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challenging
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
The main reason this book is getting 4.5 stars instead of 5 is because I found it hard to get into at first. However, this novel offers a profound look at what's important in life, i.e. what would be important to us if life as we knew it ceased to exist. Also, the fact that this was written 6+ years before the Covid-19 pandemic rocked our world is eerie.
It's been twenty years since the Georgia Flu wiped out about 99% of the human population. There are small villages that have come together and live out of old motels, stores, and other buildings. There is no electricity, running water, or gas for vehicles. People have learned to live off the land. The book centers around a traveling group of musicians and actors called The Symphony. The travel around southern Canada and the northern U.S. and perform music and Shakespeare plays. Our main antagonist is a man who calls himself "The Prophet;" he and his followers travel to various villages and take what they want by force (including young wives) because they feel they are the chosen ones by God to have survived the flu.
The book also includes flashbacks at various times, as early as decades before the pandemic, when the pandemic first hit, and the years since then. The most intriguing part of this book was how you eventually figure out how each of our main characters were connected in some way before the pandemic started.
As aforementioned, this book really makes you think about what would be most important to you in a situation like this. The characters hold on to the strangest objects like a paperweight, for example, just because they have a vague memory about it from before the pandemic. This novel also made me think about how much worse Covid could've been for us.
It's been twenty years since the Georgia Flu wiped out about 99% of the human population. There are small villages that have come together and live out of old motels, stores, and other buildings. There is no electricity, running water, or gas for vehicles. People have learned to live off the land. The book centers around a traveling group of musicians and actors called The Symphony. The travel around southern Canada and the northern U.S. and perform music and Shakespeare plays. Our main antagonist is a man who calls himself "The Prophet;" he and his followers travel to various villages and take what they want by force (including young wives) because they feel they are the chosen ones by God to have survived the flu.
The book also includes flashbacks at various times, as early as decades before the pandemic, when the pandemic first hit, and the years since then. The most intriguing part of this book was how you eventually figure out how each of our main characters were connected in some way before the pandemic started.
As aforementioned, this book really makes you think about what would be most important to you in a situation like this. The characters hold on to the strangest objects like a paperweight, for example, just because they have a vague memory about it from before the pandemic. This novel also made me think about how much worse Covid could've been for us.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Religious bigotry, Murder
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
a dark, emotional story that ties together three characters through an interesting fate. this is my first book to read by mandel and i absolutely adored the poetic writing throughout this novel. reading a book about a pandemic while having lived through one is definitely scary and slightly traumatic, but also beautifully haunting. i wasn’t expecting this story to resonate with me so much. overall a wonderful read <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Violence
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
If you are looking for a post-apocalyptic adventure, this might not be for you. The present day setting follows characters navigating a post-apocalyptic Great Lakes after several years after a devastating pandemic. The post-pandemic and during-pandemic world is incredibly compelling, but most of the book bounces between the lives of a few characters pre-pandemic.
A lot of the past sections focus on things related to not being happy with where your life is going/has gone. I would not recommend reading this book if you’re in a stage like that in your life. With the way St. John Mandel writes, it can feel quite heavy and depressing sitting in those feelings.
If you are thinking about reading this after watching the show, I highly recommend reading. The show changes quite a few things and the book is a similar but much different and worthwhile experience. The book also handles Frank’s death in a less ableist way and I thought the show does Jeevan and Miranda’s characters a bit dirty.
St. John Mandel writes in a way that I haven’t experienced before. Partially through using 3rd person omniscient, she does an incredibly good job of capturing a really melancholic, distant feeling that was intense to sit with but also so engaging. I also absolutely loved the non-chronological skips in and out of different characters’ lives.
The present day characters aren’t particularly developed as the present day is more about the collective experience of a post-pandemic world which I didn’t mind. This is where I’d recommend readers watch the show because it was cool seeing a different take on the story with more focus on present day.
My biggest issue was the ending. I liked it as a concept but it was really rushed and read more like a brief summary of events which made for an unsatisfying conclusion after the slower build.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Death, Violence, Murder
Minor: Rape, Suicide, Death of parent, Pregnancy
challenging
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
This feels like a story that demands revisiting. I don't know that I appreciated the nuances the first time around.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma
Moderate: Gun violence, Alcohol
adventurous
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Violence
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Suicide
Minor: Rape
adventurous
dark
mysterious
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
This book never really paid off for me. It doesn’t quite bring together the various plot threads in a satisfying way. I enjoyed the parts about Severn City the most.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Violence, Kidnapping, Murder
Pandemic
adventurous
challenging
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Title: Station Eleven
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: September 9, 2014
T H R E E • W O R D S
Evocative • Ambitious • Eerie
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.
Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Despite hearing (and reading) so many glowing reviews from my bookish community for Station Eleven, I had no plan to pick it up... until it landed on the 2023 Canada Reads shortlist. Since 2021, I've made a point of reading as many books from the longlist as possible, with a particular focus on the five shortlisted titles. And so, despite knowing this wasn't likely to be my cup of tea, I borrowed a digital copy from my library.
