Reviews

The End of the World Is Bigger than Love by Davina Bell

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cmurnion's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

anna_hepworth's review against another edition

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Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

There are some really good ideas in this story, and I really engaged with it up to the point where I wondered how on earth the author was going to resolve this without breaking 'character' for the story. And the answer is - they didn't. I'd say that the ending effectively falls on its face.

The 'resolution' was something I started to wonder about early on, and I was intensely frustrated with how it panned out.

Partway through, I likened it to a) a prose poem and b) Barefoot in the Head (Brian Aldiss) both of which work for me in terms of being opaque. I also felt a lot like I did when reading One hundred years of solitude (Gabriel García Márquez ) which is a book I gave up on. This one had the advantage of being a little more comprehensible, and significantly shorter

Content Warnings

elliecleland5's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional mysterious tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

tehani's review against another edition

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2.0

I really struggled with this. Unreliable narration is difficult to pull off and I don’t think the author succeeded here. Some plot elements also really bothered me, and it was just too odd. In the end, the characterisation for both girls sort of failed, and so many plot points seemed kind of purposeless, which didn’t help. I don’t think this will connect with it’s intended audience at all and I’m a bit disappointed in the national judging panels that seem to have been carried away by supposed “cleverness” in writing and not realised how few readers in the age group will engage with it. It is narratively unsatisfying at best, and obnoxiously condescending to the intelligence of the reader at worst.

If you’re looking for an excellent example of a long form YA story with an unreliable narrator, skip this and read Liar by Justine Larbalestier instead.

textpublishing's review against another edition

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The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing – publisher of The End of the World is Bigger than Love

‘A young adult version of Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel, with lashings of creativity and magic realism…This novel heralds the arrival of an ingenious new talent.’
Books+Publishing

'Bell has created a detailed and evocative universe.’
Australian Book Review

‘An exquisite, mesmerising, timely and brilliantly conceived ode to literature and humanity…A young-adult version of Station Eleven meets After the Lights Go Out meets Z for Zachariah meets something completely indescribable.’
Better Read Than Dead

'An audacious yet brilliantly balanced and sustained tale set on a remote island in an almost recognisable future.’
Joy Lawn

‘There is something tidal about Bell’s lyrical writing – it seems made up of currents that move you around the story in ways that are difficult to pin down. All reading is an act of trust, and Davina Bell’s highly original story is worth the investment.’
Sydney Morning Herald

'The most outstanding young adult novel I read in 2020…[Davina Bell] has ascended into another sphere with this intuitive, surreal and assured literary work. The End of the World is Bigger than Love invites multiple readings and will imprint the imagination.’
Australian

'I can barely put to words how I feel after reading The End of the World is Bigger Than Love. A masterful tapestry of brutality and poetry, this book magnifies the severity that a pandemic and global warming can cause on our planet. A survival story between two sisters that you will never forget.'
Readings Teen Advisory Board

'This book is magical realism at its finest—a story that is utterly unique and beautifully executed, filled with ethereal imagery and descriptive language...This book is both strange and accessible, suitable for readers across the Older Readers age spectrum, especially those who need to be challenged.’
CBCA judges's comments

'This novel is an ode to the love and connection of twin sisters, the coping mechanisms we create in order to deal with trauma and loss, and the ingenuity and strength two young girls find in their quest to survive a world that is 'greying’...This beguiling story leaves you with many unanswered questions and a distressing window into what may lie ahead, into the things that could make the world stop turning, and the things we are willing to sacrifice, in order to save ourselves and the people we love. The End of the World is Bigger than Love will linger in your mind, as you consider what becomes of Summer and Winter in the many layers of this magical tale.’
Judges’ comments, Prime Minister’s Literary Awards 2021 (shortlisted)