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anarchist_al's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
tense
medium-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
4.0
An extremely disorienting read, but I suspect that was the point. Bouncing across time and space was difficult to get used to, but I did get used to the drastic switch in perspective and context eventually. The overall premise was very cool, and I think very well done. I love that the initial mystery is really a bait and switch. The characters all felt real and lived in. The settings were all gorgeous and very easy to picture, which can be difficult in a sci-fi futuristic context. I also found the character of Olive to be super compelling, and the autobiographical bits of her character were cool to see—St. John Mandel was clearly discussing her experience with Station Eleven and Covid-19. Really cool read, just a little hard to get into at first.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gun violence, Terminal illness, Medical content, and Medical trauma
kommatator's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Gun violence
astronut's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
tense
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Body horror, Gun violence, Vomit, Grief, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , War, and Injury/Injury detail
hanz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Grief, and War
mandkips's review against another edition
mysterious
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Murder
horizonous's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
Moderate: Terminal illness and Colonisation
Minor: Drug abuse, Gun violence, Infidelity, Mental illness, Sexism, Vomit, Murder, War, and Injury/Injury detail
◦ Death = the theme of◦ Mental illness = PTSD
◦ Terminal illness = various pandemic diseases
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
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? No
5.0
This is - without a doubt - the best book I've read this year so far.
I recommend it to everyone, basically.
And I think now is the perfect time to read it.
I won't say anything about the plot here, because I think it is best if you go into it blind. But I was blown away by the ideas and the discussions and the mystery and the setting/atmosphere and the writing! It's such a short book (surprisingly short given the contents) and you fly through it, especially the second half.
That being said, to get the most out of it, I recommend reading Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel first, since there are some subtle and some very obvious references to these two books.
If you don't want to read those book, that's fine, Sea of Tranquility will make perfect sense.
But if you think about reading the 2 books after Sea of Tranquility, be warned that there are major spoilers for both of them in this book.
I recommend it to everyone, basically.
And I think now is the perfect time to read it.
I won't say anything about the plot here, because I think it is best if you go into it blind. But I was blown away by the ideas and the discussions and the mystery and the setting/atmosphere and the writing! It's such a short book (surprisingly short given the contents) and you fly through it, especially the second half.
That being said, to get the most out of it, I recommend reading Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel first, since there are some subtle and some very obvious references to these two books.
If you don't want to read those book, that's fine, Sea of Tranquility will make perfect sense.
But if you think about reading the 2 books after Sea of Tranquility, be warned that there are major spoilers for both of them in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, and Medical content
Moderate: Terminal illness and Colonisation
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, and War
nodogsonthemoon's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Minor: Child abuse, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Suicide, Vomit, Murder, Colonisation, and Injury/Injury detail
erica_palmisano's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Interesting, surprising, lovely, and an easy read. Pandemic themed, so beware if that's not something you're ready for yet.
Content Warnings
Minor: Gun violence and Medical content
gjkennedy's review against another edition
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
First off, just because I couldnt find the appropriate warning, if you struggle with things that question the nature or legitimacy of reality (anything that would be tw with something like “unreality”) do NOT read this!! seriously I don’t have huge problems with that and it still made me feel weird. its definitely not safe for people for whom that would trigger delusions or anxiety or other distress.
Beyond that, it was a really good book. The answer became satisfying at the very last second, and for me every reveal was both perfectly reasonable but still surprising, though I suspect if you read slower and take more time to think you may be able to guess yourself. However, I dont see good foreshadowing as a downside, just a note. Not a five star because while it was perfectly pleasant and well written, it didn’t really evoke a really strong feeling for me. I enjoyed the characters and there were good moments of sympathy, but I never felt close enough to them to touch what they were feeling myself. But again, that may just be me. I would 100% recommend this book for a quick read for someone looking for an upside to the life theyre living.
Beyond that, it was a really good book. The answer became satisfying at the very last second, and for me every reveal was both perfectly reasonable but still surprising, though I suspect if you read slower and take more time to think you may be able to guess yourself. However, I dont see good foreshadowing as a downside, just a note. Not a five star because while it was perfectly pleasant and well written, it didn’t really evoke a really strong feeling for me. I enjoyed the characters and there were good moments of sympathy, but I never felt close enough to them to touch what they were feeling myself. But again, that may just be me. I would 100% recommend this book for a quick read for someone looking for an upside to the life theyre living.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Gore, Gun violence, Sexism, Suicide, and War
Minor: Forced institutionalization