I'll start by saying, I truly appreciated the dystopian Canadian content. Emily St. John Mandel has carefully constructed a realistic (eerily so) and reflective tale of post-apocalyptic survival. And of course, it's incredibly well written. While I know the ambiguous ending has been a point of contention between readers, for me it actually seemed the most fitting.
Despite that, I just wasn't a fan of the story or the structure. It's told in three different timelines from several points of view, and I definitely liked certain section a lot more than others. At times, I found myself disappointed to reach the end of a chapter only to find out I'd be ripped from what was happening in that storyline. Additionally, the plot just held very little interest for me. I'll admit coming out of a pandemic was probably not the right time to read this book, and it's quite possible the past three years impacted my reading experience.
I completely understand why so many readers love Emily St. John Mandel's descriptive and poetic writing style, yet Station Eleven was not a book for me. I don't think it's surprising it landed on this years Canada Reads list, as it definitely stimulates thought and discussion. I am looking forward to seeing how it'll fair on the panel, but in my opinion it doesn't necessarily fit the theme of shifting one's perspective.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Emily St. John Mandel enthusiasts
• readers looking for pandemic fiction
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"What I mean to say is, the more you remember, the more you've lost."
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Genre: Science Fiction
Rating: 3.00
Pub Date: September 9, 2014
T H R E E • W O R D S
Evocative • Ambitious • Eerie
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of King Lear. That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.
Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band’s existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.
💭 T H O U G H T S
Despite hearing (and reading) so many glowing reviews from my bookish community for Station Eleven, I had no plan to pick it up... until it landed on the 2023 Canada Reads shortlist. Since 2021, I've made a point of reading as many books from the longlist as possible, with a particular focus on the five shortlisted titles. And so, despite knowing this wasn't likely to be my cup of tea, I borrowed a digital copy from my library.
I'll start by saying, I truly appreciated the dystopian Canadian content. Emily St. John Mandel has carefully constructed a realistic (eerily so) and reflective tale of post-apocalyptic survival. And of course, it's incredibly well written. While I know the ambiguous ending has been a point of contention between readers, for me it actually seemed the most fitting.
Despite that, I just wasn't a fan of the story or the structure. It's told in three different timelines from several points of view, and I definitely liked certain section a lot more than others. At times, I found myself disappointed to reach the end of a chapter only to find out I'd be ripped from what was happening in that storyline. Additionally, the plot just held very little interest for me. I'll admit coming out of a pandemic was probably not the right time to read this book, and it's quite possible the past three years impacted my reading experience.
I completely understand why so many readers love Emily St. John Mandel's descriptive and poetic writing style, yet Station Eleven was not a book for me. I don't think it's surprising it landed on this years Canada Reads list, as it definitely stimulates thought and discussion. I am looking forward to seeing how it'll fair on the panel, but in my opinion it doesn't necessarily fit the theme of shifting one's perspective.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• Emily St. John Mandel enthusiasts
• readers looking for pandemic fiction
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"What I mean to say is, the more you remember, the more you've lost."
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Gun violence, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Murder
Moderate: Infidelity, Suicide, Blood, Kidnapping, Religious bigotry, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Ableism, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Mental illness, Pedophilia, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Pregnancy, Alcohol
adventurous
dark
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Grief
Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Pedophilia
Minor: Infidelity, Suicide, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail
adventurous
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
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:
Yes
The way people grieve and reflect on the old world was my favorite part. You can’t help but be grateful that the 2020 DID NOT end up as bad as what these characters went through.
All of current life’s simplicities and technology, gone faster than you could process what’s happening to the world. What would you miss the most? What would you bring with you?
Yes, the book is post-apocalyptic but not in a The Walking Dead kind of way. There is more character reflection and adaptation with less violent elements.
There is a broad cast. If you can’t keep track of all Symphony members? It’s fine, just go along for the ride.
There are frequent time jumps in multiple directions. I would have appreciated the chapter titles named after the time period & character name as opposed to basic numerical order.
Ending was ok.
I wish there was more interaction between the Prophet and Kirsten (or even Clark). To really play up the 180 transformation of Tyler. To see if meeting someone who knew his Dad would freak him out (Kirsten). I was hoping to see Kirsten meet Jeevan. Their reunion would have been wholesome. I loved Clark’s Museum. Omg when the plane landed and it was just completely still…. forever. Broke my heart. I enjoyed the appreciation of the Arts in a post-apocalyptic world.
All of current life’s simplicities and technology, gone faster than you could process what’s happening to the world. What would you miss the most? What would you bring with you?
Yes, the book is post-apocalyptic but not in a The Walking Dead kind of way. There is more character reflection and adaptation with less violent elements.
There is a broad cast. If you can’t keep track of all Symphony members? It’s fine, just go along for the ride.
There are frequent time jumps in multiple directions. I would have appreciated the chapter titles named after the time period & character name as opposed to basic numerical order.
Ending was ok.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Toxic relationship, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Medical content, Grief, Stalking
Minor: Alcoholism, Child death, Physical abuse, Blood, Death of parent, Alcohol