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caketin16's review against another edition
4.0
I read this at the height of the pandemic…need I say more??? Had I read this at any other time, maybe I would have like it less. But I didn’t, I read it at the perfect time and just enjoyed it immensely.
adeliepenguin's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
This morphed from one type of story to another partway through, and swept me up from the first - from 'stranger in the village' to a tale of City stockbrokers, to a Biblical-like story along the lines of Noah. I've read all of Ironmonger's previous works and this is probably now my favourite.
A naked man is found washed up on the shore of a remote Cornwall village, a surprise visitor who is nursed back to health and made welcome. As well as starting to form relationships within the small community, Joe Haak starts to tell his story - the unbelievable tale of his life as a city analyst, whose own computer has predicted the end of civilisation.
With elements of The Wolf of Wall Street, Contagion and all those Local Hero-styled stories of small town / big city people clashing, this all comes together beautifully for a partly-scary and partly-beautiful story about the small village banding together in a crisis, and Joe a Messiah-like figure leading the way, partially blind, partially knowing.
There are some nicely drawn characters - some villagers you can see on the screen already, from a flirty vicar's wife to the crotchety old doctor, and Joe's story of stockbroker life dovetails nicely into his current world of St Piran.
And not forgetting the whale of course... yes, there's a whale. Who brings in Joe from the sea, who brings the village together, who proves vital to St Piran. Who is key to the story and yet forgotten in the drama. Very well constructed story, I loved it.
This is a tale of doom, but a tale of hope. I really foresaw another Station Eleven, and my heart swelled at the end as I saw Ironmonger's vision for the doomed world.
A truly wonderful story, one that will bring a lump to your throat.
A naked man is found washed up on the shore of a remote Cornwall village, a surprise visitor who is nursed back to health and made welcome. As well as starting to form relationships within the small community, Joe Haak starts to tell his story - the unbelievable tale of his life as a city analyst, whose own computer has predicted the end of civilisation.
With elements of The Wolf of Wall Street, Contagion and all those Local Hero-styled stories of small town / big city people clashing, this all comes together beautifully for a partly-scary and partly-beautiful story about the small village banding together in a crisis, and Joe a Messiah-like figure leading the way, partially blind, partially knowing.
There are some nicely drawn characters - some villagers you can see on the screen already, from a flirty vicar's wife to the crotchety old doctor, and Joe's story of stockbroker life dovetails nicely into his current world of St Piran.
And not forgetting the whale of course... yes, there's a whale. Who brings in Joe from the sea, who brings the village together, who proves vital to St Piran. Who is key to the story and yet forgotten in the drama. Very well constructed story, I loved it.
This is a tale of doom, but a tale of hope. I really foresaw another Station Eleven, and my heart swelled at the end as I saw Ironmonger's vision for the doomed world.
A truly wonderful story, one that will bring a lump to your throat.
alykane6's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
3.5
wonky_noodle's review
hopeful
informative
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? Yes
3.75
lisa_246's review against another edition
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
giadinaa's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
5.0
agemot's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
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? Yes
4.5
Wie Ich finde ein sehr schönes Buch über die Hilfsbereitschaft der Menschen. Wegen des Klappentextes habe ich etwas komplett anderes erwartet, wurde dahingehend aber nicht enttäuscht. Denn es hat mich auf seine Weise berührt und mitgenommen. Sehr lesenswert.
gj377's review against another edition
3.0
Harmless "societal collapse" story. Nice backdrop of a Cornish village, easy read but a bit bland. Reminded me of Tobias Hill's The Cryptographer, which I preferred.