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diddy_shovel's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
A challenging read, but in a good way, and so well written too. What was so interesting to me was that pretty much all the characters were so flawed, and many were even unlikeable, yet they were so gripping at the same time. The exploration of Bea and Agnes's relationship was particularly well done - obviously, due to the setting, theirs isn't a typically mother-daughter dynamic, but the challenges they faced as Agnes matured felt so similar to what happens within most families. Agnes only wants to be independent but at the same time desires the love of her mother; it is hard to see that this is so often challenged and blocked rather than nurtured by the others. On the other hand, Bea has so many difficult choices to make about her family and it is villified by Agnes who can never understand how selfless and caring her mother is.
I really appreciated Glen's presence: although he wasn't without his flaws, he was a good moral compass and slice of humanity within the story as the rest of the group descended into a primal state. It was also refreshing to have someone to genuinely sympathise with, particularly as I developed almost a hatred for many of the characters (Carl, the Rangers, the Newcomers, and - in many ways - Bea and Agnes). I also loved the exploration of "evolution" and what is/n't natural, particularly with the arrival of the Newcomers and the perceptions they brought. Though the study aimed to cultivate a more natural lifestyle, the extent to which it was managed meant you realised very quickly this was impossible: it was fascinating to see the consequences of this unfold.
There were very few things I that would have made the story better. As is often the case with dystopian novels I read, I often craved more world-building and an exploration of the "bigger picture" of the Wilderness State and the City. Though the ending was rushed, the final events of the book were also rushed and filled with urgency, so it was fitting; however, I did wish for better closure of the story. Overall though, this was such a gripping read and hit so many strong notes for me. While so many stories explore how people change nature, it was so refreshing to explore how nature impacts the human condition and what it means to thrive.
I really appreciated Glen's presence: although he wasn't without his flaws, he was a good moral compass and slice of humanity within the story as the rest of the group descended into a primal state. It was also refreshing to have someone to genuinely sympathise with, particularly as I developed almost a hatred for many of the characters (Carl, the Rangers, the Newcomers, and - in many ways - Bea and Agnes). I also loved the exploration of "evolution" and what is/n't natural, particularly with the arrival of the Newcomers and the perceptions they brought. Though the study aimed to cultivate a more natural lifestyle, the extent to which it was managed meant you realised very quickly this was impossible: it was fascinating to see the consequences of this unfold.
There were very few things I that would have made the story better. As is often the case with dystopian novels I read, I often craved more world-building and an exploration of the "bigger picture" of the Wilderness State and the City. Though the ending was rushed, the final events of the book were also rushed and filled with urgency, so it was fitting; however, I did wish for better closure of the story. Overall though, this was such a gripping read and hit so many strong notes for me. While so many stories explore how people change nature, it was so refreshing to explore how nature impacts the human condition and what it means to thrive.
cmitchell's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
jenage's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
lillibooks's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
savaging's review against another edition
5.0
I never imagined that a novel that feels like it might have been inspired by the TV show Survivor could move me this deeply.
I love how this book explores questions of motherhood and sacrifice. I love how it looks open-eyed at our place in this world as a destructive but also sometimes admirable species. And more than anything I love this book for how it weaves tiny, uneasy, fleeting utopias into the big unbearable dystopia.
Whatever happens to you: maybe you'll find a hole in the gate. Maybe there will be frogs.
This book leaves me without any hope, but still with love and gratitude.
I love how this book explores questions of motherhood and sacrifice. I love how it looks open-eyed at our place in this world as a destructive but also sometimes admirable species. And more than anything I love this book for how it weaves tiny, uneasy, fleeting utopias into the big unbearable dystopia.
Whatever happens to you: maybe you'll find a hole in the gate. Maybe there will be frogs.
This book leaves me without any hope, but still with love and gratitude.
epruta's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
pippling's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.25
This novel felt like an epic adventure. A story set in a not-too-unrealistic future where the world is too full, too polluted, there are no more trees, and wildlife is gone for good - apart from in the last Wilderness. The story is told from two perspectives; a mother who has brought her daughter to The Wilderness in a last ditch attempt to save her life, and her daughter who, after growing up in the Wilderness has a complicated relationship with her mother and her companions, but to whom the Wilderness is home.
The ending was quite bleak and it felt a bit rushed. I felt like there was room for a lot more story there, but I flew through the final chapters and found it exhilarating nonetheless!
The ending was quite bleak and it felt a bit rushed. I felt like there was room for a lot more story there, but I flew through the final chapters and found it exhilarating nonetheless!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Abandonment, Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Medical trauma, and Miscarriage
kinnimomo's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jenhurst's review against another edition
2.0
I honestly just didn’t really get the point of this book.
The cover looks like a women’s fiction book, not a scifi to start with. But it’s barely a scifi? Basically, a mom and daughter leave the city because the pollution is making her daughter sick. They agree to live in the new wilderness and survive off the land as an experiment with 20 other people. They have nurses come and check on them regularly and the people learn survival skills. The concept was very far fetched, the city was spoken of vaguely and I felt like the world building was really lacking. We didn’t get enough explanations and I think it hurt the book a lot. A good scifi is supposed to have things well explained and grounded in science, but this was more vague like it wanted to be magical realism or something. I just don’t know what this book wanted to be.
The cover looks like a women’s fiction book, not a scifi to start with. But it’s barely a scifi? Basically, a mom and daughter leave the city because the pollution is making her daughter sick. They agree to live in the new wilderness and survive off the land as an experiment with 20 other people. They have nurses come and check on them regularly and the people learn survival skills. The concept was very far fetched, the city was spoken of vaguely and I felt like the world building was really lacking. We didn’t get enough explanations and I think it hurt the book a lot. A good scifi is supposed to have things well explained and grounded in science, but this was more vague like it wanted to be magical realism or something. I just don’t know what this book wanted to be.