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3.79 AVERAGE
3.79 AVERAGE
What a stunning, brilliant novel. I knew little about the book before I started it, and I think it's best to go in blind. I was devastated by some of the scenes.
very peculiar little apocalyptic story with a healthy dash of hope and disillusionment to balance each other out. i loved all the little quirks the children had.
I have never read Millet's work before and I was beyond impressed with this fabulous little tale. She is a truly talented wordsmith who crafts immensely powerful images in so few words.
Told from the viewpoint of a disillusioned 16 year old, Eve describes the torture of being on a lengthy summer vacation with about eight other families. While the parents drink and do drugs, the children play games of their own and philosophise about the crappy damaged Earth that the previous generations have left to them. With disdain, she mocks wealth, entitlement and escapism - all the things her parents value - and vows to live differently. During their holiday, a series of destructive events begin to occur, all of biblical proportion. She soon realises that the events match those of an old book her brother found - a children's version of the bible. Soon it is acting like a playbook for the summer - burning bushes, plagues of insects, angels and ressurection.
It is not a religious tale. In fact I think there is a fair amount of mockery in place. Totally modern and highly entertaining.
Told from the viewpoint of a disillusioned 16 year old, Eve describes the torture of being on a lengthy summer vacation with about eight other families. While the parents drink and do drugs, the children play games of their own and philosophise about the crappy damaged Earth that the previous generations have left to them. With disdain, she mocks wealth, entitlement and escapism - all the things her parents value - and vows to live differently. During their holiday, a series of destructive events begin to occur, all of biblical proportion. She soon realises that the events match those of an old book her brother found - a children's version of the bible. Soon it is acting like a playbook for the summer - burning bushes, plagues of insects, angels and ressurection.
It is not a religious tale. In fact I think there is a fair amount of mockery in place. Totally modern and highly entertaining.
Couldn’t put it down! The only thing that gave me pause was the lack of detail about the whole end-of-the-world thing, but I also felt that almost made it more impactful. Lots of fun literary (biblical, even!) references and allusions
I adore Lydia Millet so much and I adore this beautiful strange parable (? allegory? magic spell?) that so fully condemns "the parents," who have gotten us into this mess of a ruined world. So fully condemns us, while also loving us, so fully seeks hope, while also making it clear that hope resides outside of us, without us, beyond us. Our moment is fleeting and thank the heavens for that.
I listened to this short novel. The narrator is excellent. She captured the essence of the novel. Well done to her.
This is one of few books I think could have been longer, but I never lost interest.
This is one of few books I think could have been longer, but I never lost interest.
If you work very, very hard as a reader, you might find this to be a totally brilliant use of “fable.” If not, you’ll likely find it enticing at first and then a lazy version of Station Eleven meets The Girl Who Owned a City. I really want to love it and will need to keep puzzling and uncovering (or inventing?) connections and allegories to get there.
dark
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
I understand what this book was trying to do, everything in the second half felt a little on the nose