Scan barcode
A review by scribblinginthemargins
Weather by Jenny Offill
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Written in stunning prose-poem style and explores climate crisis/anxiety, "prepping" for permacrisis and holding lightly to everyone and everything. I almost felt like this was a Buddhist-style philosophy text rather than a novella with the wistful doom of the main character discussing how her life will look once the collapse of the ecosystem hits.
This book felt particularly poignant in it's depictions of "prepping" and living in a constant state of anticipation of the next crisis/permacrisis considering the wake of the COVID pandemic. It sits uncomfortablely with the reader and the poem-like fragments leave enough gaps to fill in with your own sense of unease.
Nothing much happens in the book - there is no story or character arc - but I feel that adds to the sense of anticipation/crisis. Like waiting for something catastrophic to happen. I was intrigued by the co-dependent relationship between the main character and her brother and potentially something else could've come from this rather than constant stasis.
This book felt particularly poignant in it's depictions of "prepping" and living in a constant state of anticipation of the next crisis/permacrisis considering the wake of the COVID pandemic. It sits uncomfortablely with the reader and the poem-like fragments leave enough gaps to fill in with your own sense of unease.
Nothing much happens in the book - there is no story or character arc - but I feel that adds to the sense of anticipation/crisis. Like waiting for something catastrophic to happen. I was intrigued by the co-dependent relationship between the main character and her brother and potentially something else could've come from this rather than constant stasis.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Drug abuse