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A review by leslielopezholder
How High We Go in the Dark by Sequoia Nagamatsu
dark
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
WOW. I am struggling to put this book into words. I am a sucker for dystopian/apocalyptic reads, but was hesitant to read this for so long because it was recommended for fans of Station Eleven, of which I am not. I, however, loved Severance -- which this is also compared to--and consider it to be one of my favorites of all time, and so I picked it up. The first chapter had me hooked immediately. With its captivating writing, tense and often darkly humorous tones, and notes of persevering hope, I suggest this to anyone who enjoys a mix of speculative fiction, climate dystopians, and science fiction.
The author perfectly threaded the line between short stories and a cohesive novel. Each of the chapters had a nugget of interconnectedness that ties the characters and the stories together. I thought this was a beautiful allusion to the threads of humanity with the people we encounter in our own lives. I found myself sitting speechless and ruminating the stories after each chapter (sometimes from the tension or the morbidity, but often from the profoundness), and I think I will continue to do so for a long time. I happen to love the ending. I think it closed the loop on all the stories and tied all little easter eggs (if a detail seems to be inconsequential, it probably isn't) together.
The only fault I have with the book is that I could have done without maybe 2 of the chapters because they didn't quite add to the larger narrative that wasn't already touched on in other chapters, making it feel repetitive. But it was not enough to take away from the excitement of reading this book again in the near future. I imagine a re-read will add a layer of appreciation, knowing what happens in the end.
The author perfectly threaded the line between short stories and a cohesive novel. Each of the chapters had a nugget of interconnectedness that ties the characters and the stories together. I thought this was a beautiful allusion to the threads of humanity with the people we encounter in our own lives. I found myself sitting speechless and ruminating the stories after each chapter (sometimes from the tension or the morbidity, but often from the profoundness), and I think I will continue to do so for a long time. I happen to love the ending. I think it closed the loop on all the stories and tied all little easter eggs (if a detail seems to be inconsequential, it probably isn't) together.
The only fault I have with the book is that I could have done without maybe 2 of the chapters because they didn't quite add to the larger narrative that wasn't already touched on in other chapters, making it feel repetitive. But it was not enough to take away from the excitement of reading this book again in the near future. I imagine a re-read will add a layer of appreciation, knowing what happens in the end.