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3.65 AVERAGE
3.65 AVERAGE
challenging
dark
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Complicated
reflective
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'm sure the characters were intentionally supposed to be unlikable but I found it grating that the main family was incapable of communicating with each other without one of them immediately coping an attitude or flashing on somebody. It could be the littlest thing. Didn't help that they would barely speak to each other in the first place and when they did, they said very little. The way autism in relation to the biracial character Noah, the only person of color in the main family, was talked about in the story was very othering as well and made me a little uncomfortable.
The book is just shy of 300 pages and has too many points of view in my opinion. There would be no clear distinction between povs at times and I found myself wondering who exactly was talking, where we were geographically and when it was taking place. I didn't really care for any characters. I suppose it had to be this way because the author wanted to explore life before, during and after a climate crisis and that is something that would occur over generations. But that meant I didn't care about anyone or their story save for maybe Noah.
I don't feel inspired or moved by this story. I don't feel like my perspective of humanity has changed in any way. I can't remember when I bought this book - maybe around 2018? I think I got it from BookOutlet. I can't remember why I bought this book but I think it was a bit of a waste of time.
Wasn't the worst thing I've read but not great.
The book is just shy of 300 pages and has too many points of view in my opinion. There would be no clear distinction between povs at times and I found myself wondering who exactly was talking, where we were geographically and when it was taking place. I didn't really care for any characters. I suppose it had to be this way because the author wanted to explore life before, during and after a climate crisis and that is something that would occur over generations. But that meant I didn't care about anyone or their story save for maybe Noah.
I don't feel inspired or moved by this story. I don't feel like my perspective of humanity has changed in any way. I can't remember when I bought this book - maybe around 2018? I think I got it from BookOutlet. I can't remember why I bought this book but I think it was a bit of a waste of time.
Wasn't the worst thing I've read but not great.
At once simple and complex, depressing and hopeful; the self-portrait of the frog in boiling water that is our species. My only regret is not reading more slowly.
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
No
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
Good book, creepy in post pandemic 2021. Quite grounding & brings you back to the truth of our future. I liked the concept, would have liked a little more detail /depth on each story in the different chapters. It is essentially a series of short stories/snapshot looking at different characters within the family - this could have gone much more into detail on the different characters & experiences, also showing people from different backgrounds who are less privileged, or from different countries. Or it could have been a series of short stories. I’m not sure it worked & some of the family links were a little tenuous. But In some ways it did work , showing how we are all connected.
I don’t get why bees are on the cover, they’re not that central to the plot. I would have gone for a cover with some kind of glitchy techy family tree.
I don’t get why bees are on the cover, they’re not that central to the plot. I would have gone for a cover with some kind of glitchy techy family tree.
I really enjoyed the style of shifting perspectives, an overview of human life, glimpses into an ever changing world.
I was slightly put off by the introduction of an autistic kid who is constantly spoken about as a burden. The bit from his perspective isn't totally terribly written but there's no point at which any of the other characters look at him with anything other than like... Sorrow at how hard it is to be him, or wonder at what a beautiful mind he has or whatever. It's never really discussed in a way that allows him to be a real person and not just another stereotype. Idk it's not bad in a way that ruins the book.
Not a book for people who enjoy clear resolutions, this just sets up and jumps away. I quite liked it
I was slightly put off by the introduction of an autistic kid who is constantly spoken about as a burden. The bit from his perspective isn't totally terribly written but there's no point at which any of the other characters look at him with anything other than like... Sorrow at how hard it is to be him, or wonder at what a beautiful mind he has or whatever. It's never really discussed in a way that allows him to be a real person and not just another stereotype. Idk it's not bad in a way that ruins the book.
Not a book for people who enjoy clear resolutions, this just sets up and jumps away. I quite liked it
This author has a lot to say, but I don't if novels are the best form of writing for him. This book had no flow and I didn't think it was engaging at all. We are following a family that has to deal with several doomsday scenarios all being piled upon them. I didn't give a crap about any of the characters because there was no real character development. There are just standard Husband, Wife, Daughter, and Grandson archetypes. The grandson character is autistic so there is that dynamic.
I really wanted to like this but it was kind of a mess, especially as it got closer to the end.
I really wanted to like this but it was kind of a mess, especially as it got closer to the end.
I am a bit suspicious of the Hamish Hamilton imprint and specifically it is eerie how similar Clade is to [b:The World Without Us|26022403|The World Without Us|Mireille Juchau|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1438661301l/26022403._SY75_.jpg|45800147]. You only need one of these books to Get The Point. But I'll choose to believe in coincidence (as with Station Eleven/ The Lightest Object in the Universe, although the latter came out after Station Eleven so the similarities are less forgiveable). This is a pretty alarming book, honestly, and it should be, but I'm not sure if its a useful sort of alarm; t made me freaked out late at night. I wanted to know more about each character; the flickering unsettled me.
Short sad novel of extinction. Neat technique of shifting narrators with genetic connection.