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richardleis's review against another edition
5.0
The Wonder That Was Ours by Alice Hatcher is a deeply moving novel that makes smart use of its narrator—the collective "we" of cockroaches—to explore the legacy of colonization. Hatcher's collective cockroach narrator is funny and astute, and finds the disturbing and heartbreaking parallels between our species, while pointing out the ways humans might be far worse.
I'm particularly impressed with how Hatcher constructs her narrative, from the interludes between chapters to the way the plot builds momentum through its inevitable climax. The characters are a diverse group of people, but more than their diversity I was struck by their complexity, revealed through their thoughts (the cockroaches with their antennae are perceptive that way) that often contradict their words and actions.
Rich in history, philosophy, and criticism, urgent in pace, timeliness, and character, The Wonder That Was Ours is a must-read debut by a brilliant writer.
I'm particularly impressed with how Hatcher constructs her narrative, from the interludes between chapters to the way the plot builds momentum through its inevitable climax. The characters are a diverse group of people, but more than their diversity I was struck by their complexity, revealed through their thoughts (the cockroaches with their antennae are perceptive that way) that often contradict their words and actions.
Rich in history, philosophy, and criticism, urgent in pace, timeliness, and character, The Wonder That Was Ours is a must-read debut by a brilliant writer.
chimera999's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
abbynlewis's review against another edition
5.0
This book is a thought-provoking meditation on the human psyche and how we behave in times of crisis, told from the collective (and often seeming omnipotent) point of view of the world's cockroaches.
jenndian's review against another edition
5.0
Thought-provoking and interesting book! Love that most of it was written from the collective mind of cockroaches, so it was written with “us” and “we.”
1of3bookgirls's review against another edition
5.0
The publisher sent me a copy of this book after I read the description was intrigued. I am often attracted to stories that involve humor and when discovering a connection between human and cockroach was a central part of this one, I expected to laugh. What I did not expect was the depth of the characters and the sheer intelligence and poetry of the author's philosophical musings! I found myself wanting to underline passages and remember page numbers so that I could return and read them again. The story about an outbreak on a cruise ship was only secondary. There definitely was humor, the cockroaches were brilliant! I don't think I have ever read something so unique and wonderful. I loved this book!
berryzkobold's review
4.0
A sad and lovely book about a lot of big concepts that I probably don't spend enough time genuinely reflecting on. The story has a lot to say about capitalism, colonialism, existential angst, and the maintenance of human (and cockroach!) dignity in the face of suffering related to them.
I loved the complex characters, and I loved that I often had no idea where the story was going next. I really loved the central conceits - of a Greek chorus of sentient cockroaches and of the potential political implications of an even-worse poop cruise.
I loved the complex characters, and I loved that I often had no idea where the story was going next. I really loved the central conceits - of a Greek chorus of sentient cockroaches and of the potential political implications of an even-worse poop cruise.
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