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_cecilie_'s review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
First off, after reading my last short story collection that was a bit underwhelming so to speak, I wanted to take a break but clearly forgot what this book was when starting to read it. Lucky for me, it isn’t structured like the typical collection where the stories may very superficially have similar themes and settings, it’s more like the author had an idea for specific type of setting and story but too many characters and plot ideas for a novel to work, so decided to write a short story collection instead.
All of the stories deal with individual fates in a post-apocalyptic world where some type of virus has swept over the planet, killing millions of people in the duration of the pandemic – very topical indeed. The stories have been arranged chronologically, the first story taking place right after the inciting discovery and following outbreak. The next ones all deal with the dystopian fallout of this new plague, the horror, uncertainty, denial, mourning and death on a global and individual level. Most of them have a deeply melancholic, very personal and occasionally hopeful feeling and are generally linked through their themes, the universe they take place in and some of the characters having a tangential impact on each other's lives. Another big feature in this collection is the trope ‘found family’ which I admittedly enjoy reading about.
The characters are almost all Asian or Asian-American, which offers a perspective that differs from many other sci-fi main charac-ters and I personally thought it was interesting. All of them have at least aspects which are relatable to probably most readers but they do vary: we have scientist who are bad mothers but good people, depressed yet sympathetic comedians, small children, music lovers, researchers and everyday people alike struggling with ethics, pig boys, avoidant sons, quiet parents disconnected from their children, dead relatives, doctors, patients, introverted neighbours, virtual identities and … aliens?
It’s a lot. And that is also my biggest criticism with this short story collection. After a certain time all the voices, all the people, all the individual fates blend together. It’s just too many stories and I’d have rated this higher if the collection had been better curated.
All of the stories deal with individual fates in a post-apocalyptic world where some type of virus has swept over the planet, killing millions of people in the duration of the pandemic – very topical indeed. The stories have been arranged chronologically, the first story taking place right after the inciting discovery and following outbreak. The next ones all deal with the dystopian fallout of this new plague, the horror, uncertainty, denial, mourning and death on a global and individual level. Most of them have a deeply melancholic, very personal and occasionally hopeful feeling and are generally linked through their themes, the universe they take place in and some of the characters having a tangential impact on each other's lives. Another big feature in this collection is the trope ‘found family’ which I admittedly enjoy reading about.
The characters are almost all Asian or Asian-American, which offers a perspective that differs from many other sci-fi main charac-ters and I personally thought it was interesting. All of them have at least aspects which are relatable to probably most readers but they do vary: we have scientist who are bad mothers but good people, depressed yet sympathetic comedians, small children, music lovers, researchers and everyday people alike struggling with ethics, pig boys, avoidant sons, quiet parents disconnected from their children, dead relatives, doctors, patients, introverted neighbours, virtual identities and … aliens?
It’s a lot. And that is also my biggest criticism with this short story collection. After a certain time all the voices, all the people, all the individual fates blend together. It’s just too many stories and I’d have rated this higher if the collection had been better curated.
s_h_a_r_i's review against another edition
5.0
Such a beautiful and sad book.
Recommended for people who love short stories about death with huge interconnected casts.
Great audiobook production. At least once, I found myself sitting in my car in Park after arriving home, just to catch a few more minutes of story (thank you, Songs of Your Decay).
Recommended for people who love short stories about death with huge interconnected casts.
Great audiobook production. At least once, I found myself sitting in my car in Park after arriving home, just to catch a few more minutes of story (thank you, Songs of Your Decay).
baley's review
3.0
I have mixed feelings about this book. I found the first few chapters to be very interesting. The commercialization of death was an interesting, and probably realistic take on what would happen if a long-term plague spread throughout the world.
The middle of the book slowed down for me. At first, it was interesting reading about the psychological impact these events would have on people but it just went on and on and on...I started to lose interest and wanted the story to progress.
The story took a lot of turns I didn't expect it to, which wasn't disappointing, but I wish the middle had more development than it did.
The middle of the book slowed down for me. At first, it was interesting reading about the psychological impact these events would have on people but it just went on and on and on...I started to lose interest and wanted the story to progress.
The story took a lot of turns I didn't expect it to, which wasn't disappointing, but I wish the middle had more development than it did.
yesthattom's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
inspiring
reflective
sad
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
5.0
One of the saddest and emotional books I’ve ever read and I would recommend everyone read it.
mary_landes2's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
4.0
amichael098's review
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
smccarthy's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
5.0
bumblebear82's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
santhanakana's review
2.0
I’m sorry really forced myself to finish this! Started off promising but by the last few stories, I was bored!!!! Daring ideas but boring execution ! I want a robo- dog tho but without the dead person sentiment behind it…