kbz_22's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
I just finished “Station Eleven” by Emily St. John Mandel, and I’ve got to say, it’s a solid 5/5 from me, and that’s a big deal considering I’m not usually into dystopian stuff.
The writing is just next level. It’s so beautifully crafted that it’s hard to put down. Mandel’s narrative style, jumping back and forth in time, might seem confusing, but it’s like a jigsaw puzzle that slowly comes together. You start noticing these tiny threads and easter eggs, and it’s mind-blowing how it all connects. It’s not just the story itself, but how she weaves it all together. It’s a masterpiece.
I’m officially a fan and can’t wait to read more by Mandel.
The writing is just next level. It’s so beautifully crafted that it’s hard to put down. Mandel’s narrative style, jumping back and forth in time, might seem confusing, but it’s like a jigsaw puzzle that slowly comes together. You start noticing these tiny threads and easter eggs, and it’s mind-blowing how it all connects. It’s not just the story itself, but how she weaves it all together. It’s a masterpiece.
I’m officially a fan and can’t wait to read more by Mandel.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Kidnapping, Child death, and Suicide
mishellsch's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
I see how this novel and the miniseries about a deadly flu and the resulting dystopia flew under the radar while we were experiencing our own pandemic.
Now to finish the last few episodes of the miniseries. The miniseries adjusted some of the characters' storylines to help format the plot for the screen. So far, I don't mind the changes.
Now to finish the last few episodes of the miniseries. The miniseries adjusted some of the characters' storylines to help format the plot for the screen. So far, I don't mind the changes.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
Minor: Adult/minor relationship and Rape
jdromsky's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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
4.0
Survival is insufficient. This is the main premise of the book and my main thought when reading apocalypse novels. They typically show what happens in the immediate aftermath, but this addresses what happens YEARS later when the world is sick of just surviving.
Ultimately, we must keep moving forward. We as human being are always moving forward looking for what’s next.
This book perfectly captured that base need.
It’s one of those books you want your English teacher to ask you to write an essay about I think.
Ultimately, we must keep moving forward. We as human being are always moving forward looking for what’s next.
This book perfectly captured that base need.
It’s one of those books you want your English teacher to ask you to write an essay about I think.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Kidnapping, Suicide, and Pandemic/Epidemic
kennystreule's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide
americattt's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
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
4.5
“A deer crossed the road ahead and paused to look at them before it vanished into the trees. The beauty of this world where almost everyone was gone. If hell is other people, what is a world with almost no people in it? Perhaps soon humanity would simply flicker out, but Kirsten found this thought more peaceful than sad. So many species had appeared and later vanished from this earth; what was one more?”
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Suicide, Violence, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Rape
mari_books's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
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? It's complicated
4.75
I made the mistake of/ had the fortune to read this book while on a 24hr travel day in 2023 - just three years after our world was changed totally by the pandemic. I had chills for the whole read while on the plane. It’s incredible to read so much of how I’ve felt about the past few years on a page. It was like historical fiction of our present challenges, though obviously COVID didn’t take our society as close to the edge as in the book. I highly recommend for anyone who wants a poetic, challenging reading of society in decay. Lots of trigger warnings for many dark themes. At the end I was left feeling a deep sense of gratitude for how our world met our pandemic moment despite how deeply flawed, and the miracles of our modern technology. This is not for people who don’t like Shakespeare, this was probably maximum Shakespeare for me.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Religious bigotry, Blood, Kidnapping, Slavery, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, Pregnancy, and War
quinnyquinnquinn's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Death of parent, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Religious bigotry, and Gun violence
Minor: Suicide and Rape
matcha_pages's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"Survival is insufficient."
Station Eleven is different from apocalypse books because it doesn't focus on the collapse & destruction of society. Instead it focuses on the things we need after survival - human connections, the arts, and appreciation for the everyday things we take for granted.
I initially struggled with understanding how the various characters and timelines would eventually converge. But patience paid off as the book progressed and I really enjoyed how everything tied together towards the end. I felt the book was unbalanced at times, for example it'd focus a lot someone's pre-pandemic backstory but post-pandemic they don't play a big role.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Pandemic/Epidemic, and Death
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Suicide and Rape
jakegreyxx's review against another edition
5.0
This book was phenomenal. Absolutely incredible. When I say I was invested from the first page, I really mean it.
This is one of those books with a lot of clever little connections, and things that tie together perfectly (I am a sucker for clever little connections in books). There are interlocking plots and characters, and details you might typically brush over, but prove to be significant later on.
My only issue was with the way the characters were introduced in Part 2. It was a bunch of characters in quick succession, several being referred to as something other than a name, and it was hard to keep up and remember who was who and what voice they should have.
Aside from that, everything felt as though it flowed beautifully. Everything was wrapped up at the end, all of the threads tied together, and no questions were left.
It was the kind of book that I was so invested in, that when I finished it, there was a hole. I was thinking about this book for several days. I’d become so attached to it that I had to remind myself that it was a book. It felt so clear, there were moments I’d been confused and thought it was a show I’d been watching. That is how beautifully written this book was.
This is one of those books with a lot of clever little connections, and things that tie together perfectly (I am a sucker for clever little connections in books). There are interlocking plots and characters, and details you might typically brush over, but prove to be significant later on.
My only issue was with the way the characters were introduced in Part 2. It was a bunch of characters in quick succession, several being referred to as something other than a name, and it was hard to keep up and remember who was who and what voice they should have.
Aside from that, everything felt as though it flowed beautifully. Everything was wrapped up at the end, all of the threads tied together, and no questions were left.
It was the kind of book that I was so invested in, that when I finished it, there was a hole. I was thinking about this book for several days. I’d become so attached to it that I had to remind myself that it was a book. It felt so clear, there were moments I’d been confused and thought it was a show I’d been watching. That is how beautifully written this book was.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Suicide
chilivanilli28's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder and Death
Moderate: Suicide