Reviews

How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu

anotherbooklady's review against another edition

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4.0

*Edit-2nd read 4.5 ⭐️

Just seven days after reading this book, I had to read it again. I could not stop thinking about this story and I wanted to “catch” the clues about this story that I missed with the first read. This book is such a fascinating read.


This is definitely a book that’s going to get a second or maybe even a third read.

If you have read Cloud Atlas or Station Eleven, you know what you’re in for with this book. Told from the perspective of several characters, the stories almost seem standalone, if not, somehow, loosely connected. Connections aren’t always obvious, but it’s until you get the scope of the whole book that you understand the threads that keep the story together.

The story starts out in 2030 with an archaeologist, visiting the Arctic Circle site of his archaeologists daughter’s death, and to finish her work. They discover the perfectly preserved body of a girl they name “Annie” only to find that she died of an ancient plague. Unwittingly, the “arctic virus” is released into the world, and what follows spans, hundreds and sometimes even thousands of years into the future.

I enjoyed the way that this story is told in so many different voices, all from the first person perspective. Some stories are incredibly surprising, some are very heartwarming, and some are downright heartbreaking. We listened to this book as a family on a recent road trip, and as each chapter is told by a different character, there was a different narrator for each character. It actually enhanced the reading of this book immensely.

Days later, I am still thinking about these characters and where this story is headed. I’m definitely going to have to read/listen to this one again to pick up on those subtleties I missed the first time.

jbrownleo's review against another edition

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5.0

What a crazy ride! I didn’t exactly know what I was getting into when I started this book but it was recommended to me and it wasn’t a very long book so I decided to check it out. I’m so glad I did, because this was a such an interesting book. It’s unique, strange, heartbreaking, funny. It’s a book that will make you think even if you don’t agree with everything in it. It will definitely stay with you long after you’ve read the last page. Highly recommend!

awkwardtreed's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective 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

5.0

aische24's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

pearlisarobot's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

stace5000's review against another edition

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4.0

I nearly gave up in chapter 2, simply because it hit the feels too hard for me. But I'm glad I stuck with it. It's a weird, complex, wonderful, and tragic book. I had to take a lot of breaks from it, which means I missed some of the connections later in the book.

__annie__'s review against another edition

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dark emotional reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

bluedreams's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

4.0

zlovatt's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

saradf7's review against another edition

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Not grabbing my attention enough to continue reading, may come back to it