hurt, and loss, in a way that has altered her forever.
Around her are numerous other people, each eking out their own meager life as best they can. From Trillium, the tattoo artist, to Foxglove, the sex worker, each one has their own unique way of dealing with the world. I loved that Stine didn’t attempt to build any fake levity here. This story pulls no punches. It shows each person’s struggles in vivid color, but that also allows the little bits of happiness to leak through and shine brighter. It’s the kind of story that once again reminds us that we should be more present in the moment, and thankful for what we have.
This would have easily been a five star read for me, if only it did a bit more of a deep dive on what actually occurred to cause this new world. Since I am heavily a character driven reader, it didn’t bother me as much as it might some people. The way this story is told is almost poetic in a sense, which makes sense now that I know Stine is a poet as well. The story walks this line of tense atmosphere that keeps you on your toes. I was happy to see the people I met fully fleshed out, rather than quickly rushed over. The world never felt large per say, but in a way that felt like exactly what it was supposed to feel like. Still, for people who are more focused on world building, Trashlands may feel a little unsatisfying.
The other slight issue I had was that some of the messages here felt a little heavy handed, especially set against such a poetically told story. Again, this is definitely a story that is pushing people to pay attention to climate change and our part in it. It never pretends not to have its own sense of feminism either, with the female characters constantly assessing this “after” world ruled by men. These things never pulled me out of the story, but I do feel they might affect other readers differently so they are worth mentioning.
Am I glad I read this book? Absolutely I am. It was gorgeous. A huge round of applause to Alison Stine and this work of art.
lavam's review against another edition
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Absolutely loved it and would like to know more about the universe the book takes place in. Such a good, but also sad story of survival and human fates.
bioniclib's review against another edition
3.0
I picked up this book after reading Ms. Stine's review of how the Hawkeye TV show handles deafness on Salon and learned she was half deaf. As a hard of hearing person that hopes to one day get published, I had to see how here book was.
The concept that climate change plunged the world into a post-apocalyptical nightmare where the disturbingly abundant plastic is scavenged and bartered as currency is one that is frighteningly plausible. The characters are all very well done and the setting, Scrappalachia (aka Appalachia with a scrapping economy), was too.
But it just failed to connect with me. I'm not sure why, either. The writing style was a good one. I guess the execution of a great concept either didn't live up to my expectations or I shouldn't have read a dystopia in the middle of a pandemic.
The concept that climate change plunged the world into a post-apocalyptical nightmare where the disturbingly abundant plastic is scavenged and bartered as currency is one that is frighteningly plausible. The characters are all very well done and the setting, Scrappalachia (aka Appalachia with a scrapping economy), was too.
But it just failed to connect with me. I'm not sure why, either. The writing style was a good one. I guess the execution of a great concept either didn't live up to my expectations or I shouldn't have read a dystopia in the middle of a pandemic.
dpj's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kaileyreadsbooks's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
ainsleym's review against another edition
5.0
Bleak but wonderfully written futuristic novel. I loved the wandering storylines through past and present with multiple POVs. Excellently showed different angles and perspectives on this world. Would definitely recommend if you like post-apocalyptic ecological stories and don't mind the lack of a plot or an ambiguous ending. I'll definitely look for more of Alison Stine's books.
bhookjunkhie's review against another edition
5.0
Probably one of my fave books for 2021! I hope there is a sequel or next generation to come:)❤️❤️