A review by krytykesa
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
mysterious
tense
fast-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
3.0
I am not a big fan of science fiction, but I understand the genre enough to enjoy how this book was written. But not enough to read the remaining parts of the series.
Because I saw the movie and didn't like it, I was subconsciously preparing myself for a similar experience. Fortunately, the adaptation was not identical to the original, even in the atmosphere. And I completely understand why the changes were made in the film - it seems complicated to show the events of the book on the screen normally.
The weakest part of the book for me was the characters. The biologist, on whose behalf the events are narrated, received the tag "unreliable narrator" from me from the first pages. The anthropologist did not exist in the book. On the other hand, the surveyor and the psychologist seemed so interesting that it was very insulting not to be able to look deeper into their thoughts. This is a case where I would like to read PoV chapters more.
But I liked how the main character's relationship with her husband was gradually revealed to us. Somehow, through this series of flashbacks and reflections, I quickly realized what their relationship was like - realistic.
Because I saw the movie and didn't like it, I was subconsciously preparing myself for a similar experience. Fortunately, the adaptation was not identical to the original, even in the atmosphere. And I completely understand why the changes were made in the film - it seems complicated to show the events of the book on the screen normally.
The weakest part of the book for me was the characters. The biologist, on whose behalf the events are narrated, received the tag "unreliable narrator" from me from the first pages. The anthropologist did not exist in the book. On the other hand, the surveyor and the psychologist seemed so interesting that it was very insulting not to be able to look deeper into their thoughts. This is a case where I would like to read PoV chapters more.
But I liked how the main character's relationship with her husband was gradually revealed to us. Somehow, through this series of flashbacks and reflections, I quickly realized what their relationship was like - realistic.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror and Death
Moderate: Gun violence and Violence