Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Absolution builds upon and then executes an outstanding ending to The Southern Reach Series. It is advised to read the three previous books in the series before Absolution.
I was surprised by the 1st section of the book, I was surprised by the second, and I was surprised by the third most of all.
The first section struck me as an odd way to start off a conclusion to a series. Though, it takes us as far away from the first book in the series, Annihilation, as any other part in the series.
The second section focuses on a preexisting but little explored character in the series to date. Given the character's brief arc in the third book in the series, Acceptance, this section felt charged with anticipation for me and it paid off in every way I could imagine.
The third and final section of Absolution was initially the most challenging part of the whole series for me until it subtly shifted into one of the funniest horrific things I've read to date. The arc of the closing section delivers a few huge pay offs before reminding us why the Southern Reach Series was so haunting, beautiful, challenging, and delicious (like 'slow cooked pork just falling off of the bone') from beginning to end.
I was surprised by the 1st section of the book, I was surprised by the second, and I was surprised by the third most of all.
The first section struck me as an odd way to start off a conclusion to a series. Though, it takes us as far away from the first book in the series, Annihilation, as any other part in the series.
The second section focuses on a preexisting but little explored character in the series to date. Given the character's brief arc in the third book in the series, Acceptance, this section felt charged with anticipation for me and it paid off in every way I could imagine.
The third and final section of Absolution was initially the most challenging part of the whole series for me until it subtly shifted into one of the funniest horrific things I've read to date. The arc of the closing section delivers a few huge pay offs before reminding us why the Southern Reach Series was so haunting, beautiful, challenging, and delicious (like 'slow cooked pork just falling off of the bone') from beginning to end.
dark
mysterious
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
Had some cool stuff. I liked the addition to the universe of Area X. I just didn’t really enjoy myself for large swaths. Barrel man was cool, would read a whole book about him.
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
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:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
tense
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
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
dark
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
I see this book has created a bit of a divide amongst fans of Annihilation and the Southern Reach Trilogy. It is, admittedly, very different. And I can see the reasoning behind the distaste. I’ve decided that I’m a fan, although I think I came out of it with more questions than answers, which was probably Vandermeer’s intention. It’s meant to be a prequel to the trilogy, and is split up into three different sections. 20 years before the border came down, 1 1/2 years before, and 1 year after. Despite being a prequel, I do not recommend reading Absolution before reading the original Southern Reach novels. There’s just too much that, although hard to understand regardless, would be seemingly impossible to grasp without proper context. In my opinion.
The first section, “Dead Town”, was probably my favourite of the three. I think it was most reminiscent of what I loved about Annihilation.
The second section, “The False Daughter”, was good and I actually liked the time we spent with Old Jim, long time Central Op who we also met very briefly in Acceptance. This section felt quite similar to Authority, maybe too much so?
I knew as soon as I began the third section, “The First and the Last”, that it would be a bit of a slog. While intriguing to get a first-hand perspective on the very first expedition, it was hard to get past Lowry’s excessive use of expletives. It got better, for sure, but it made for a less enjoyable reading experience. Not that it’s supposed to be enjoyable… I can’t say I enjoyed reading about Lowry’s feast… (iykyk)
I leave with so many questions! Who is the Rogue?! (I think I know but if what I think I know is correct then my
question is how?! Why?!) What is going on with time?! Who leaves Area X at the end of the novel? I love being able to create my own interpretations because I think it’s quite literally impossible to be 100% certain of what’s going on, but that’s not to say I don’t wish we had gotten some more concrete answers along the way. Just so I could feel slightly less like I’m flailing while trying to piece together the (incredible, beautifully written) nonsense.
The first section, “Dead Town”, was probably my favourite of the three. I think it was most reminiscent of what I loved about Annihilation.
The second section, “The False Daughter”, was good and I actually liked the time we spent with Old Jim, long time Central Op who we also met very briefly in Acceptance. This section felt quite similar to Authority, maybe too much so?
I knew as soon as I began the third section, “The First and the Last”, that it would be a bit of a slog. While intriguing to get a first-hand perspective on the very first expedition, it was hard to get past Lowry’s excessive use of expletives. It got better, for sure, but it made for a less enjoyable reading experience. Not that it’s supposed to be enjoyable… I can’t say I enjoyed reading about Lowry’s feast… (iykyk)
I leave with so many questions! Who is the Rogue?! (I think I know but if what I think I know is correct then my
question is how?! Why?!) What is going on with time?! Who leaves Area X at the end of the novel? I love being able to create my own interpretations because I think it’s quite literally impossible to be 100% certain of what’s going on, but that’s not to say I don’t wish we had gotten some more concrete answers along the way. Just so I could feel slightly less like I’m flailing while trying to piece together the (incredible, beautifully written) nonsense.
slow-paced