Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
This book bothered me deeply, and I mean that in the best way possible. From a pure plot perspective, Millet seems uninterested in the specifics, especially in the final third, or how and why things go the way they do. The impact of the narrative is felt in the small moments of horror, like a description of a deer considering its place in the world that happens early on. Some of the unease is certainly aided by the timing of my reading, with Hurricane Milton about to compound the destruction of Helene, but more of it is the existential dread stemming from just how much I agree with Millet.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time, especially as we edge towards the precipice of unassailable climate disaster, but not because it is a gripping work of dystopia. Instead, it will be because I know I too am one of the parents who lies to their child and says it will be ok. Millet assures us it won't be.
I will be thinking about this book for a long time, especially as we edge towards the precipice of unassailable climate disaster, but not because it is a gripping work of dystopia. Instead, it will be because I know I too am one of the parents who lies to their child and says it will be ok. Millet assures us it won't be.
firmly in my wheelhouse of “upper middle class Americans suffering the effects of climate change in vague way”
but not vague enough, a little preachy, but would recommend
but not vague enough, a little preachy, but would recommend
What starts as a family vacation becomes a bleak, existential confrontation with the collapse of civilization.
If you read Leave the World Behind, that description probably sounds familiar. Thematically--and often situationally--these books are strikingly similar. Both levy harsh satire on the entitled, pampered, and ineffectual generations that have neglected the climate crisis and then also invest in the promise of young people to reimagine life in the wake of the coming catastrophe.
But both also do so with wild tonal inconsistencies and stories too in love with their own conceits.
If you read Leave the World Behind, that description probably sounds familiar. Thematically--and often situationally--these books are strikingly similar. Both levy harsh satire on the entitled, pampered, and ineffectual generations that have neglected the climate crisis and then also invest in the promise of young people to reimagine life in the wake of the coming catastrophe.
But both also do so with wild tonal inconsistencies and stories too in love with their own conceits.
The writing was good but I didn’t like many of the characters and I didn’t love the story
An apocalyptic novel. Very good, but hard to read while living through a pandemic. Left me thinking, but also feeling very depressed.
After a slow start, I found myself relaxing into this rather beguiling and disturbing tale. It moves at a languid pace and sleepwalks into an ever-growing disaster. Like the collective elders in the book, it progresses as if in an alcohol or drug-induced fog.
As the name suggests, there's some heavily allegorical work driving the narrative as we have echoes of Biblical text through an increasingly dystopic scenario. While the intergenerational tensions are played in a rather heavy-handed way, the global inaction on climate change does render the recourse to heavy caricature for the 'adults' and the decision to make the children and young people preternaturally wise and capable in the novel understandable.
As ever, I find the American fixation on the upper and middle-class ennui and the absence of any poor or diverse voices depressing, but somehow it seems appropriate. As history has shown us, the wealthy are only too happy to leave the poor to fend for themselves in these situations.
Yes, the dialogue reads as unreal, but when the whole storyline is hallucinatory in tone, this somehow matters less. This isn't a book for every reader, and it didn't really click for me until about a quarter of the way through. I can certainly see why some might not make it that far.
Still, I enjoyed it despite the heavy hand of the author. Subtly is unlikely to lead us out of this present mess.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
As the name suggests, there's some heavily allegorical work driving the narrative as we have echoes of Biblical text through an increasingly dystopic scenario. While the intergenerational tensions are played in a rather heavy-handed way, the global inaction on climate change does render the recourse to heavy caricature for the 'adults' and the decision to make the children and young people preternaturally wise and capable in the novel understandable.
As ever, I find the American fixation on the upper and middle-class ennui and the absence of any poor or diverse voices depressing, but somehow it seems appropriate. As history has shown us, the wealthy are only too happy to leave the poor to fend for themselves in these situations.
Yes, the dialogue reads as unreal, but when the whole storyline is hallucinatory in tone, this somehow matters less. This isn't a book for every reader, and it didn't really click for me until about a quarter of the way through. I can certainly see why some might not make it that far.
Still, I enjoyed it despite the heavy hand of the author. Subtly is unlikely to lead us out of this present mess.
⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐
This book was pretty interesting. It was kind of unlike anything I’ve ever read before, and that’s definitely in part to the writing! I enjoyed it, but it definitely wasn’t a life changing book.
“A Children’s Bible” follows the story of Eve, her brother Jack, and a group of teenagers that are staying in a vacation home for the summer with their parents. The parents quickly start to prioritize drinking and partying, leaving the teenagers to fend for themselves. Soon boredom gets the best of the teenagers and they explore the surrounding area, only for the world around them to start to crumble due to basically apocalyptic conditions.
The writing was my favorite part. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters except for the sweet and sensitive Jack, who with his friend Shel, wanted to help every animal they came across. However the writing was sharp and witty, and was so smart it kept me reading, even if I wasn’t particularly interested in what actually happened.
I also didn’t know how this book was going to end - a lot of people said that they could guess the ending from a mile away but I couldn’t and I liked that!
I suggest reading this book for sure. It’s a quick read with a plot line that, though not the most exciting, will keep you entertained, and the writing is fantastic. I can understand why Lydia Millet is known for her writing style. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, this one should definitely be on your TBR.
“A Children’s Bible” follows the story of Eve, her brother Jack, and a group of teenagers that are staying in a vacation home for the summer with their parents. The parents quickly start to prioritize drinking and partying, leaving the teenagers to fend for themselves. Soon boredom gets the best of the teenagers and they explore the surrounding area, only for the world around them to start to crumble due to basically apocalyptic conditions.
The writing was my favorite part. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of the characters except for the sweet and sensitive Jack, who with his friend Shel, wanted to help every animal they came across. However the writing was sharp and witty, and was so smart it kept me reading, even if I wasn’t particularly interested in what actually happened.
I also didn’t know how this book was going to end - a lot of people said that they could guess the ending from a mile away but I couldn’t and I liked that!
I suggest reading this book for sure. It’s a quick read with a plot line that, though not the most exciting, will keep you entertained, and the writing is fantastic. I can understand why Lydia Millet is known for her writing style. If you enjoy dystopian fiction, this one should definitely be on your TBR.
I really like Millet. Her work is consistently strange in a really rewarding way. She has an eye for oddness that I find fun, but she also digs deep enough into what she sees to make it rich and complicated. And this book, about society just after environmental collapse, is no different. The story is mostly interested in the kids of feckless, well-to-do parents who are waiting out the end times at an upstate estate, and the kids are aware enough of their parents' complicity in the collapse but also teens, self-interested and a little goofy themselves.
That said, I'm a little bored of even good post-collapse stories, and by the time the band of evil dude show up at the compound, I was like eh, even if it was done really well.
Probably these familiar elements are what make this such a successful book for Millet (or so it appears from the outside). This is well done stuff, thoughtful, weird, and fun. I'd still probably rather read a book by her that covers less well-trod territory.
That said, I'm a little bored of even good post-collapse stories, and by the time the band of evil dude show up at the compound, I was like eh, even if it was done really well.
Probably these familiar elements are what make this such a successful book for Millet (or so it appears from the outside). This is well done stuff, thoughtful, weird, and fun. I'd still probably rather read a book by her that covers less well-trod territory.