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tboofy's review
3.0
I wanted to like this more than I did. I usually enjoy our library's Reader's Choice books, but this one was really slow through the first 1/3 of the book. I kept thinking that they should have made it a YA book (dystopian novels are really better when they're YA) and taken out about a fourth of the words. I found myself skipping parts of paragraphs because they were wordy. I actually put it down and read another book before picking it up again because I didn't have anything I wanted to read more.
The middle of the book was really good. I finally started getting into the plot and wondering what would happen next. I'd rank the middle of the book as a 4.
The ending, however...I don't know if this was meant to be a series or not, but if not, the ending didn't resolve anything and made me mad I suffered through the whole book. I couldn't see any indication that there is a second on in the works, so it just kinda ended without any closure for the two main characters. Overall, not my favorite book.
The middle of the book was really good. I finally started getting into the plot and wondering what would happen next. I'd rank the middle of the book as a 4.
The ending, however...I don't know if this was meant to be a series or not, but if not, the ending didn't resolve anything and made me mad I suffered through the whole book. I couldn't see any indication that there is a second on in the works, so it just kinda ended without any closure for the two main characters. Overall, not my favorite book.
lynneelue's review
3.0
This dystopian adult novel was good but not great. It had an interesting concept: post-America ("post-Storm") mostly-underground settlements (called "America-5" for example) were civilized and had everything regulated and nothing to ever want. People who lived outside the settlements they called "tribes"--uncivilized, fighting to survive in the outside elements. Within each settlement are "offices" where people work--and the main character Natasha Wiley works in the Office of Mercy, "mercifully" wiping out tribes with nukes to eliminate their pain and fear in their lives. The book sets this up for about 200 pages and finally gets to the good point in the last 100. Natasha's belonging in the tribe and their consideration of what living is (experiencing whatever comes at you) verses Natasha's belonging in America-5 and her understanding of what living is (logic, no suffering) was the key focus. It's a study of ethics: "In a sweep, one put an end to inevitable suffering, but with this--well, these were lives that up until the attack would have been plentiful and peaceful and good" (294) and "The only hope was for places of peace to go on . . . and for places of horror to disappear" (297). There were lots of good parts to underline because they were thought-provoking and made good points.
Like other dystopian novels, there was romance, but it wasn't primary to the text; it just added a bit of tragedy and foil at the end: Jeffrey sees living differently than Natasha, and all along, they've made a switch in opinion. At the end I was reminded of 1984, because it's like Natasha is forced back into the civilization's views and believes it. You want to root for her but know she's too far gone to turn back to fighting.
Like other dystopian novels, there was romance, but it wasn't primary to the text; it just added a bit of tragedy and foil at the end: Jeffrey sees living differently than Natasha, and all along, they've made a switch in opinion. At the end I was reminded of 1984, because it's like Natasha is forced back into the civilization's views and believes it. You want to root for her but know she's too far gone to turn back to fighting.
drey72's review
3.0
Natasha Wiley is twenty-four and lives in a post-apocalyptic world where the fortunate live in protected underground bunkers, have never known sickness or hunger, are gainfully employed, and realize every single minute of every day how lucky they are. She serves her community in the Office of Mercy, where her job is to monitor the tribes Outside. Kinda like Big Brother in the sky, a Big Brother whose task it is to determine the fates of those not of their own…
The Office has its reasons, of course. Why let a whole tribe of people suffer, from hunger and disease, from the uncertainty of survival? When the hope is slight and the obstacles seem insurmountable? And, don’t those more fortunate have a duty to watch over those less so?
But then Natasha starts to slowly realize that maybe, just maybe, it’s not ok to systematically track – and wipe out – entire tribes of people, not matter what the reason, no matter what the justification. It is especially not ok to then add the number of those wiped, to a tally – one that’s shared – that’s broadcast, even. One that’s a competition against other such enclaves, for who’s more “merciful”…
I enjoyed the premise of the story, the world Djanikian built, and the moral question that’s asked. I did find the telling a bit dry and I wanted Natasha to be more fleshed out, but overall I liked The Office of Mercy.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
The Office has its reasons, of course. Why let a whole tribe of people suffer, from hunger and disease, from the uncertainty of survival? When the hope is slight and the obstacles seem insurmountable? And, don’t those more fortunate have a duty to watch over those less so?
But then Natasha starts to slowly realize that maybe, just maybe, it’s not ok to systematically track – and wipe out – entire tribes of people, not matter what the reason, no matter what the justification. It is especially not ok to then add the number of those wiped, to a tally – one that’s shared – that’s broadcast, even. One that’s a competition against other such enclaves, for who’s more “merciful”…
I enjoyed the premise of the story, the world Djanikian built, and the moral question that’s asked. I did find the telling a bit dry and I wanted Natasha to be more fleshed out, but overall I liked The Office of Mercy.
drey’s rating: Pick it up!
thatonecatmom's review
2.0
I picked this book up on a clearance sale months ago and never read it, so I thought I would give it a shot because it sounds intriguing. It was a difficult read.
