Reviews tagging 'Death'

The Wall by John Lanchester

8 reviews

librarymouse's review

reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

The voice of the narrator, the militarism, and the pacing of the novel really reminded me of All Quiet on the Western Front. It's slow paced, but also a quick and enjoyable read, spending quite a lot of time in the narrator's head. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Blood, Death, Kidnapping, Confinement, Fire/Fire injury, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol

Minor: Medical content and Slavery

Slavery tagged because of "the help," as a subaltern class that is essentially enslaved.

zoereads's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Death, and Deportation

Moderate: Xenophobia, Panic attacks/disorders, Confinement, Violence, Slavery, Gun violence, Classism, and Racism

Minor: Vomit, Kidnapping, Pregnancy, Alcoholism, Sexual assault, Alcohol, Rape, Sexual content, and War

samdalefox's review against another edition

adventurous dark 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? No

3.25

A realistic climate-crisis dystopian novel, a perfect snapshot of t me hisery of where Britain is heading. It focuses of Joseph Kavanagh, a native British citizen and his experiences after 'The Change' in serving as a defender on the wall. We do not get to hear from 'The Others' point of view (climate refugees), and even when Kavanagh

does become an other, this of course is experienced differently to 'others' from different backgrounds, see the review excerpt below for analyses.

There were some important themes covered that felt all to believable in the present day (2023):

• “It’s guilt: mass guilt, generational guilt. The olds feel they irretrievably fucked up the world, then allowed us to be born in it. You know what? It’s true. That’s exactly what they did. They know it, we know it. Everybody knows it” 
• Classism - The elites, the generational and class differences i.e. who becomes a 'defender', the others, the help (forced labour) etc.
• Acknowledgement that so much about survival as a refugee is about luck.
• Changing allegiances/solidarity to different groups you are part of and feeling of betrayal - from your family, your coutnrymen, your colleagues. All explored in a nuanced way.
• Military mindset (my sister is currently in the British Army, the culture described in the book is spot on, and frankly, depressing.)

The most interesting character for me was the captain and I had quite a few questions about the world after the change. For example,

it seemed harsh and a short sighted decision for Britain to be putting 'their own' to sea when they're short in population and the wall and breeding is unpopular. Also, how are they sustaining 'the help'?

. However, the story is charater focused, not world building, so I won't downmark my rating based on that. I think this is an important persective that may get more Brits on board with the averting the worst of climate change since they could realistically be in the same position as Kavanagh. Overall, good addition to the genre, bleak, not difficult to read but also not enthralling to read, and I didn't care much for the last quarter of the book. I think the whole section

The Sea

could have been stronger. 

Review from another member who has a different emphasis, but I also agree with: 

"It's a character driven story, so there isn't a huge amount of world building beyond life on the wall, but that is described in bone-chilling detail. A rare visit home highlights the gulf between Joseph's generation and that of his parents - they had it all and their children are paying the price.

It lacked the bite and viscerality of human suffering that would make a compelling story. The deaths are quick, almost bloodless, and the main characters face none of the privitation of a world wracked by drought and famine (apart from at the very end). They live in a controlled world surrounded by giant sea walls that they must serve two years of duty defending. Despite the suggestion of an elite upper class living in luxury as something the main character aspired to, he essentially was living a well provided for life with plentiful food, shelter and friends. The wall amounted to a period of military service.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Xenophobia, Classism, Injury/Injury detail, Death, and Violence

mgcalder's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional hopeful mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

Such an interesting book. Whilst it's starts out at a reasonably slow pace there are just enough little hooks to keep drawing you in deeper and deeper. And whilst the pace picks up dramatically towards the finish it still feels very calm to read. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Confinement, Deportation, Gun violence, and Death

Moderate: War, Kidnapping, and Slavery

ellawakley's review against another edition

adventurous dark reflective medium-paced

• 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? It's complicated

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death and Gun violence

amberinbookland's review against another edition

medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gun violence, Violence, Death, and Murder

Moderate: Sexual assault and Sexual violence

loonylovegood's review against another edition

dark reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? N/A
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.25

The idea of this book as a post-climate change dystopia is great and important but it lacks in its execution. The story is missing depth, concerning both the plot and the characters. Themes and characters should have been explored instead of ditching them right away. Unnecessary details are explained whereas important questions remain unanswered.

The government desperately tries to convince people to 'breed' when there are 'others' out there that would do anything to be able to live in what is left of the UK. Isn't that a solution to the problem? One that would make the entire storyline completely unnecessary. And why are the failed defenders put to sea instead of simply being killed?

All in all, not a great dystopia. Go and read one of the other great ones out there instead!

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Gun violence, and Murder

Moderate: Alcohol, Blood, Racism, Slavery, and Xenophobia

holomew151's review against another edition

adventurous reflective slow-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? No

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Death, and Xenophobia