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vjov's review against another edition
4.5
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
billyjepma's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
"First we only want to be seen, but once we're seen, that's not enough anymore. After that, we want to be remembered."
Emily St. John Mandel taps into something sublime with Station Eleven, something that manages to speak to a particular moment in time while also capturing something universally timeless about living. The narrative and its characters may not have always resonated with me, but Mandel's beautiful writing and thematics quickly and repeatedly struck a nerve with me.
I usually latch onto the characters in a story, so while I liked the casts Mandel shifts between, I never felt as invested in them as I wanted. For example, I kept waiting for the story to peel back layers on specific characters or ideologies in the "present-day" sections, but those insights never really came. After all of the rich character development and exploration of the "flashback" stories—which, while familiar, are written with aching honesty and vulnerability—the present-day sections felt somewhat lacking.
That's not what's going to stick with me, though. The stories of lonely people discovering and fighting for their found families, the enduring hope they create together, the capacity for art and conviction to be what saves our souls in the end—that's what I'll remember about Station Eleven. I don't think the book even says anything profoundly original, but the unique angles it uses to approach those familiar ideas and genres make them feel new. Or, if not new, then timely and maybe even necessary.
Graphic: Medical trauma, Grief, and Medical content
Moderate: Violence, Adult/minor relationship, and Death
Minor: Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Death of parent, Torture, Suicide, Abandonment, Child death, and Vomit
beaucoupmich's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
I'll rip the bandage: this is just plain boring. I'm so, so sorry. Especially the first half. It was painfully slow, much less with the past and present narratives, and I couldn't care less about some of the characters. Some major reveals were predictable from the start, and I honestly see no point of telling some of the characters' lives after. Thank god the book isn't too long.
I read some of the reviews here and I'm glad many people love it, and totally get why. I just wish I had the same joy.
Moderate: Blood and Adult/minor relationship
lemonflower's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Graphic: Death and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Medical trauma, Murder, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Gore, Abandonment, Alcohol, Animal death, Child death, Fire/Fire injury, Pregnancy, Rape, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Chronic illness, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
savvylit's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Despite the very bleak nature of this novel's events, Station Eleven is ultimately a beautiful and hopeful book. It's a novel about chosen families, human resilience, and the power of art.
Station Eleven is such an unforgettable and unique addition to the dystopian genre. I loved Mandel's writing and cannot wait to read more of her work.
Graphic: Medical content, Violence, Murder, Gun violence, Grief, and Death
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
emhunsber's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
Graphic: Blood, Murder, Death, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, and Violence
Minor: Pedophilia, Medical content, Kidnapping, Sexual assault, Rape, Pregnancy, Drug use, Infidelity, Confinement, Adult/minor relationship, Gun violence, Death of parent, Child death, and Alcohol
mondovertigo's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Medical trauma
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Kidnapping, Infidelity, Child death, Animal death, Violence, Suicide, Stalking, Rape, Pedophilia, and Murder
Minor: Gun violence
krys_kilz's review against another edition
- 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? It's complicated
4.0
I wish the comic Station Eleven featured in the book was real. The way St. John Mandel describes it is absolutely haunting and I wish I could see the gorgeous artwork.
The biggest miss for me with this book was the idealization of civilization and the pre-apocalyptic world. I understand that life became much more difficult after collapse, but it felt like life before was largely viewed through rose tinted glasses. There is no mention of the sheer violence of the pre-collapse world under systems of domination and oppression. This along with the brief passages about not being able to call the police for assistance and calling the chaos of collapse anarchy. And the overwhelming desire to return to the way things were before - like an electrical grid being a beacon of hope and progress. This is why dystopian fiction without strong social/political critique really misses the mark for me.
The ending also felt deeply unsatisfying - it was rushed, starkly optimistic, and glaringly revealed how flat The Prophet's character was. I wish the reader got to see more of what transformed Tyler into The Prophet and what inspired people to follow him rather than using him as an oversimplified villain trope. I still enjoyed the book and would recommend it, but I wish it was pushed further than it was.
Graphic: Grief, Death, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Rape and Adult/minor relationship
angieleal15's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Death and Kidnapping
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, and Mental illness
Minor: Suicide, Adult/minor relationship, and Rape
grimviolins's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Suicide, Terminal illness, Religious bigotry, Pedophilia, Murder, Gun violence, Grief, Death of parent, Death, Child death, and Adult/minor relationship
Moderate: Violence, Pregnancy, Injury/Injury detail, and Kidnapping
Minor: Rape and Panic attacks/disorders