jiffy145's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
this is technically my second engagement with this book, but i think experiencing it again through audio format was beneficial to my experience. i was excited to log notes in the reading journal as i listened, and having it read to me allowed me to absorb details i missed on my first read with a print book.
all in all, i think it's a great book and an interesting premise. it's a sort of midway point between pre and post-apocalypse; there is still an outside world, untouched by area x, but the existential reality of the amount of destruction and rebirth within area x is well explored.
it doesn't give away all the secrets of the setting, barely answers any questions it poses, but instead of feeling frustrating, it's tantalizing. i can only imagine what it must have felt like to read this when it was published and having to wait for the sequels.
i'm excited to continue on with the rest of the southern reach trilogy, and if will permits, the rest of vandermeer's body of work. i can feel something great brewing here, and can't wait to taste it.
all in all, i think it's a great book and an interesting premise. it's a sort of midway point between pre and post-apocalypse; there is still an outside world, untouched by area x, but the existential reality of the amount of destruction and rebirth within area x is well explored.
it doesn't give away all the secrets of the setting, barely answers any questions it poses, but instead of feeling frustrating, it's tantalizing. i can only imagine what it must have felt like to read this when it was published and having to wait for the sequels.
i'm excited to continue on with the rest of the southern reach trilogy, and if will permits, the rest of vandermeer's body of work. i can feel something great brewing here, and can't wait to taste it.
keviv94's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-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? It's complicated
3.5
Mysterious, creepy, atmospheric, ambiguous
fertilepress's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
aaniere's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
yellowcrows's review
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
vonnemiste's review
5.0
I feel that it is nearly impossible to talk about this book without spoiling the truly chilling, mesmerizing experience of reading it, so all I will say is that Annihilation is a stunning piece of speculative fiction, the interweaving of a thoughtful, well-crafted narrative, a political work highly concerned with the interplay between people and the environment, and an existential examination of the nature of knowledge and memory. Highly recommended.
turtleintherain's review
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
bibliolucinda's review against another edition
4.0
“The effect of this cannot be understood without being there. The beauty of it cannot be understood, either, and when you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you.”
julietti's review
4.0
Honestly this was such a weird book, and yet I loved it so much. I don't think I could explain this book no matter how I tried, and I understand how some people could hate it. It's definitely an unique kinda story. I also had a love-hate relationship with the main character. Like there were some scenes were I felt it was extremely obvious a man had written her, but I could overlook that since overall she was an extremely fascinating character and reading her thoughts and seeing everything from her POV was interesting. I have already started the second book, and I can't wait to finish it and see what happens next
4/5 stars
4/5 stars