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brekaboujie's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
First 5 star review which is very exciting!! I have literally just finished this so this might change once I've let it settle in my brain a little more.
I raced through this book, it was very fast paced. I was a bit concerned at the beginning that the structure would put me off, as sometimes jumping from so many perspectives or plot lines can leave me a bit detatched or impatient to get back to my favourite bits, but this wasn't like that at all. There was a constant thread that went through the whole book, which I wasnt expecting as I'd completely forgotten the blurb by the time I'd picked it up. Relevant side note, would definitely recommend jumping straight in without knowing the plot by the way, it was fun.
I also have to admit, I got a violent sense of dread by the time I was half way and the first plot twist came in. Generally the book seemed like just an interesting exploration through time to start but that middle section and the way it pulled everything together was really chilling to me. It gave me Piranesi (by Susanna Clark) vibes - I found that book pretty intense and unsettling at times, and this matched that. It was a really cool take on this kind of storyline.
Only thing to note I guess was that there was loads left out plot wise.Like, what the hell is actually going on with the Time Institute? I get a real vibe that its run by people who know 100% about the simulation already, or that there is something bizarre going on. Why are they protecting a particular timeline? And there are multiple??? Is this leading up to a Zoey sequel?? (Personally idk if i would vibe with that but there is plenty of space for it). Also what about Dion's special project helping to build the insitute, was that just a throwaway line to connect everything in? There was sinultaneously a feeling of a very fleshed out setting in each of these spaces and also the most SHALLOW description of each. Each of these things didn't take away from the experience of reading it but it has left me with a lot of just like WHAT IS THIS THOUGH etc.
Overall, found it super pacey, interesting premise, loved the twists (oh my god I haven't even talked about the end i LOVED the end), and a very unique feeling to a book, I've not really read anything like it l!! Which is always exciting.
I raced through this book, it was very fast paced. I was a bit concerned at the beginning that the structure would put me off, as sometimes jumping from so many perspectives or plot lines can leave me a bit detatched or impatient to get back to my favourite bits, but this wasn't like that at all. There was a constant thread that went through the whole book, which I wasnt expecting as I'd completely forgotten the blurb by the time I'd picked it up. Relevant side note, would definitely recommend jumping straight in without knowing the plot by the way, it was fun.
I also have to admit, I got a violent sense of dread by the time I was half way and the first plot twist came in. Generally the book seemed like just an interesting exploration through time to start but that middle section and the way it pulled everything together was really chilling to me. It gave me Piranesi (by Susanna Clark) vibes - I found that book pretty intense and unsettling at times, and this matched that. It was a really cool take on this kind of storyline.
Only thing to note I guess was that there was loads left out plot wise.
Overall, found it super pacey, interesting premise, loved the twists (oh my god I haven't even talked about the end i LOVED the end), and a very unique feeling to a book, I've not really read anything like it l!! Which is always exciting.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death
potentially spoilers so I'll hide it butwithlivjones's review against another edition
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
A mind-blowing and existential read. Books that involve time travel sometimes fall into the trap of trying to be too clever and ending up with loads of plot holes and very little closure. This is not that kind of book. I love the way everything was wrapped up in this book in a way I would never have expected, and how all the tiny details mentioned earlier in the book had their own place. It also asks some really interesting questions about fate - if you knew when and how everyone you know was going to die, what would you do? Would you try and prevent those deaths regardless of the possible consequences?
I’m not sure if I’ll ever really enjoy a pandemic novel (which this book briefly becomes - I lived through it and I don’t fancy experiencing it again thanks), and I do think that the pacing was a little all over the place (the beginning, for example, is extremely slow and leans more into historical fiction than sci-fi) but the ending is more than worth the wait.
I’m not sure if I’ll ever really enjoy a pandemic novel (which this book briefly becomes - I lived through it and I don’t fancy experiencing it again thanks), and I do think that the pacing was a little all over the place (the beginning, for example, is extremely slow and leans more into historical fiction than sci-fi) but the ending is more than worth the wait.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Pandemic/Epidemic, Death of parent, Death, and Suicide
emilywemily6's review against another edition
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
I really enjoyed this book! The author’s writing is really captivating and I loved how all the storylines connected. This was strange sci fi but in a more approachable way than other strange sci fi novels (ex. Annihilation). I also really like the things that I reflected on as the reader and the things that the characters learned through their experiences. I just wish I had more of everything this novel has! More character depth for some of the characters that were skimped out on and more details about the impacts of time travel would have made this perfect. I thoroughly enjoyed myself the whole time I listened to this book.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Death and Grief
Minor: Gun violence, War, Vomit, and Alcohol
dforestgamble's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
reflective
medium-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
4.5
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Death
maddie_can_read's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Found it a bit slow to get into.
