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hanz's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood and Murder
Moderate: Gun violence, War, and Grief
mandkips's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Grief
Moderate: Gun violence and Suicide
Minor: Forced institutionalization and Murder
vigil's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
this novel did so much work in such a short time, i'm not sure where to begin reviewing it. with that said however, if you have any trouble with properly understanding or staying grounded in reality (paranoia, or psychosis for example), and perceived threats to your idea of reality are destabilizing to your person, do not read this book. it delves heavily into time travel, the concept of reality, circular timelines, what makes something real and what doesn't, (then as a follow up, what that means) in ways that can be triggering to anyone sensitive to that.
this could technically be considered a pandemic novel, though i find the description somewhat inaccurate, because it is too limiting. it opens with multiple perspectives across time, ones that are ostensibly disparate, leaving their only thread that ties them together is a shared unexplainable experience. that single moment serves as the jumping off point for themes of death, loneliness, reality, life, and compassion. ESJM expertly weaved this plotlines together in a way that read as natural and effortless. ESJM has a way with words that sacrifices neither poetics nor clarity and emotion. I appreciated her insights and even authorial stand in (in the form of olive) because they always felt precise and free of the contriteness that often occurs with self-inserts.
and on a personal level i adored the settings, and the time she took in showcasing how it would impact the individual character's outlooks, while establishing a strong and immersive atmosphere, especially in the time travel scenes, and chapters set in the moon colonies.
i find it difficult to truly discuss this book without spoilers so i'll close with this: the novel paints a picture that is perhaps more ominous than what truly occurs. i don't know if i could call it a happy ending, (or what that even means) but it is definitely a hopeful one, or at least content. it gives no answers and full closure; i truly cannot imagine the book ending in any other manner.
this could technically be considered a pandemic novel, though i find the description somewhat inaccurate, because it is too limiting. it opens with multiple perspectives across time, ones that are ostensibly disparate, leaving their only thread that ties them together is a shared unexplainable experience. that single moment serves as the jumping off point for themes of death, loneliness, reality, life, and compassion. ESJM expertly weaved this plotlines together in a way that read as natural and effortless. ESJM has a way with words that sacrifices neither poetics nor clarity and emotion. I appreciated her insights and even authorial stand in (in the form of olive) because they always felt precise and free of the contriteness that often occurs with self-inserts.
and on a personal level i adored the settings, and the time she took in showcasing how it would impact the individual character's outlooks, while establishing a strong and immersive atmosphere, especially in the time travel scenes, and chapters set in the moon colonies.
i find it difficult to truly discuss this book without spoilers so i'll close with this: the novel paints a picture that is perhaps more ominous than what truly occurs. i don't know if i could call it a happy ending, (or what that even means) but it is definitely a hopeful one, or at least content. it gives no answers and full closure; i truly cannot imagine the book ending in any other manner.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief, War, Death, and Forced institutionalization
teresareads's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death and Grief
lilifane's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
This is - without a doubt - the best book I've read this year so far.
I recommend it to everyone, basically.
And I think now is the perfect time to read it.
I won't say anything about the plot here, because I think it is best if you go into it blind. But I was blown away by the ideas and the discussions and the mystery and the setting/atmosphere and the writing! It's such a short book (surprisingly short given the contents) and you fly through it, especially the second half.
That being said, to get the most out of it, I recommend reading Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel first, since there are some subtle and some very obvious references to these two books.
If you don't want to read those book, that's fine, Sea of Tranquility will make perfect sense.
But if you think about reading the 2 books after Sea of Tranquility, be warned that there are major spoilers for both of them in this book.
I recommend it to everyone, basically.
And I think now is the perfect time to read it.
I won't say anything about the plot here, because I think it is best if you go into it blind. But I was blown away by the ideas and the discussions and the mystery and the setting/atmosphere and the writing! It's such a short book (surprisingly short given the contents) and you fly through it, especially the second half.
