A review by lighthousebooks
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel

5.0

✨So beautifully imagined, yet tragic.✨ 

I loved how the author, Emily St. John Mandel, connected the characters, Shakespeare, and a science fiction comic book in 𝑺𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑬𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏. Such a thought-provoking read! This is a story about the things we take for granted. About art and community. About regrets. All wrapped up in a pre- and post-apocalyptic setting.

The central theme of regret is so tragically illustrated. It calls to mind 2 Corinthians 7:10: “For godly grief produces repentance that leads to salvation without regret, whereas 𝒘𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅𝒍𝒚 𝒈𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒇 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒅𝒖𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒕𝒉” (emphasis mine). Man, that ending; even though you know it all along the fullness of it hits you hard 😭

There is so much more that could be discussed, especially in terms of worldview. It would make a great book club read. 

❓Have you read this one? What did you think?

⚠️ Occasional strong foul and profane language, many examples of the brokenness in the world, not particularly graphic.

✝️ Explores the dangers of extremism through the depiction of a fanatical “Christian” cult with questionable theology. 

🎟️ Older YA and up. A great one to read and discuss with older teens.

🎡 Themes/discussion topics: the arts, community; faith, hope, love; fanaticism; fatalism, predeterminism, free will; humanism, modern miracles (technology), order v. chaos, regret v. repentance, relationships, resilience, spirituality v. Christian belief