The writing and the characterization is so good that even though you're only with each of the initial characters for a short period of time (time both in terms of chapters, and time in terms of a very short period of their lives), you care for them and get a sense of who they are. Loved the writing style. Loved how everything came together at the end.
The only thing I want from this book is moremore details about the colonies, how the time travel works, more about the time institute, more about the characters
The writing and the characterization is so good that even though you're only with each of the initial characters for a short period of time (time both in terms of chapters, and time in terms of a very short period of their lives), you care for them and get a sense of who they are. Loved the writing style. Loved how everything came together at the end.
The only thing I want from this book is more
Content Warnings
Graphic: War and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Suicide and Violence
Minor: Forced institutionalization, Colonisation, Death, Injury/Injury detail, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
dinipandareads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Whoa. That's how this book left me feeling by the end. I was concerned for a minute that maybe I wasn't smart enough for this book because I found myself getting confused by what was happening around the 66% mark. The writing kept me gripped though and I'm glad that I didn't waver because when it did click, it was wow. How clever and neat and entirely not what I expected! As I was reading two books of similar genres and styles came to mind: The Chronicles of St. Mary by Jodi Taylor and Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell and I think that's what made me love this more.
The synopsis is vague and for good reason. There's not much I can say about this that won't give the plot away entirely but I thoroughly enjoyed this "cosy-esque" science fiction about time travel. Despite my initial confusion around halfway through, this was a relatively accessible SF story that doesn't get overly technical about the physics or mechanics of time travel as a concept, which I appreciated. This was (somehow) my first book by Emily St. John Mandel but I can say that it won't be the last. Her writing has a dreamy and hypnotizing quality to it that, at times, makes you question what's real and what's not, but it's entirely captivating and I was easily swept along for what turned out to be a wonderfully thought-provoking ride! I found the images played out like a movie in my head and even though each character's chapters weren't long, I found myself fully immersed in their settings and stories and I felt emotionally connected to all of them.
Overall, I think this is going to be a story that sticks with me for a while after I finish reading it. As it is, I'm still thinking about how brilliantly St. John Mandel wove everything together for that ending. I loved it and I would definitely recommend it if you're curious, enjoy science fiction or would like to dip your toe into a genre that you're not entirely comfortable with.
The synopsis is vague and for good reason. There's not much I can say about this that won't give the plot away entirely but I thoroughly enjoyed this "cosy-esque" science fiction about time travel. Despite my initial confusion around halfway through, this was a relatively accessible SF story that doesn't get overly technical about the physics or mechanics of time travel as a concept, which I appreciated. This was (somehow) my first book by Emily St. John Mandel but I can say that it won't be the last. Her writing has a dreamy and hypnotizing quality to it that, at times, makes you question what's real and what's not, but it's entirely captivating and I was easily swept along for what turned out to be a wonderfully thought-provoking ride! I found the images played out like a movie in my head and even though each character's chapters weren't long, I found myself fully immersed in their settings and stories and I felt emotionally connected to all of them.
Overall, I think this is going to be a story that sticks with me for a while after I finish reading it. As it is, I'm still thinking about how brilliantly St. John Mandel wove everything together for that ending. I loved it and I would definitely recommend it if you're curious, enjoy science fiction or would like to dip your toe into a genre that you're not entirely comfortable with.
Content Warnings
Minor: Suicide, Death, Pandemic/Epidemic, and War
kaylallavender's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic and Death
sramac's review against another edition
adventurous
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
4.25
Content Warnings
Minor: Sexism, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Gun violence, Grief, Vomit, Suicide, Pandemic/Epidemic, War, and Death
thesapphiccelticbookworm's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Colonisation
Minor: Death
shesreadingagain_'s review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
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
4.0
I am writing this review after just finishing the book and I have a feeling this book is going to stick with me.
The author not so abstractly asks the reader to consider humanity in a time of inhumanity. Would you try to save someone by any means necessary if it means you will suffer unbearable consequences? I did not know what I was walking to and I feel like it had a deeper impact not knowing. Wow. The ending was so perfect. Man. My head is spinning and I absolutely loved this.
The author not so abstractly asks the reader to consider humanity in a time of inhumanity. Would you try to save someone by any means necessary if it means you will suffer unbearable consequences? I did not know what I was walking to and I feel like it had a deeper impact not knowing. Wow. The ending was so perfect. Man. My head is spinning and I absolutely loved this.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pandemic/Epidemic, Grief, and Death