A review by savvylit
Sleep Donation by Karen Russell
dark
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Sleep Donation is - appropriately - a fever dream of a novella. With her characteristic lush & lyrical prose, Russell describes a world that is so near-real. I have always adored her ability to craft ethereal sentences and stories like no one else. Russell is a true modern master of magical realism if you ask me.
In many ways, the sleep extraction in this dystopia acts as an allegory for our real-world greed for & plunder of natural resources. As Trish wrestles with the ethics of convincing donors to give up their sleep, readers are forced to consider the ethics of their own extractivist lifestyles.
In many ways, the sleep extraction in this dystopia acts as an allegory for our real-world greed for & plunder of natural resources. As Trish wrestles with the ethics of convincing donors to give up their sleep, readers are forced to consider the ethics of their own extractivist lifestyles.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Terminal illness