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tania_1975's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to Netalley for my advanced copy
Set in the future, the population is declining. To combat this people are encouraged to be super healthy. Those lucky enough to do this become lifers and live to be over 100. But there are also the sub 100s, the second class citizens.
The story follows two female characters, Anja a classical violinist whose mother is dying and Lea, a lifer. Two different women with very different lives and how those lives become intertwined.
I didn't think a dystopian/sci-fi/urban-fantasy novel could be beautiful but the writing in this is. It was like an episode of Black Mirror and it definitely leaves you wondering what the future could bring.
Set in the future, the population is declining. To combat this people are encouraged to be super healthy. Those lucky enough to do this become lifers and live to be over 100. But there are also the sub 100s, the second class citizens.
The story follows two female characters, Anja a classical violinist whose mother is dying and Lea, a lifer. Two different women with very different lives and how those lives become intertwined.
I didn't think a dystopian/sci-fi/urban-fantasy novel could be beautiful but the writing in this is. It was like an episode of Black Mirror and it definitely leaves you wondering what the future could bring.
chrissiewithanie's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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? Yes
4.0
hollidayreadswithme's review against another edition
5.0
The premise is more of a backdrop for the internal struggle that Lea is conflicted with. A character study. The immortality is used as something that she sees and has been programmed to believe, even by her mother is the best for everyone, but until she sees her father and remembers all of the things that the immortality has taken away from her, including her loving father, she has to contend with whether or not giving up everything else that life has to offer is really worth extending her existence in that life.
Everyone around her is conspiring to keep this life going, but there is so much that they don’t eat or do in pursuit of this life. They also lose free will. There are bans on everything from music to running, to fruit.
I understand that the Suicide Club itself doesn’t show up until halfway into the book but the videos they produce show up in the first few pages and plant a seed in her mind. It’s imperceptible at first, but Lea finds herself bucking against the system.
Anja as a character in the book was used as a foil for Lea. Anja battles the same uncertainty but she is more entrenched on the other side of the argument. it’s all about perception. That’s another thing that pops up in the book quite a bit.
Now for the things that I loved:
The fact Lea was independent in this book. She was her own person and when she found out that Todd betrayed her trust, she didn’t cry, she just kicked him out.
I really commend Heng on her debut transcending a premise and diving deep into real questions that philosophy poses to us. When it comes down to it, can you really say that it’s better for the greater good when it’s so close to you? Can you really let go of the only person you have left in the world for immortality?
Everyone around her is conspiring to keep this life going, but there is so much that they don’t eat or do in pursuit of this life. They also lose free will. There are bans on everything from music to running, to fruit.
I understand that the Suicide Club itself doesn’t show up until halfway into the book but the videos they produce show up in the first few pages and plant a seed in her mind. It’s imperceptible at first, but Lea finds herself bucking against the system.
Spoiler
Especially when she finds herself in a recovery group for an attempted suicide.Anja as a character in the book was used as a foil for Lea. Anja battles the same uncertainty but she is more entrenched on the other side of the argument.
Spoiler
Lea and Anja find themselves in the WeCovery group and spend time together outside of the group and find that there are more similarities between them than differences. Lea thinks that she shouldn’t be there. In reality, she shouldn’t be butNow for the things that I loved:
Spoiler
The relationship rekindling of Kaito and Lea. It’s not very often that you see in novels, this beautiful relationship between father and daughter. In flashbacks throughout the book, we are given a look into that bond that was broken when he left because of something Lea did.The fact Lea was independent in this book. She was her own person and when she found out that Todd betrayed her trust, she didn’t cry, she just kicked him out.
I really commend Heng on her debut transcending a premise and diving deep into real questions that philosophy poses to us. When it comes down to it, can you really say that it’s better for the greater good when it’s so close to you? Can you really let go of the only person you have left in the world for immortality?
shikwe's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
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
4.5
gen_wolfhailstorm's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- 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
4.0
This was such a thought provoking narrative. Very dystopian in its themes but much more adult and fleshed out than some of the highlights of the genre.
The extents that civilization had gone in the pursuit of perfect health and aspirations of immortality felt more crazed and cult like that the actual suicide club.
Lea displayed some profound character growth with the complexities of decisions she made after delving into the darker depths of humanity and the rights that we're taken away by this enforced toxic positivity and waves of augmenting body parts.
I think this would make a great TV show as it reminded me of something you'd see in Black Mirror or Altered Carbon.
The writing was a little bland at times for me, but there was lots of dialogue and internal monologue that helped break it up and carried the story.
The interactions between Lea and Todd and her colleagues began to scarily seem more and more robotic, the deeper she got into Anja's way of thinking and learning more of life. It was fascinating seeing how life changed slowly though Lea's eyes as she discovered more of the corruption and sinister undertones of the government and the business she worked for.
I'm very pleased that I enjoyed Suicide Club even more than I had anticipated, especially considering it was a spontaneous library pick up.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Grief, Bullying, Child death, Self harm, Classism, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Physical abuse, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, and Suicide
inthebooknook's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you @henryholtbooks for sharing this book with me!
Suicide Club is literary fiction meets sci fi meets social commentary. It is set in a futuristic New York where most people live to 300 years old. (Well, those who can afford it.) Death is a huge taboo and everyone is focused on health and longevity. Eating poorly is looked down upon and everyone eats “nutripacks” (healthy shakes) for maximum nutrition.
While I enjoyed the premise, the story fell flat for me at several points and I connected with most of the supporting characters a lot more than the main character. However, the overarching plot and message kept me reading. This could be interpreted several different ways, but the moral I took away was that our society focuses on status and the appearance of a good life instead of actually living. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
Suicide Club is literary fiction meets sci fi meets social commentary. It is set in a futuristic New York where most people live to 300 years old. (Well, those who can afford it.) Death is a huge taboo and everyone is focused on health and longevity. Eating poorly is looked down upon and everyone eats “nutripacks” (healthy shakes) for maximum nutrition.
While I enjoyed the premise, the story fell flat for me at several points and I connected with most of the supporting characters a lot more than the main character. However, the overarching plot and message kept me reading. This could be interpreted several different ways, but the moral I took away was that our society focuses on status and the appearance of a good life instead of actually living. ⭐️⭐️⭐️💫
rahenus's review against another edition
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
2.5
ettorditaget's review against another edition
3.0
Nej inte en superbra bok men ja den va OK. Gillar idén men den va tbh ganska seg att läsa. Man behövde oxå ha fokus hela tiden när man läste den för att hänga med och inte missa några detaljer. Ångrar inte att jag läste den men skulle inte läsa igen.
lucysmom17's review against another edition
3.0
A good read, although I can’t say it’s earth shattering. I felt like I was reading 1984 rewritten for millennials. Which, isn’t a bad thing. Characters in the book are labeled as “sub-100” or “lifers” depending on their “number,” or how long they are predicted to live. There’s family drama, personal growth, and the omnipresent question of whether our government really knows what’s best. Being that it’s Heng’s first novel, I’m interested to see how she evolves as a writer.