Reviews with content warning for Forced institutionalization - Sea of Tranquility

this novel did so much work in such a short time, i'm not sure where to begin reviewing it. with that said however, if you have any trouble with properly understanding or staying grounded in reality (paranoia, or psychosis for example), and perceived threats to your idea of reality are destabilizing to your person, do not read this book. it delves heavily into time travel, the concept of reality, circular timelines, what makes something real and what doesn't, (then as a follow up, what that means) in ways that can be triggering to anyone sensitive to that.

this could technically be considered a pandemic novel, though i find the description somewhat inaccurate, because it is too limiting. it opens with multiple perspectives across time, ones that are ostensibly disparate, leaving their only thread that ties them together is a shared unexplainable experience. that single moment serves as the jumping off point for themes of death, loneliness, reality, life, and compassion. ESJM expertly weaved this plotlines together in a way that read as natural and effortless. ESJM has a way with words that sacrifices neither poetics nor clarity and emotion. I appreciated her insights and even authorial stand in (in the form of olive) because they always felt precise and free of the contriteness that often occurs with self-inserts.

and on a personal level i adored the settings, and the time she took in showcasing how it would impact the individual character's outlooks, while establishing a strong and immersive atmosphere, especially in the time travel scenes, and chapters set in the moon colonies.

i find it difficult to truly discuss this book without spoilers so i'll close with this: the novel paints a picture that is perhaps more ominous than what truly occurs. i don't know if i could call it a happy ending, (or what that even means) but it is definitely a hopeful one, or at least content. it gives no answers and full closure; i truly cannot imagine the book ending in any other manner.

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massivepizzacrust's review against another edition

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emotional reflective tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes

4.25

This is just the kind of weird (but not to the point where I don't understand what's happening) book I love. And Emily St. John Mandel really knows how to write them. I think I might be cured of my book slump because for the first time in a month I actively wanted to get off work as fast as possible so I could finish reading. It's a book that'll sit in the bottom of my chest and I'm happy about it.

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colie923's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective fast-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? No

4.25

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gjkennedy's review against another edition

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hopeful mysterious reflective fast-paced

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

4.25

First off, just because I couldnt find the appropriate warning, if you struggle with things that question the nature or legitimacy of reality (anything that would be tw with something like “unreality”) do NOT read this!! seriously I don’t have huge problems with that and it still made me feel weird. its definitely not safe for people for whom that would trigger delusions or anxiety or other distress.

Beyond that, it was a really good book. The answer became satisfying at the very last second, and for me every reveal was both perfectly reasonable but still surprising, though I suspect if you read slower and take more time to think you may be able to guess yourself. However, I dont see good foreshadowing as a downside, just a note. Not a five star because while it was perfectly pleasant and well written, it didn’t really evoke a really strong feeling for me. I enjoyed the characters and there were good moments of sympathy, but I never felt close enough to them to touch what they were feeling myself. But again, that may just be me. I would 100% recommend this book for a quick read for someone looking for an upside to the life theyre living.

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starrysteph's review against another edition

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mysterious reflective slow-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.25

I'm a little torn on this one. I enjoy stories about time travel – and I enjoy stories about time travel with lyrical, dream-like writing and complex questions. But some of the actual content fell flat.

We cross huge spans of time in this novel, but the writing style stays the same. I wanted more differentiation between the voices of characters in 1912 and 2020 and far into the future. I also felt that there was a lack of creativity or perhaps "realism" when we go far into the future. Why are things EXACTLY the same as they are in 2020? Yes, people live on the moon, but there isn't any nuance here.

I also felt some frustration at the recklessness and thoughtlessness of Gaspery's decisions. It's hard to explain without spoilers, but the choices he made and the shifting of timelines felt too simplistic and didn't make sense. And in general, I didn't find myself making deep emotional connections to any of the characters. (And there was some content around Olive as a writer of pandemic stories that felt like a clear self-insert and was a little silly.)

Overall, I enjoyed the concept. I enjoyed the weaving together of the stories (though it became a little cliche by the end). I enjoyed the writing style. But once I zoomed in and thought a bit more critically about the material, I found myself disappointed.

CW: chronic illness, confinement, death, colonisation, murder, gun violence, suicide, war, alcohol, pandemic, sexism

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