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hanlue's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Cannibalism, Death of parent, Child death, and Rape
mackjonezz's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
Huuuuuge bummer of a story. Loved the premise, but prose was tedious and hard to get through.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Violence, War, Sexual assault, Child death, and Rape
Will be very disturbing for sensitive readers.divsies's review against another edition
3.0
Would I have finished reading this book if it weren't for a class? Maybe not. Probably not. That is a biased take though - I've been in a vicious reading slump lately, but I was also not a fan of the writing in the book's latter half. I wasn't interested in the narrative once the highway sections really got going -- the plot felt stagnant and character development virtually stopped.
Regardless, this book asks so many interesting questions about life, humanity, and the near future (or, more realistically, considering it's nearly 2023 already, the present).
I've found that with sci-fi and dystopia, it's often far too easy to mentally check out from the narrative and just imagine that the story takes place in an alternate universe. Authors shy away from using existing scientific, religious, and political terms to better hold up the suspension of disbelief. Butler, however, constantly reminds us that this novel is in a near-future California, and the situation gets exponentially more grave with that realization. I liked that this novel emphasizes the role of humanity and civilization in the downfall of society. Science wasn't the corporate villain behind collapse, it was our way of life. The ignorance of the masses and the casual denial we live in.
Good read to start the academic year with. Hopefully I end up reading the other books assigned to me too lol.
Regardless, this book asks so many interesting questions about life, humanity, and the near future (or, more realistically, considering it's nearly 2023 already, the present).
I've found that with sci-fi and dystopia, it's often far too easy to mentally check out from the narrative and just imagine that the story takes place in an alternate universe. Authors shy away from using existing scientific, religious, and political terms to better hold up the suspension of disbelief. Butler, however, constantly reminds us that this novel is in a near-future California, and the situation gets exponentially more grave with that realization. I liked that this novel emphasizes the role of humanity and civilization in the downfall of society. Science wasn't the corporate villain behind collapse, it was our way of life. The ignorance of the masses and the casual denial we live in.
Good read to start the academic year with. Hopefully I end up reading the other books assigned to me too lol.
katsdaysarebooked's review against another edition
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
rosecontreras's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
medium-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? No
4.5
moore672's review against another edition
adventurous
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
clareluna's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
renee_3011's review against another edition
4.5
a modern classic actually being a good and engaging read worthy of all the praise it's getting? who'd have guessed?
a slow-burn exploration of a world in chaos and the people living in it trying to adapt to impossible circumstances.
the whole 'new religion' part got a little bit too repetitive at times for me and the main character felt a little flat, but besides that this is genuinely an incredible book.
reading this in 2024 was a trip though, because while the future the book predicted isn't one we currently live in, it also doesn't feel too far-fetched and unrealistic, which is truly the scariest part of the book.
a slow-burn exploration of a world in chaos and the people living in it trying to adapt to impossible circumstances.
the whole 'new religion' part got a little bit too repetitive at times for me and the main character felt a little flat, but besides that this is genuinely an incredible book.
reading this in 2024 was a trip though, because while the future the book predicted isn't one we currently live in, it also doesn't feel too far-fetched and unrealistic, which is truly the scariest part of the book.