Reviews

The Humans by Matt Haig

ovenbird_reads's review against another edition

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4.0

In the notes at the end of this novel, author Matt Haig informs us that he wrote The Humans while "in the grips of a panic disorder." He informs us that through the pain and irrational terror of his illness he came to see that "breakdown is very often breakthrough" and the reading and writing he did during the years of his panic disorder are what led him to become a novelist. Haig says, "I truly believe in the power of fiction to save lives and minds...words and stories provide maps of sorts, ways of finding your way back to yourself."

It is with a mixture of terror, confusion, worldly beauty, love, music, poetry, and wonder that The Humans unfolds. It was an absolute joy to read. An alien visiting earth is certainly not a new theme, but Matt Haig manages to write a story in which the alien and the human are inextricable. In our irrationality, in our strange behaviour, in our odd rules and laws and conventions, and especially in our tendency towards mental breakdown, we humans are alien to ourselves. Our planet is alien. Our families are alien. We know so very little about ourselves and our world and yet we find a way to live our lives in meaningful ways, clinging to the tiny sparks of light in the darkness. This would be a great book to read aloud. There's a rhythm to it that sounds musical, surely influenced by the musical themes that are sprinkled throughout the novel.

A central question is how humans manage to go about their daily lives without being crippled by the knowledge of their own inevitable deaths. Pain and sorrow are unavoidable during the short years each person spends alive. How do we manage to turn the brevity and anguish of our existence into something more? Haig explores these questions through an alien being experiencing humanity for the first time. Of course we are ALL experiencing humanity for the first time. We are all experiencing our one and only life, our one crack at being a human. We're going to screw up. We're going to misinterpret the rules. We're going to misunderstand our fellow humans and hurt the ones we love the most despite our best intentions. Haig holds up a mirror to our flaws and shows us the beauty at the core.

britchiniquy's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative mysterious reflective fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

mltatela's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

amandamlin's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful 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

noldor's review against another edition

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adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective fast-paced

4.75

katiecline's review against another edition

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reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

simbarabbit20's review against another edition

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dark medium-paced

1.0

epplerjade's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

heyitschessa's review against another edition

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emotional funny reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

sincerelykiwi's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

I find it hard to leave reviews about books I like. I’ve read a couple of Matt Haig’s books and this one isn’t my favorite but I really enjoyed it. I’ve never been a huge fan of science fiction but this was kind of like the reverse of that(?) instead of traveling to far away lands we have an alien traveling and deciding to stay on Earth. Earth is ghetto, but there is some beauty in humanity which I found lovely.