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kanika_reads's review against another edition
I will come back to it later. Not in the right frame of mind
lillycano's review against another edition
3.0
Read this after it was put on the New York Times 5 best fiction reads of 2020. Definitely not my favorite book, but I get the underlying message. It’s a book that’s asking us to think about our impending doom in relation to global warming if we don’t change anything. Right now in life I just don’t want to go there and think too deeply about the message, isn’t a pandemic enough
sarahjulianna's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
tense
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? No
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Drug abuse, Drug use, Violence, Death of parent, Alcohol, Death, Fire/Fire injury, Torture, and Addiction
Moderate: Animal death, Blood, and Animal cruelty
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Sexism, Vomit, Infidelity, Abandonment, Gun violence, Homophobia, Mental illness, and Pregnancy
ptarmigan_cirque's review against another edition
What a wild ride. Highly recommend!
shaunie991's review against another edition
4.0
4 stars:
I honestly think this would make a great movie. Someone make this happen!
I honestly think this would make a great movie. Someone make this happen!
maijavalimaki's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
tarrowood's review against another edition
3.0
A nice little read. I was disappointed by the lack of realistic action in the book. The children protagonists acted in such odd ways; however, I felt bolstered by one of them in particular: Jack. His young mind and attempt to solve his newfound Children’s Bible, deciphering God and the trinity as manifestations of nature and science were deeply intriguing. But the focus often devolved from Jack, and that was too bad
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Digital audiobook performed by Xe Sands
3.5*** ROUNDED UP
From the book jacket: Millet’s new novel follows a group of twelve eerily mature children on a forced vacation with their families at a sprawling lakeside mansion. Contemptuous of their parents… the children feel neglected and suffocated at the same time. When a destructive storm descends on the summer estate, the group’s ringleaders – including Eve, who narrates the story – decide to run away, leading the younger ones on a dangerous foray into the apocalyptic chaos outside.
My reactions:
I’m not a great fan of post-apocalyptic stories but this one grabbed me. Evie’s narration is often times emotionless, almost a “just the facts, M’am” recitation. But nevertheless, the tension builds, as the children fend for themselves in a world devastated by a major hurricane and plagued by lawlessness.
Evie struggles to take care of her little brother, Jack, who has a children’s illustrated bible that he reads obsessively. He tries to interpret what they are living through in the context of the bible stories he’s read. And the scenes where he talks about these things give the entire book the feel of a morality play.
I think it would be a good candidate for a book group discussion, with the symbolism, allegory, and inherent warnings about global warming and consumer excess.
Xe Sands does a fine job narrating the audiobook. There are a lot of characters, but I was seldom confused about who was speaking or what was happening. The fact that Evie is narrator probably helped.
3.5*** ROUNDED UP
From the book jacket: Millet’s new novel follows a group of twelve eerily mature children on a forced vacation with their families at a sprawling lakeside mansion. Contemptuous of their parents… the children feel neglected and suffocated at the same time. When a destructive storm descends on the summer estate, the group’s ringleaders – including Eve, who narrates the story – decide to run away, leading the younger ones on a dangerous foray into the apocalyptic chaos outside.
My reactions:
I’m not a great fan of post-apocalyptic stories but this one grabbed me. Evie’s narration is often times emotionless, almost a “just the facts, M’am” recitation. But nevertheless, the tension builds, as the children fend for themselves in a world devastated by a major hurricane and plagued by lawlessness.
Evie struggles to take care of her little brother, Jack, who has a children’s illustrated bible that he reads obsessively. He tries to interpret what they are living through in the context of the bible stories he’s read. And the scenes where he talks about these things give the entire book the feel of a morality play.
I think it would be a good candidate for a book group discussion, with the symbolism, allegory, and inherent warnings about global warming and consumer excess.
Xe Sands does a fine job narrating the audiobook. There are a lot of characters, but I was seldom confused about who was speaking or what was happening. The fact that Evie is narrator probably helped.
tarbou's review against another edition
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0