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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
gladiolus17's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Spooky. I highly recommend knowing nothing going on.
Once you see the biblical references you can’t unsee them. The angels coming in for the baby’s birth in the barn (manger). The flood. The ark. The promised land. The owner (God?). I highly enjoyed this weird and prophetic book.
Once you see the biblical references you can’t unsee them. The angels coming in for the baby’s birth in the barn (manger). The flood. The ark. The promised land. The owner (God?). I highly enjoyed this weird and prophetic book.
vanessa10readsbooks's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
ktaylorhurley's review against another edition
3.0
I now believe books about the apocalypse should come with disclaimers. I know some people enjoy content like this in the midst of a global pandemic—like all the people who watched Soderbergh’s contagion when COVID first hit. I’m just not one of them. When it’s well done, as this book mostly is, it’s truly scary to read.
This is my second book IN A ROW about the end of the world. Both were beautifully written. This one manages humor and humanity, and even some hope, amidst some pretty grim plot devices. I’m dropping a couple stars because the author drops in some casual racism and homophobia that do not in any way serve the plot. She also has our protagonists delivered from an incredibly tense and frightening situation without any explanation or resolution. It’s just kind of miraculous. Maybe it’s a biblical reference. I do think I would have benefited from at least a passing understanding of the Bible. Either way, I can’t say I enjoyed this book, but that’s really only because the way it describes the end of the world is so effective that I found it stressful.
This is my second book IN A ROW about the end of the world. Both were beautifully written. This one manages humor and humanity, and even some hope, amidst some pretty grim plot devices. I’m dropping a couple stars because the author drops in some casual racism and homophobia that do not in any way serve the plot. She also has our protagonists delivered from an incredibly tense and frightening situation without any explanation or resolution. It’s just kind of miraculous. Maybe it’s a biblical reference. I do think I would have benefited from at least a passing understanding of the Bible. Either way, I can’t say I enjoyed this book, but that’s really only because the way it describes the end of the world is so effective that I found it stressful.
kelseyannw3's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
lngerst's review against another edition
dark
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
ohclaire's review against another edition
4.0
Healing to both my childhood swiss family robinson obsession & the pandemic!