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celiapowell's review against another edition
4.0
I really enjoyed this Australian dystopian novel, which has a grimly realistic "after the climate crisis/pandemic" feel, despite the cause of the crisis being... almost annoyingly opaque. You have to kind of just accept it and run with it, as if you get bogged down in the "what?! why?" questions you'll spoil your enjoyment of the book. Anyway, that aside - this is a hugely tense and thrilling read, and Rachel grimly overcoming her anxiety in order to help Hannah and her baby is done so beautiful. It's not just the one decision, but a difficult one she has to keep making. Great Australian setting - I loved the visual picture of Rachel's isolated little homestead.
londonspredestrian's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
ethsteele's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
fast-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.5
Lots of potential here that I feel may not have been met
kat7890erina's review against another edition
4.0
Whilst the Bird Box analogy is apt, Simpson has ensured her story is uniquely Australian; for the first half anyway.
This mid-apocalyptic thriller begins as a slow burn, with beautiful descriptions of the bushland and artful flashbacks to develop Ray as a flawed character who you want to see grow and win. However, the plot paces itself in parallel to population proximity and once we reached the big city I found myself in a headlong flight into the more fantastical and - for me - predictable.
Still, the timely and heartfelt exploration of the bushfires, as well as the focus on women supporting women, made this a good read.
This mid-apocalyptic thriller begins as a slow burn, with beautiful descriptions of the bushland and artful flashbacks to develop Ray as a flawed character who you want to see grow and win. However, the plot paces itself in parallel to population proximity and once we reached the big city I found myself in a headlong flight into the more fantastical and - for me - predictable.
Still, the timely and heartfelt exploration of the bushfires, as well as the focus on women supporting women, made this a good read.
pilebythebed's review against another edition
3.0
The rush to write apocalyptic narratives does not seem to be slowing. Inga Simpson channels her experiences in the recent Australian bushfires and a dash of pandemic and wraps them up into something worse in her latest book The Last Woman in the World. Just the title is enough of a tip off that things are not going to go well for humanity as a whole.
Rachel lives on her own on a bend in the river outside a coastal town in southern New South Wales. She only ever has one visitor who brings her supplies. From time to time Rachel will hike up to her sister’s town in the mountains but she otherwise lives a solitary existence, blowing glass for sale and living on the proceeds. This life is smashed apart when a young woman with a baby knocks on her door. They have come by the river, escaping the local town where everyone else has been killed by a mysterious force that has apparently spread around the globe. The baby, Isiah, is sick and Hannah, his mother, is scared to go back into town. With the baby’s conditioning worsening Rachel overcomes her reluctance to help and the two set off up the river to find Rachel’s sister, beginning a roadtrip odyssey.
As with many narratives of this type, the trip takes them deeper into the realm of ‘civilisation’ – from Rachel’s house up to the small (and real) town of Nimmitabel and then on to a desolate but at least more populated Canberra. At every stop, the post-apocalyptic tropes abound – from necessary looting, to self-surgery, to a conflict between an armed militia and the remnants of the military each trying to take control of society. And around all this the hope of a potential “cure” or at least protective MacGuffin, coincidentally developed by Rachel’s sister. And in the middle of it all is Rachel, learning to become more “human” through her growing relationship with both Hannah and Isiah.
There have been plenty of literary apocalypses, but The Last Woman in the World is possible one of the most vague of recent times. Antecedents for the approach that this book takes can clearly be found in Bird Box or The Quiet Place but also properties like The Walking Dead or Y: The Last Man. The threat in The Last Woman in the World literally never comes into focus – it is always a vague shadowy outline that at some point “gets stronger” and therefore more visible – and that feeds on fear. The theory that is put forward for Hannah’s survival is that new mothers are more immune due to higher levels of oxytocin in their systems but nothing solid is every really learnt about this threat or why any of the other people that they encounter have survived. Despite this, the main characters are constantly developing theories about them (always italicised) which readers are supposed to take on trust. And eventually, rogue human survivors with guns emerge as just as big a threat.
The lasting physical and psychological impacts of the 2019 Australian east coast bushfires are never far from the surface of this narrative. Rachel is constantly reflecting on her experiences during and in in the aftermath of that event. And probably the tensest part of the book is when Rachel and Hannah are faced with and have to deal with an actual bushfire. Simpson manages make this threat and the fears that it engenders much more visceral than the shadowy, agenda-less, fear creatures that she has actually driving this narrative.
Besides those already mentioned, the market is saturated with end times narratives in which a handful of survivors try to comprehend and live with a depopulated world. And Inga Simpson brings an Australian version of that idea to life. But that while the impetus for writing this book is obvious, a reaction to the 2019 Australian bushfires which to many felt like an actual apocalyptic event, the resort to post-apocalyptic tropes lets the message down. For those who have not encountered much end of the world media (which is pretty difficult at this point) this all may feel like a revelation. But if you have to choose an apocalyptic narrative, this is not the best place to start.
Rachel lives on her own on a bend in the river outside a coastal town in southern New South Wales. She only ever has one visitor who brings her supplies. From time to time Rachel will hike up to her sister’s town in the mountains but she otherwise lives a solitary existence, blowing glass for sale and living on the proceeds. This life is smashed apart when a young woman with a baby knocks on her door. They have come by the river, escaping the local town where everyone else has been killed by a mysterious force that has apparently spread around the globe. The baby, Isiah, is sick and Hannah, his mother, is scared to go back into town. With the baby’s conditioning worsening Rachel overcomes her reluctance to help and the two set off up the river to find Rachel’s sister, beginning a roadtrip odyssey.
