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lottiegasp's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Moderate: Death
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Gun violence
This story revolves around a pandemic that kills 99% of humans and ends civilization, so not for people wanting to escape thoughts of covid!maddiebusick'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? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Blood, Child death, Chronic illness, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Murder, Pedophilia, Suicide, and Violence
Minor: Rape and Sexual content
beccaand'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
4.5
Graphic: Death, Violence, Grief, Terminal illness, and Gun violence
Minor: Rape and Adult/minor relationship
dopamine's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
5.0
Graphic: Murder, Death, Violence, Gun violence, Suicide attempt, and Infidelity
Moderate: Child death, Injury/Injury detail, and Medical content
Minor: Sexual assault and Adult/minor relationship
alexeireads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
i almost gave up on this book last year because i couldnt handle reading a book about a pandemic while i was living through one, but i finally picked it up again a week or two ago and im so fucking glad i did. instead of painfully reminding me that im currently living in a world ravaged by a pandemic, this book made me fall in love with the world; with humanity, with the compassion and serendipity and continuous need to *live* that exists in all of us—“because survival is insufficient.” what a beautiful, beautiful book.
Moderate: Child death, Death, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Murder, Terminal illness, Violence, and Death of parent
Minor: Alcohol, Animal death, Chronic illness, Drug use, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Adult/minor relationship, and Sexual violence
BIG content warning for pandemic. If you have been having a hard time dealing with grief or other mental health issues related to the COVID pandemic, be careful with this book. In my opinion, it actually helped me cope with the past several months because the last third of the book becomes more focused on hope and human survival and is actually very uplifting. But there are definitely some sections that made me close the book and go "nope. can't read about this, way too real." It was worth it, though.ehutton322's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Murder, Suicide, and Violence
Moderate: Gun violence, Kidnapping, Medical trauma, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry
aseel_reads's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
but this was a good read. I really enjoyed the writing and the different character stories and how they intersected with each other
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Animal death, Blood, Death, Gun violence, Kidnapping, Murder, Rape, and Violence
aeoliver'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
5.0
Moderate: Religious bigotry
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
hales230'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
5.0
Reading this book right before and right after (at least the worst of) a pandemic is truly an odd experience. I remember on my first read thinking how dystopian and unrealistic a pandemic that decimates the world and changes life as we know it felt. Obviously we haven't experienced quite as fast-spreading and deadly of a pandemic as St. John Mendel created, but it was still quite jarring to read the second time around, since it hit a lot closer to home than it ever could in 2019.
One of the lines from the very beginning really struck me this time, because I think we all had that moment, not just in general but for this very type of scenario - "Jeevan was crushed by a sudden certainty that this was it, that this illness Hua was describing was going to be the divide between a before and an after, a line drawn through his life." It's impossible to read this book now without thinking of what we've lived through, but I'll try to disconnect for a moment to discuss my thoughts on the book itself.
I find it really difficult to put into words the way St. John Mendel's writing makes me feel. She just writes so beautifully, and so adeptly. Her prose is so unique and it really, truly leaves a mark in the most beautiful, aching way. And her ability to craft a story is amazing, the way her wide cast of characters' lives intertwine and connect and affect each other's. I don't want to give anything away, but it's clear she put so much work into the vision of her entire story, and everything has its purpose. Even with such a wide array of characters - I'd argue that there's about 5 main characters (we read from Kirsten, Jeevan, Miranda, Arthur, and Clark's perspectives - forgive me if I missed someone) and each of them are really well-developed and different and interesting, not to mention the variety of other secondary characters. I think she's one of those writers that just like, deeply understands the human condition and how to articulate it in a really beautiful, relatable way, and that is a true talent. I genuinely can't speak highly enough of Emily St. John Mendel.
The structure of this story is also really well-done. The nonlinear timeline is so effective, and it really helps to put into perspective what people lost, and how they've dealt with it. The switching POVs also keeps you so hooked in an almost frustrating way, because you'll leave one character dangling in a precarious situation and then jump back 20 years, but I didn't even mind it because I don't think there was one POV that I didn't like reading - I would say I prefer Kirsten, but I really did find each of our narrators interesting. I also liked her use of Shakespeare throughout, and the connection the Symphony draws between Shakespeare's life, living through a plague and creating beautiful art, and their lives - it's a really well-used literary tool.
I just... I can't speak highly enough of this book and this author. It's definitely a harder read nowadays than pre-COVID, that line drawn through our lives, but truly so worthwhile. I'll read anything Emily writes!
Graphic: Death, Grief, and Violence
Moderate: Murder and Gun violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide, and Rape
pastelkerstin's review against another edition
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Child death, Cursing, Death, Emotional abuse, Grief, Gun violence, Infidelity, Medical content, Mental illness, Murder, Suicide, Violence, and Confinement
Moderate: Addiction, Adult/minor relationship, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Death of parent, Gore, Kidnapping, Misogyny, Pedophilia, and Religious bigotry
Minor: Cancer, Chronic illness, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Excrement, Panic attacks/disorders, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, and Terminal illness