Scan barcode
seren_of_titan's review against another edition
It’s an info dump on every environmental and climate issue we face, with very little plot or character development. I just can’t do this for 20+ hours and go nowhere.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Child death
laurenipsum's review against another edition
Read the first chapter. It's a very graphic description of people suffering and dying from climate change. Very intense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Excrement, Xenophobia, Child death, Classism, Body horror, Abandonment, Blood, Grief, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Racism, Violence, Colonisation, Confinement, Gore, and Medical trauma
brittni_in_ink's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
3.0
There was a lot I loved about the book. It's a definite call to action about climate change, and there are some fascinating ideas about how we can go about combatting it and preventing the worst outcomes. For example, pumping meltwater from under glaciers to the surface to slow their movement and prevent them from contributing to rising sea levels.
The first chapter is so devastating, and really sets the tone for the rest of the book. Robinson did a wonderful job of introducing a few key characters to follow throughout the story. And even later in the book, there were these beautiful personal moments, like Frank encountering a mountain goat in the wild.
But ultimately, the book was about the big picture. The amount of research that went into it was clearly impressive. For that reason, I'm a little ashamed to say I skimmed some chapters. Not because they were bad, but because there was only so much discussion about currency and banks I could handle.
The book wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but there were parts that I really liked. So three stars: good, but not something I would read again.
The first chapter is so devastating, and really sets the tone for the rest of the book. Robinson did a wonderful job of introducing a few key characters to follow throughout the story. And even later in the book, there were these beautiful personal moments, like Frank encountering a mountain goat in the wild.
But ultimately, the book was about the big picture. The amount of research that went into it was clearly impressive. For that reason, I'm a little ashamed to say I skimmed some chapters. Not because they were bad, but because there was only so much discussion about currency and banks I could handle.
The book wasn't entirely my cup of tea, but there were parts that I really liked. So three stars: good, but not something I would read again.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Death
Minor: Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Grief, Animal death, and Child death
skudiklier's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
tense
slow-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? It's complicated
5.0
First off, I want to say that I really liked this book. I would definitely recommend it. I think it gets across a lot of the challenges and high stakes of climate change in a nuanced way. I like the mix of personal stories and bigger-picture processes.
At first, I was worried it would be too dark--not that it was unrealistic, but it was bringing back all my climate anxiety/despair, and I thought it might all be very hard to read. But by the end (or even by halfway through, really), I flipped to wondering if the book is too optimistic. Even given all the challenges, all the "too little too late"-- even given that a decent amount of the change was caused by terrorism! I still feel like some things worked out too well and too easily. But maybe I should just be more hopeful, I don't know. I'll definitely be thinking about this book a lot, and recommending it to anyone who brings up anything even remotely related.
At first, I was worried it would be too dark--not that it was unrealistic, but it was bringing back all my climate anxiety/despair, and I thought it might all be very hard to read. But by the end (or even by halfway through, really), I flipped to wondering if the book is too optimistic. Even given all the challenges, all the "too little too late"--
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Kidnapping, and Slavery
Moderate: Murder, Police brutality, Cursing, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Violence, Grief, Xenophobia, Classism, and Colonisation
Minor: Sexism, Death of parent, Drug use, Alcohol, War, Child death, Animal death, Fatphobia, and Racism
arjen98's review against another edition
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Child death, Genocide, Violence, and Death
Moderate: Terminal illness
green_beans's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death
Minor: Child death
georgiarybanks's review against another edition
challenging
informative
slow-paced
- 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? It's complicated
3.0
Round 1:
Wasn’t feeling it this time around.
The opening scenes are dramatic. The premise is compelling. But the book jumped around a bit too much for me to really get into. One chapter would be a told from the perspective of an external narrator. The next chapter would be the notes someone took at a meeting, then you’d get a different story with new characters, followed by extract from an economics lecture.
I still might dive back in one day. But couldn’t commit to the whole (very long) book this time around.
Round 2:
Picked this up again in light of the heatwave in India and Pakistan.
Lots of interesting ideas in a very unusual style of book.
Wasn’t feeling it this time around.
The opening scenes are dramatic. The premise is compelling. But the book jumped around a bit too much for me to really get into. One chapter would be a told from the perspective of an external narrator. The next chapter would be the notes someone took at a meeting, then you’d get a different story with new characters, followed by extract from an economics lecture.
I still might dive back in one day. But couldn’t commit to the whole (very long) book this time around.
Round 2:
Picked this up again in light of the heatwave in India and Pakistan.
Lots of interesting ideas in a very unusual style of book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Minor: Child death
More...