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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
emotional
sad
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:
Complicated
Having read “Before the fall”, I think I was hoping for something similar, so this plot line surprised me. I found the topics presented too depressing and similar to actual current events to truly enjoy the book. In fact the author himself twice broke the fourth wall to specifically apologize for this, so it was hardly accidental
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Anthem is a book about extremes — an ambitious and biting near-future satire that may have worked had Hawley spared his readers on two points. First, his essays distract and disenchant as they reveal an author just as trapped in the same mire as his characters. Second, his initial effort to portray two factions as both far afield eventually favors one more than the other. One isn't better than the other.
The end result is that a story that starts strong — painting Hawley as an astute observer who accurately points out that the Internet that was supposed to Democratize information only delivered us a means for self-affirmation (no matter what we believe) — becomes as tiresome as his real-life inspiration — the evening news infused with Hawley's favorite acronym. LOL. LOL. LOL.
The primary plot thread is about two teenagers and a young man who escape from the Float Anxiety Abatement Center in Chicago — a place they were admitted to because teenagers all over the world are committing suicide over their lack of faith in our future. Their mission is divinely inspired — ignore the artificial civil war being waged by liberals and conservatives and take on an unimaginably wealthy, almost mythical figure of unspeakable evil that they call The Wizard. Along the way, they run into dozens of pop-culture-soaked characters who rely on their adopted names (a.k.a. Randall Flagg) to convey a depth that their author never bothered to give them.
What makes it all the more a shame is Hawley is an exquisite writer by every count. You don't have to agree with his conclusions to appreciate his essays (with poignant assessments but problematic solutions). You don't have to like the story to appreciate many of its scenes. And you don't have to embrace his thesis to cheer his observations in those rare moments he rises above the fray.
Yet, in the end, I found myself rooting more for the end of the book than the characters trying to find resolution in a broken world or, more precisely, a broken story that forgets to deliver us any real human beings. Instead, all we get are cartoons overlayed on an amplified version of the issues and ideologies that so many of us would rather avoid today. A11.
The end result is that a story that starts strong — painting Hawley as an astute observer who accurately points out that the Internet that was supposed to Democratize information only delivered us a means for self-affirmation (no matter what we believe) — becomes as tiresome as his real-life inspiration — the evening news infused with Hawley's favorite acronym. LOL. LOL. LOL.
The primary plot thread is about two teenagers and a young man who escape from the Float Anxiety Abatement Center in Chicago — a place they were admitted to because teenagers all over the world are committing suicide over their lack of faith in our future. Their mission is divinely inspired — ignore the artificial civil war being waged by liberals and conservatives and take on an unimaginably wealthy, almost mythical figure of unspeakable evil that they call The Wizard. Along the way, they run into dozens of pop-culture-soaked characters who rely on their adopted names (a.k.a. Randall Flagg) to convey a depth that their author never bothered to give them.
What makes it all the more a shame is Hawley is an exquisite writer by every count. You don't have to agree with his conclusions to appreciate his essays (with poignant assessments but problematic solutions). You don't have to like the story to appreciate many of its scenes. And you don't have to embrace his thesis to cheer his observations in those rare moments he rises above the fray.
Yet, in the end, I found myself rooting more for the end of the book than the characters trying to find resolution in a broken world or, more precisely, a broken story that forgets to deliver us any real human beings. Instead, all we get are cartoons overlayed on an amplified version of the issues and ideologies that so many of us would rather avoid today. A11.
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
In the aftermath of January 6th, Anthem takes us to a world where hopeless teens are killing themselves and our nation is in the midst of a civil war. So begins this bleak, dark AF, post-apocalyptic tale from Noah Hawley.
I loved "Before The Fall" so I was excited to read his latest. I found the first 100 or so pages to be gripping. But then all the teenagers, which this book follows, started to all sound alike. I had to stop and think who was who. When you couple that with the author breaking the 4th wall and speaking directly to the reader, it took me out of the story. We are also left hanging with regard to what happened to TWO pivotal characters, which really bothered me.
I loved "Before The Fall" so I was excited to read his latest. I found the first 100 or so pages to be gripping. But then all the teenagers, which this book follows, started to all sound alike. I had to stop and think who was who. When you couple that with the author breaking the 4th wall and speaking directly to the reader, it took me out of the story. We are also left hanging with regard to what happened to TWO pivotal characters, which really bothered me.
Ooooof. This is not a fairy tale.
Although there is a Prophet, and a Wizard. Orcs and a Witch, this is not a fairy tale. There are Goblins and a group of unlikely heroes. A dragon and a princess locked away in a tower, yet, this is not a fairy tale.
This book was incredible. Incredibly sad and hard to read. But also immensely eye opening, thought provoking, horrendous and beautiful. I don't know how I can have so many strong words from opposite ends of the spectrum to describe this book, but it's all in there. This is an incredible 5 star piece of work, and the only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the story scared me and made me so sad. And yet by the end, also so hopeful. This book takes place just a few years in the future, it felt so strangely real, which is what made it so difficult to read.
If you are going to read this book, please explore the trigger warnings first.
TW: suicide, rape, sexual abuse of minors.
Although there is a Prophet, and a Wizard. Orcs and a Witch, this is not a fairy tale. There are Goblins and a group of unlikely heroes. A dragon and a princess locked away in a tower, yet, this is not a fairy tale.
This book was incredible. Incredibly sad and hard to read. But also immensely eye opening, thought provoking, horrendous and beautiful. I don't know how I can have so many strong words from opposite ends of the spectrum to describe this book, but it's all in there. This is an incredible 5 star piece of work, and the only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the story scared me and made me so sad. And yet by the end, also so hopeful. This book takes place just a few years in the future, it felt so strangely real, which is what made it so difficult to read.
If you are going to read this book, please explore the trigger warnings first.
TW: suicide, rape, sexual abuse of minors.
challenging
dark
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
a disturbing level of realism—terrifying
dark
emotional
tense
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