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mel_s_bookshelf's review against another edition
challenging
dark
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
3.75 stars
An ambitious fusion of short story collection and novel, How High we go in The Dark is creative, beautiful, and inspiring, whilst simultaneously being terrible, tragic, and haunting. It rides a very fine line between being absolutely absurd and eerily close to reality, which makes it even more disturbing than it would otherwise be. Think Black Mirror, but instead of stand-alone episodes, a collection of stories based around the same overarching theme and where characters and connections become loosely intertwined.
When I bought this book, I didn’t realise that it was more akin to a collection of short-stories than a novel, and so I felt a little put off when I got very invested in the first chapter only to find out that the next chapter (and each there-after) was an almost completely different story. For someone who highly prioritises developing a connection to characters, I found this to be a down-fall, however, despite this, I was pleasantly surprised with how much I enjoyed this book.
Nagamatsu’s writing is stunning, and I found many quotes that deeply resonated with me. Although I was initially jarred by the use of short stories, I was also very impressed at the way in which these stories were linked together. In saying that, I did find that my enjoyment of each individual story varied greatly. I did thoroughly enjoy most – the themes within were complex and fascinating, and one even made me cry; however, a few were quite boring to me, and I found myself skimming over these.
Despite this not being what I thought I signed up for, this book most definitely left an impact on me and won’t be something that I forget anytime soon.
If you loved Black Mirror, or just generally enjoy Sci-fi, then I highly recommend this. I also recommend it if you like unique and interesting books that are very well written. There are a few trigger warnings for this one though so definitely look those up first!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Medical trauma, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Terminal illness, Animal cruelty, and Medical content
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
joshuatdavis_'s review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
This is a difficult read, especially as we continue to live through a global pandemic, this series of interconnected vignettes plays will familiar feelings of grief and helplessness.
Despite this, the overall theme of this book is one of connection, of families and found families.
Read this book if you want to cry, and think about our world and those we share it with.
Despite this, the overall theme of this book is one of connection, of families and found families.
Read this book if you want to cry, and think about our world and those we share it with.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Animal death, Death, and Suicide
kitten_nuisance's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
I think I ultimately didn't connect with this book, and it felt a little "dead" to me. My expectations were way too high with the Cloud Atlas comparison. This book has a very different tone, and the perspectives are a lot more similar to one another. (I kind of wonder where literally all of the queer people are? Anyway.) This could be a me problem. There were interesting ideas shared, and the pig section made me shed physical tears, which was not an entirely welcome experience, but did indicate that a response was provoked.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death
whatswrenreading's review against another edition
challenging
dark
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
4.5
A dark, yet hopeful story that deftly weaves individual stories together in subtle ways. It's dark, plague stories always are, especially in the current world state were living in. But the interconnectedness and human emotions explored in many of these tales leave you with a spark of hope, for safety, for connection, for a brighter future for those who come after us.
I found some of the stories stronger than the others, a few that could have been cut down or left out without losing anything in the process. Some of the characters are a pain, but that's kind of the point. Also great to mention that most of the characters are Asian, and located throughout various cities in the world. There were times where stories leaned heavily on the experience of growing up under strict Asian parents and the relationship/trauma that came from that childhood. Many if not all the audiobook narrators are also AAPI from my understanding, and they do an absolutely haunting and beautiful job narrating this tale, it was a breathtaking experience.
The stories that stuck with me most were the Theme park for dying kids, Pig Father, and painting the spaceship (all of which connected funnily enough), as well as the robo-dogs, and the Virtual Reality forums (topical discussion around lack of governmental supports for mental health and support for folks with disabilities). The Void was also very beautiful, despite it feeling out of place until much later in the book.
Big ol list of TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Pandemic, plague, child death, mass graves, euthanasia, medication, medical trials, mass casualties, suicide, cremation, talk of human remains, emotional abuse, use of recreational drugs and alcohol, dissociation, filicide, death of a disabled child, animal death, sexual content, minor gore.
All in all, a dark and hopeful tale, with some interesting sci-fi vibes. Check the trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading💕
I found some of the stories stronger than the others, a few that could have been cut down or left out without losing anything in the process. Some of the characters are a pain, but that's kind of the point. Also great to mention that most of the characters are Asian, and located throughout various cities in the world. There were times where stories leaned heavily on the experience of growing up under strict Asian parents and the relationship/trauma that came from that childhood. Many if not all the audiobook narrators are also AAPI from my understanding, and they do an absolutely haunting and beautiful job narrating this tale, it was a breathtaking experience.
The stories that stuck with me most were the Theme park for dying kids, Pig Father, and painting the spaceship (all of which connected funnily enough), as well as the robo-dogs, and the Virtual Reality forums (topical discussion around lack of governmental supports for mental health and support for folks with disabilities). The Void was also very beautiful, despite it feeling out of place until much later in the book.
Big ol list of TRIGGER WARNINGS:
Pandemic, plague, child death, mass graves, euthanasia, medication, medical trials, mass casualties, suicide, cremation, talk of human remains, emotional abuse, use of recreational drugs and alcohol, dissociation, filicide, death of a disabled child, animal death, sexual content, minor gore.
All in all, a dark and hopeful tale, with some interesting sci-fi vibes. Check the trigger warnings and take care of yourself while reading💕
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Medical content, Death, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Body horror, and Grief
Moderate: Death of parent, Suicide, Cancer, and Chronic illness
Minor: Animal death, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Dementia
nevawink's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- 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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Child death, Death, Death of parent, Terminal illness, and Chronic illness
prettyfunctional's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Perfect for readers of the Overstory & Cloud Atlas. It balances a blend of realism and fantasy. This book lives somewhere between hope and despair and will definitely stick with you for a while
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death of parent, Body horror, Terminal illness, Death, and Gore
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Chronic illness, and Animal death
Minor: Gore
hca's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Death, Grief, Medical content, Medical trauma, and Terminal illness
Content warning for global pandemicdaisylady's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Chronic illness, Animal death, Violence, Terminal illness, Suicide, Suicide attempt, Medical trauma, Medical content, Death of parent, Death, and Confinement
Minor: Drug abuse, Drug use, Addiction, Alcohol, and Alcoholism
the_litterature's review against another edition
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
slow-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
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Cancer, Suicide, Medical trauma, Death of parent, and Animal death
child euthanasia
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