As with many narratives of this type, the trip takes them deeper into the realm of ‘civilisation’ – from Rachel’s house up to the small (and real) town of Nimmitabel and then on to a desolate but at least more populated Canberra. At every stop, the post-apocalyptic tropes abound – from necessary looting, to self-surgery, to a conflict between an armed militia and the remnants of the military each trying to take control of society. And around all this the hope of a potential “cure” or at least protective MacGuffin, coincidentally developed by Rachel’s sister. And in the middle of it all is Rachel, learning to become more “human” through her growing relationship with both Hannah and Isiah.
There have been plenty of literary apocalypses, but The Last Woman in the World is possible one of the most vague of recent times. Antecedents for the approach that this book takes can clearly be found in Bird Box or The Quiet Place but also properties like The Walking Dead or Y: The Last Man. The threat in The Last Woman in the World literally never comes into focus – it is always a vague shadowy outline that at some point “gets stronger” and therefore more visible – and that feeds on fear. The theory that is put forward for Hannah’s survival is that new mothers are more immune due to higher levels of oxytocin in their systems but nothing solid is every really learnt about this threat or why any of the other people that they encounter have survived. Despite this, the main characters are constantly developing theories about them (always italicised) which readers are supposed to take on trust. And eventually, rogue human survivors with guns emerge as just as big a threat.
The lasting physical and psychological impacts of the 2019 Australian east coast bushfires are never far from the surface of this narrative. Rachel is constantly reflecting on her experiences during and in in the aftermath of that event. And probably the tensest part of the book is when Rachel and Hannah are faced with and have to deal with an actual bushfire. Simpson manages make this threat and the fears that it engenders much more visceral than the shadowy, agenda-less, fear creatures that she has actually driving this narrative.
Besides those already mentioned, the market is saturated with end times narratives in which a handful of survivors try to comprehend and live with a depopulated world. And Inga Simpson brings an Australian version of that idea to life. But that while the impetus for writing this book is obvious, a reaction to the 2019 Australian bushfires which to many felt like an actual apocalyptic event, the resort to post-apocalyptic tropes lets the message down. For those who have not encountered much end of the world media (which is pretty difficult at this point) this all may feel like a revelation. But if you have to choose an apocalyptic narrative, this is not the best place to start.
lindyanne's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
katiealex72's review against another edition
3.0
This book is a bit of a puzzle. Rachel is a traumatised woman who is largely self sufficient; dependant on a very few loved ones; whom assist her to live as she chooses in isolation in the South Coast hinterland. She thinks of herself as a weak reed but as the book progresses, she shows herself to be resourceful, intelligent and determined as well as kind, as events force her out of isolation and into what’s left of the world.
The nature writing is really beautiful and very accomplished. However, the story is a bit all over the place. The character of Hannah, the stranger who comes to her place begging for help, isn’t well fleshed out, although the sense of urgency of their journey pulls you along. But when they finally reach their destination after many tribulations, the plot becomes a mess and there are just too many unbelievable coincidences and events. Great idea for a story, but it didn’t quite get there IMO.
The nature writing is really beautiful and very accomplished. However, the story is a bit all over the place. The character of Hannah, the stranger who comes to her place begging for help, isn’t well fleshed out, although the sense of urgency of their journey pulls you along. But when they finally reach their destination after many tribulations, the plot becomes a mess and there are just too many unbelievable coincidences and events. Great idea for a story, but it didn’t quite get there IMO.
joeymc's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
missengs's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
reads_must's review against another edition
5.0
The Last Woman in the World
Dystopian, Thriller
Inga Simpson.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This author has a great writing style. While it can be a little info dumpy at times, the author has a way of delivering one-liners or paragraphs that were perfectly creepy and actually made me stop and think "oh sh*t", and it really developed the atmosphere well.
I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading and I actually found myself tensing at certain scenes without realising it. Once I picked this book up, I just couldn't put it down.
Rachel was a great character. As someone with anxiety, I found her character so relatable. She was well written and nicely developed. I liked the slow reveal of her past throughout the book alongside her growing relationship with Hannah and Isaiah. Hannah was a good balance to Rachel, she helped her keep calm when needed and I think she played a big part in Rachel's growth, mentally.
This book was a rollercoaster but in the best way. There were times when I smiled at Rachel's and Hannah's memories but there were also times when I got emotional at certain events.
The ending was a little flat though. I'd love to know more about the creatures, where they came from or what created them and I'd like to know what happens next to the survivors and the rest of the world.
While this book had similar vibes to Bird Box by Josh Malerman, it was still original and I will definitely be reading more books by Inga Simpson.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*
Dystopian, Thriller
Inga Simpson.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This author has a great writing style. While it can be a little info dumpy at times, the author has a way of delivering one-liners or paragraphs that were perfectly creepy and actually made me stop and think "oh sh*t", and it really developed the atmosphere well.
I was kept on the edge of my seat the whole time I was reading and I actually found myself tensing at certain scenes without realising it. Once I picked this book up, I just couldn't put it down.
Rachel was a great character. As someone with anxiety, I found her character so relatable. She was well written and nicely developed. I liked the slow reveal of her past throughout the book alongside her growing relationship with Hannah and Isaiah. Hannah was a good balance to Rachel, she helped her keep calm when needed and I think she played a big part in Rachel's growth, mentally.
This book was a rollercoaster but in the best way. There were times when I smiled at Rachel's and Hannah's memories but there were also times when I got emotional at certain events.
The ending was a little flat though. I'd love to know more about the creatures, where they came from or what created them and I'd like to know what happens next to the survivors and the rest of the world.
While this book had similar vibes to Bird Box by Josh Malerman, it was still original and I will definitely be reading more books by Inga Simpson.
*Thank you to @Netgalley and the publishers for providing this ARC. This is my own opinion and an honest review, which I am leaving voluntarily*