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bcbirrer's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
3.5
Like all of Heller's work, this one is beautifully written and takes you deep inside of the character. Post-apocalyptic isn't really my favorite genre, but it's balanced by the lush descriptions of nature.
The dog dies. While it makes sense in the story and is not a violent death, you might want to be prepared for the grieving.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Animal death and Grief
Minor: Rape, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence
tansy's review against another edition
Some of this is simply that right now, in 2021, I am not in the mood to read about someone struggling with isolation in the aftermath of a pandemic, but also some of it is bafflement as to why all the survivors in this book are so murderous. Were serial killers the only ones immune to the plague? There's plenty of space to grow crops and there's clearly game - the protagonist hunts and fishes very successfully! - so why is everyone gaunt and determined to gun each other down over Dr Pepper? Shooting deer must be easier than trying to kill other heavily armed humans! Just so bleak and nihilistic in a way that didn't feel grounded in reality at all.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Murder, and Child death
Minor: Sexual violence
kelseak96's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
It wasn't my thing, but that doesn't make it a bad book. It happened to have lots of things I dislike in books -- airplanes, dogs, occasional references to sexual violence, not a ton of backstory, long descriptions of nature, the list goes on, but while I was pretty bummed out while reading the book, I can say that it was objectively pretty decent. Extra star for taking place in my favorite state.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Grief
Moderate: Blood, Violence, Sexual content, Gore, and Chronic illness
Minor: Sexual violence
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