Reviews - Termush, côte Atlantique

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674 reviews for:

Termush, côte Atlantique

Sven Holm

3.4 AVERAGE

readwithleigh's review against another edition

3.5

dark reflective sad slow-paced

Plot or Character Driven: Plot

Strong character development: Complicated

Loveable characters: N/A

Diverse cast of characters: N/A

Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated

in the world of apocalyptic fiction, Termush certainly seems tame. it explores the fragility of the human psyche in the face of disaster and takes the reader on a slow descent into a privileged version of total collapse.

i found it to be a bit boring at times, but i think the mundanity is what makes it so compelling. as Jeff Vandermeer pointed out in the intro, we are living in the age of countless disasters, meaning most have experienced some form of hardship as a result. it makes sense, then, that it would be boring to read the observations of someone pampered and sheltered from the irradiated world around them.

i really think this book was beyond its time, and while i didn't fully enjoy it, i do think it was well worth reading if only for the literary historical value.

sbratty17's review against another edition

4.75

challenging dark tense fast-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

misa1's review against another edition

2.0

This is such an intriguing premise but I found it completely unremarkable. The narrative is well written, but as one other reviewer here on Good Reads said, it feels like there is a more interesting story happening in the world of this book, it's just not the one we're being told.

theleoheff's review against another edition

3.0

Snowy morning on the train read. It’s fine - the imagery is evocative and the concept is intriguing. But the plot itself just felt a little lackluster for my taste. I was a bit surprised by VanderMeer’s (a modern sci-fi “legend” more or less for his Southern Reach Trilogy) describing this as “a classic”. It’s a good short read for sci-fi fans of the post-apocalyptic world variety but nothing more in my opinion.

jayburding's review against another edition

3.0

This book is both lacking and simultaneously pinpoint accurate to the experiences of the rich and privileged when faced with the end of the world. It's almost farcical the way they gripe about the injured imposing upon the supplies and space that they paid for in advance, and struggle with self actualisation in the liminal space of the hotel, meanwhile people outside are fighting just to survive, sick from radiation and dying in their droves.

I see and understand the metaphors and feel it communicates a familiar message, but the distant style, whether it's an accurate translation or a failure of translation, is almost too much. I think it could have been bolder, harsher, but perhaps the author wasn't aiming to scalp the rich quite as earnestly as I was. It feels like a recognition of how divorced from reality the rich are via their privilege, but divorces itself too successfully to hit as hard as it could.