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zaonic's reviews
30 reviews
- 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? Yes
5.0
Emily St. John Mandel knocks this book out of the park. The intricate way she weaves things back and forth throughout this book and then has it end where every single little thing is neatly wrapped up is phenomenal.
I think this book may have changed how I read and write. Her story telling is excellent, her prose is lyrical and often humerous in the realness of it all.
If you're coming from the Mini Series, please put everything you know about the series out of your head.
Graphic: Death, Physical abuse, Kidnapping, Grief, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
- 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
4.25
The story continues five years after the end of the last book, there are "flashbacks" to the years between those five years, but ultimately the story keeps moving.
Where the first book was primarily set in the year Olamina Travelled, this book is EVERYWHERE. Which is not a bad thing, it's just a thing.
This book is ROUGH. We deal with more complex themes in this book than in the last one, it will be infinitely more triggering.
I love it though, how realistic. how dire.
Graphic: Biphobia, Child abuse, Child death, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Incest, Misogyny, Pedophilia, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Suicide, Torture, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder, Pregnancy, Lesbophobia, Fire/Fire injury, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Follow the FMC in a near future/alternate timeline dystopia in which the USA has fallen just a bit further than current affairs.
Written in 1993 Octavia E Butler was prophetic with this book.
This is written in a diary style first person, following the fmc from childhood into her late teens, the trauma of her home community and a great long walk and everything she learns in between.
This book is SPIRITUAL, the FMC was raised by a southern Baptist Paster but has her own ideas on God and religion.
God is Change.
Graphic: Animal death, Child abuse, Child death, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racial slurs, Racism, Rape, Sexism, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Slavery, Violence, Blood, Trafficking, Grief, Cannibalism, Religious bigotry, Death of parent, Murder, Pregnancy, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
This book is written from the perspective of one of the few people left in the world who are able to sleep while the rest of the world descends into madness. Insanity ensues.
The MC is an etymologist, so he does use larger words and is kind of full of himself at the beginning. If flowery text isn't for you, skip it. Or grab a dictionary and get ready for a wild ride.
I think everyone who disliked this book disliked it because of the MC he isn't a hero, he's not someone who saves the day. He's a normal pretentious ass who ends up being one of the people who sleeps. You're not supposed to love him.
For people who do want to love him he does redeem himself a bit.
There is no solid conclusion, the book really does just end. It's magnificent because if you had put yourself into the shoes of the MC you're really going to understand it.
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Torture, Violence, Grief, Murder, and Injury/Injury detail
4.0
The story telling was excellent, I cannot judge a person on how they grieve and breakdown. I can relate to many aspects of this book.
I can't believe I waited so long to read it.
Graphic: Animal death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent
Moderate: Sexual content
Minor: Addiction, Infidelity, Self harm, Blood, Abandonment, and Alcohol
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
It has mystery, it has portal worlds, it has a mansel in distress. I cannot recommend this book highly enough to those who want a good fairytale, that is not a reimagining.
It's got the cutest mm queer romance and a laugh out loud closed door scene to boot. The Narrator style for this book is phenomenal. It's told to you like it really is reading this story to you.
If you listen to the audiobook you'll fall in.
There's not much I can say that won't ruin it for you, but this is just friggin magical. I could not put this down.
Graphic: Child abuse and Homophobia
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This book follows Rosalie 5 months post the events of the last book. Walk beside her as she finally learns about whole new world that was kept hidden from her.
Lisa does an excellent job keeping the twists coming, you will be horrified at several points reading this book. Just like her first book you're barely getting to know the characters before you're thrown into your first loop and tragedy.
Gotta give props to my Lisa because there is real queer representation in this book! But no spoilers on who!
Graphic: Body horror
Moderate: Death, Torture, Violence, Blood, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Sexual assault
Did not finish book. Stopped at 1%.