That being said, to get the most out of it, I recommend reading Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel first, since there are some subtle and some very obvious references to these two books.
If you don't want to read those book, that's fine, Sea of Tranquility will make perfect sense.
But if you think about reading the 2 books after Sea of Tranquility, be warned that there are major spoilers for both of them in this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Confinement, and Medical content
Moderate: Colonisation and Terminal illness
Minor: Gun violence, Grief, and War
owenwilsonbaby's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
"This is the strange lesson of living in a pandemic: life can be tranquil in the face of death."
I am in two minds about Sea of Tranquility. I loved this book and I continue to love Mandel's writing. I thought the fractured narrative style served the story really well and all of Olive's narrative sections that potentially reflected some of Mandel's own thoughts on Station Eleven, its public reception and the publishing world were extremely moving. I recently read Mitchell's The Bone Clocks which has a somewhat similar but far less balanced and moving storyline about feeling cynical whilst moving through the writing and publishing world. Mandel's novel took similar concerns and material and elevated it. It deftly handled the pleasures and difficulties of being a public figure who produces art and the range of consequences this has on people's personal lives. Mandel does this in a way that didn't make me feel tired, bored or embarrassed. The overall plot and themes were also really compelling and the prose itself is just beautiful and refined. I've also found this is one of the first pieces of media / fiction I've engaged with in the last two year that addresses the pandemic, and does so in a way that addresses how profound and unjust the ongoing loss of COVID-19 has been, whilst also providing an escapist element that provokes the imagination and encourages the reader to pursue the story.
At the same time, I wish there was more of this book - it sometimes moved far too fast and I wanted to spend more time with the characters, especially Edwin and Mirella. The ending felt a little rushed and Gaspery's story resolved itself too neatly. I wish his story had been weaved throughout from the beginning and that some of the earlier narrative sections were longer. That said, I really enjoyed this and I hope Mandel continues to write sci-fi that is as innovative and moving as this book is.
I am in two minds about Sea of Tranquility. I loved this book and I continue to love Mandel's writing. I thought the fractured narrative style served the story really well and all of Olive's narrative sections that potentially reflected some of Mandel's own thoughts on Station Eleven, its public reception and the publishing world were extremely moving. I recently read Mitchell's The Bone Clocks which has a somewhat similar but far less balanced and moving storyline about feeling cynical whilst moving through the writing and publishing world. Mandel's novel took similar concerns and material and elevated it. It deftly handled the pleasures and difficulties of being a public figure who produces art and the range of consequences this has on people's personal lives. Mandel does this in a way that didn't make me feel tired, bored or embarrassed. The overall plot and themes were also really compelling and the prose itself is just beautiful and refined. I've also found this is one of the first pieces of media / fiction I've engaged with in the last two year that addresses the pandemic, and does so in a way that addresses how profound and unjust the ongoing loss of COVID-19 has been, whilst also providing an escapist element that provokes the imagination and encourages the reader to pursue the story.
At the same time, I wish there was more of this book - it sometimes moved far too fast and I wanted to spend more time with the characters, especially Edwin and Mirella. The ending felt a little rushed and Gaspery's story resolved itself too neatly. I wish his story had been weaved throughout from the beginning and that some of the earlier narrative sections were longer. That said, I really enjoyed this and I hope Mandel continues to write sci-fi that is as innovative and moving as this book is.
Content Warnings
Moderate: War, Body horror, Grief, Mental illness, Suicide, and Vomit
sar_a_i's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, and Suicide
ababbabby's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
very well constructed and i loved seeing the way all of the pieces came together, which i expected after reading and enjoying station eleven. definitely one i’ll be thinking about for a while.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief
Moderate: Gun violence
bsmucker's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Grief
emhunsber's review against another edition
adventurous
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Grief, Death of parent, Colonisation, Murder, and Suicide
Minor: Mental illness, Terminal illness, Alcohol, Child death, Forced institutionalization, Car accident, Colonisation, and Gun violence