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3.84 AVERAGE
3.84 AVERAGE
Annihilation is short. And Jeff VanderMeer is clearly a wordsmith who weaves an almost hypnotic spell with his writing. He clearly has a very big brain, because the ideas here are complicated and dense.
Unfortunately, that's about where my positives for Annihilation end. This is hard work and offers zero answers to the many questions the biologist's journals ask. It is heady stuff, without much action, mostly taking place as a monologue about the main character, snippets of her history and how they relate to her journey through Area X.
I saw the film adaptation of this years ago and found that the right level of open-ended. This was just frustrating and I don't read to be frustrated. I won't be continuing with the series.
2 Not So Subtle Psychologists for Annihilation.
Unfortunately, that's about where my positives for Annihilation end. This is hard work and offers zero answers to the many questions the biologist's journals ask. It is heady stuff, without much action, mostly taking place as a monologue about the main character, snippets of her history and how they relate to her journey through Area X.
I saw the film adaptation of this years ago and found that the right level of open-ended. This was just frustrating and I don't read to be frustrated. I won't be continuing with the series.
2 Not So Subtle Psychologists for Annihilation.
challenging
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
adventurous
dark
tense
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
dark
mysterious
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
challenging
dark
mysterious
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-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:
Complicated
"Some questions will ruin you if you are denied the answer long enough."
This book unnerved me in the best way. It starts off with an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist, and a biologist as they travel to an area known as Area X. To begin, I love how immediately there are no names. People don't need names in Area X because names aren't useful. Names won't keep you alive. The goal of their mission is simple: explore Area X. They are the 12th expedition to do so.
This book is written as a journal from the biologist's point of view. Upon entering Area X, they are hypnotized into crossing the border so they have no memory of it. The psychologist, presumably due to being the one able to hypnotize people, is undoubtedly the leader of this expedition. What follows is the journey of these women as they explore the unknown horrors that Area X is home to.
"When you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you."
I loved the writing style of this book. It kept me hooked and I read it in one sitting! That being said, I was so confused throughout the book. I understand part of the appeal and horror aspect is to be confused, but at times I couldn't understand what was happening at all. This was an obvious choice of the author, not anything from lack of talent, but it is one that I don't love. Nonetheless, the writing was riveting.
Part of what made me unable to put this book down is how my heart kept pounding while reading it. It gave me an almost suffocating feeling while reading. I felt what the biologist felt. I was spooked at the overgrown homes, the eyes in the dark, the loud moaning noises that followed at night. The atmospheric writing was truly unmatched.
Overall, I really liked this book. I was confused for a good bit of it, but I think that just adds to the appeal for some people.
This book unnerved me in the best way. It starts off with an anthropologist, a surveyor, a psychologist, and a biologist as they travel to an area known as Area X. To begin, I love how immediately there are no names. People don't need names in Area X because names aren't useful. Names won't keep you alive. The goal of their mission is simple: explore Area X. They are the 12th expedition to do so.
This book is written as a journal from the biologist's point of view. Upon entering Area X, they are hypnotized into crossing the border so they have no memory of it. The psychologist, presumably due to being the one able to hypnotize people, is undoubtedly the leader of this expedition. What follows is the journey of these women as they explore the unknown horrors that Area X is home to.
"When you see beauty in desolation it changes something inside you. Desolation tries to colonize you."
I loved the writing style of this book. It kept me hooked and I read it in one sitting! That being said, I was so confused throughout the book. I understand part of the appeal and horror aspect is to be confused, but at times I couldn't understand what was happening at all. This was an obvious choice of the author, not anything from lack of talent, but it is one that I don't love. Nonetheless, the writing was riveting.
Part of what made me unable to put this book down is how my heart kept pounding while reading it. It gave me an almost suffocating feeling while reading. I felt what the biologist felt. I was spooked at the overgrown homes, the eyes in the dark, the loud moaning noises that followed at night. The atmospheric writing was truly unmatched.
Overall, I really liked this book. I was confused for a good bit of it, but I think that just adds to the appeal for some people.