I didn't necessarily like this book, but I liked the psychological aspect of it. I liked that the characters in the book discussed God, the concept of Empathy, human relationships, transcendence, etc. It was a good book for me to read for that reason.
I did not like the main character. I had a hard time following her and hated how naive she was. I hated how a lot happened in the book but it felt like very little compared to the length of the book. I liked how the set up was done, but not that the set up went through most of the book. I had a hard time getting through it and felt like it was really all for nothing because the main character was exactly where she started by the end of it.
I didn't necessarily like this book, but I liked the psychological aspect of it. I liked that the characters in the book discussed God, the concept of Empathy, human relationships, transcendence, etc. It was a good book for me to read for that reason.
I did not like the main character. I had a hard time following her and hated how naive she was. I hated how a lot happened in the book but it felt like very little compared to the length of the book. I liked how the set up was done, but not that the set up went through most of the book. I had a hard time getting through it and felt like it was really all for nothing because the main character was exactly where she started by the end of it.
acinthedc's review against another edition
3.0
A contemplative novel examining the morality and ethics of being human in a future America, where to prevent suffering any humans living outside a utopian settlement are "swept" by the Office of Mercy.
xinyuj's review against another edition
3.0
As with most thrillers, this is a book that is enjoyable and hard to put down while you are reading it, but doesn't leave much lasting impact or implore you to think further. I really liked the premise of the story, and the author did a great job with all the details and elaboration of the world she built.
However, the plot was slightly dull, and character developments weren't drawn out nicely or meaningfully (perhaps only Natasha was alright). It got predictable towards the latter part, and the supposed 'twist' wasn't as impactful or meaningful as I expected it to be. Overall, it is a good leisure read, but don't expect too much of a story.
However, the plot was slightly dull, and character developments weren't drawn out nicely or meaningfully (perhaps only Natasha was alright). It got predictable towards the latter part, and the supposed 'twist' wasn't as impactful or meaningful as I expected it to be. Overall, it is a good leisure read, but don't expect too much of a story.
sunbear98's review against another edition
3.0
I listened to this book. I didn't find it as compelling as some reviewers. I found it a little slow and the characters not fully fleshed out. It was a so-so dystopian novel.
ivanas's review against another edition
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
dianacantread's review against another edition
3.0
Surprised and pleased that I liked this more than I anticipated!
With The Office of Mercy, we have a pretty standard future world story with an ethically dubious conflict. It wears its influences on its sleeve (particularly Brave New World and 1984), but it is also clearly in conversation with those works as opposed to ripping them off. It's an aggressively competent novel, with Djanikian hitting all the right story beats and philosophical points and whatnot. There's nothing glaringly "wrong," but it's also doing nothing new.
I did like the writing as a means of characterizing Natasha. She's a naive and impressionable character, and the narration allows for her impetuous judgements and meek responses without beating us over the head with how wrong she can be. There's also this lovely moment when Natasha leaves the settlement for the first time and the forest is described in this lush detail missing from the cold interior dome.
While I enjoyed this for what it was, it is a bit difficult for me to recommend. Again, the central conflict has been done to death in other works, and while Djanikian does well with the material, there's nothing that stands out to distinguish it from other novels that say the same things competently. But, if future worlds that discuss the ethical quandary of "is doing a kill good????" are your cup of tea, you might want to check this out.
3.5/5 stars
With The Office of Mercy, we have a pretty standard future world story with an ethically dubious conflict. It wears its influences on its sleeve (particularly Brave New World and 1984), but it is also clearly in conversation with those works as opposed to ripping them off. It's an aggressively competent novel, with Djanikian hitting all the right story beats and philosophical points and whatnot. There's nothing glaringly "wrong," but it's also doing nothing new.
I did like the writing as a means of characterizing Natasha. She's a naive and impressionable character, and the narration allows for her impetuous judgements and meek responses without beating us over the head with how wrong she can be. There's also this lovely moment when Natasha leaves the settlement for the first time and the forest is described in this lush detail missing from the cold interior dome.
While I enjoyed this for what it was, it is a bit difficult for me to recommend. Again, the central conflict has been done to death in other works, and while Djanikian does well with the material, there's nothing that stands out to distinguish it from other novels that say the same things competently. But, if future worlds that discuss the ethical quandary of "is doing a kill good????" are your cup of tea, you might want to check this out.
3.5/5 stars
quirkyquail87's review against another edition
3.0
*I received an advance uncorrected proof copy of this book via Goodreads First Reads giveaways*