Scan barcode
ivanssister's review against another edition
3.0
A woman navigating a bleak post-apocalyptic landscape. This had some good prose and some intriguing plot points, and I really wish some of them had been explored more.
micksland's review against another edition
2.0
I won a copy of this through First Reads.
Well, to start off, this book is definitely not what I expected. It was really strange. The story was very slow-paced, and it was mostly about the main character's day-to-day life, living in a world that was ruined by... Wait... What was it ruined by again? We never really found out! That drove me crazy.
Also, the main character was just weird. You didn't find out that she was a woman until Chapter 3, and she was really manly... It was WEIRD.
Also, the book took a really negative view toward religion, which was another big turn-off for me.
I appreciate the fact that the author gave out copies of this book for free, but it just wasn't the story for me.
Well, to start off, this book is definitely not what I expected. It was really strange. The story was very slow-paced, and it was mostly about the main character's day-to-day life, living in a world that was ruined by... Wait... What was it ruined by again? We never really found out! That drove me crazy.
Also, the main character was just weird. You didn't find out that she was a woman until Chapter 3, and she was really manly... It was WEIRD.
Also, the book took a really negative view toward religion, which was another big turn-off for me.
I appreciate the fact that the author gave out copies of this book for free, but it just wasn't the story for me.
robbin123's review against another edition
3.0
No quite Cormac McCarthy, but I like the post-apocalyptic story.
thehappybooker's review against another edition
4.0
The voice of the narrator, Makepeace, and the word substitution that signals this as an alternative history aren't entirely consistent (for instance, substituting "milliards" for "millions" except for one slip-up), but this is a compelling story of survival in solitude and what a difference a little companionship can make, both good and bad - good, because companionship brings more dimensions to life, and bad because other people can complicate the delicate balance of daily survival. Makepeace was doing fine without company, but once company comes and goes, solitude is so much harder to bear.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because if the narrator really is writing for the person revealed in the last paragraph, by someone as rough-hewn as Makepeace, the narration would be even more sparse than it is, and would, I think, read more like an explanation of how things came to be this way, and contain more survival tips.
I gave it 4 stars instead of 5 because if the narrator really is writing for the person revealed in the last paragraph, by someone as rough-hewn as Makepeace, the narration would be even more sparse than it is, and would, I think, read more like an explanation of how things came to be this way, and contain more survival tips.
lark_spur's review against another edition
4.0
I'm a sucker for this sort of apocalyptic, humanity on the verge of extinction novels. This one doesn't disappoint. A few of the plot points are contrived, but I'm forgiving most of that because the character of Makepiece is so compelling and her perseverance through the harsh realities of her existence makes the book worth reading.
robynryle's review against another edition
This book reminded me of The Outlander, only the world is ending. It was compelling...I finished it in two days. Maybe a little too fuzzy around the edges for me regarding the details of this particular post-acopalypse. And maybe I'm just not this pessimistic. Can humanity never learn from our mistakes? Hunter/gatherer socieities are actually quite peaceful, egalitarian and anti-conflict. If we get knocked back to hunter/gatherers, why wouldn't we go that direction?
jcpdiesel21's review against another edition
4.0
This quiet, stark novel drew me in with its intriguing premise and completely enveloping atmosphere. I admired the strength of main character Makepeace and her witty, philosophical and insightful nature. The overall plot is slight, but the book gives some fascinating social commentary regarding how our relationship with the environment directly affects our actions. I liked that even though it was explained that global warming was the cause of the apocalypse, there are a few mysteries left unanswered for readers to decipher for themselves. The setting and world presented is seemingly barren and bleak at first glance, but there exists a glimmer of hope in the end.
sarabaggins's review against another edition
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
3.0
berndm's review against another edition
3.0
Admittedly, a real page turner. Despite this, it could have been a much better book with a some more editing. There are long passages that don't seem to belong, and at times it doesn't seem like the story knows where it is going. This can be a positive aspect in some books, but here it just feels like the author changed his mind. Other reviews have compared this book to Station Eleven, and I would have to agree that the latter depicts a similar scenario in a much more compelling way.