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A review by claudetteb
Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz
3.0
Full disclosure: I couldn't stop reading this book!
Only 3 stars because it left me so dissatisfied. The story is told from several different perspectives. The characters are mostly from the Philosophy Department (profs and students) of a small eastern college. Some are more clearly defined than others and the author states in her interview that some of these characters were the main people in some short stories she wrote. This is exactly how they are portrayed as well. The characters are all interconnected in some way - closer than 6 degrees in some cases, and obviously manipulated to be "Ohhh" moments in many cases - and are (I think) supposed to all be joined in this story by the Pandemic. Unfortunately, this just doesn't work, and this is the reason for my discontent. I kept hoping this would come together, and it just doesn't. It's very forced, and while some threads are resolved, many aren't.
Of course, the Pandemic as written is amazing, because this book was mostly written years ago. The research is astounding, and kudos to the author for really nailing it. But again, it just didn't seem finished, somehow. We get snippets, and lots of Wikipedia moments, explantions, and philosophy galore, but there were a lot of dropped threads regarding this as well.
As readable as this book is, it could have been so much better with either fewer threads, or less detailed philosophy (if everyone agrees, it's not much of a conversation, even for the reader), and more completion.
I think some of the relationships could be better developed too. For example, Jericho and Sarah. Really? One kiss, and 2 lives are put in jeopardy? Come on. Also, what the heck happened to Stu in Jericho's life? These are some of the threads that just seemed to have been set aside as one then another character become the "star" for a short time.
I think the Pandemic was supposed to tie it all in together, but as you see, it didn't seem to do it, for me in any case.
I still would recommend this book, as I said, it's very readable, and the Pandemic is very interesting!
Only 3 stars because it left me so dissatisfied. The story is told from several different perspectives. The characters are mostly from the Philosophy Department (profs and students) of a small eastern college. Some are more clearly defined than others and the author states in her interview that some of these characters were the main people in some short stories she wrote. This is exactly how they are portrayed as well. The characters are all interconnected in some way - closer than 6 degrees in some cases, and obviously manipulated to be "Ohhh" moments in many cases - and are (I think) supposed to all be joined in this story by the Pandemic. Unfortunately, this just doesn't work, and this is the reason for my discontent. I kept hoping this would come together, and it just doesn't. It's very forced, and while some threads are resolved, many aren't.
Of course, the Pandemic as written is amazing, because this book was mostly written years ago. The research is astounding, and kudos to the author for really nailing it. But again, it just didn't seem finished, somehow. We get snippets, and lots of Wikipedia moments, explantions, and philosophy galore, but there were a lot of dropped threads regarding this as well.
As readable as this book is, it could have been so much better with either fewer threads, or less detailed philosophy (if everyone agrees, it's not much of a conversation, even for the reader), and more completion.
I think some of the relationships could be better developed too. For example, Jericho and Sarah. Really? One kiss, and 2 lives are put in jeopardy? Come on. Also, what the heck happened to Stu in Jericho's life? These are some of the threads that just seemed to have been set aside as one then another character become the "star" for a short time.
I think the Pandemic was supposed to tie it all in together, but as you see, it didn't seem to do it, for me in any case.
I still would recommend this book, as I said, it's very readable, and the Pandemic is very interesting!