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A review by asreadbycatarina
Severance by Ling Ma
adventurous
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
2023 Reading #14 | Spring (& AAPI Heritage Month) Reads
(When life imitates art.)
_______
Mini-review: Well, I found a new favourite dystopia! This book is SO good it took me out of a reading slump. Taking a jab at our capitalistic workaholic society, it is the perfect critique of the modern world. Plus: it is impressive how the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be an exact enactment of certain parts of this 2018 book. If you are still struggling with what has been happening in our world since 2020, I would leave it for later. (I am not, but I still had to pause my reading several times because the similarities made me uncomfortable.) The ending was kind of dull and rushed but rather than that, it is nothing short of perfect!
_______
Wow, wow and wow again.
Get ready to be blown away by Ling Ma’s Severance. This brilliant literary fiction dystopia subtly and metaphorically defies notions of capitalism, work and humanity, all against the backdrop of a chilling pandemic… Relatable much? Eerily enough, published in 2018, this book mirrors in detail our own collective experience during the COVID-19 outbreak.
At the heart of the narrative lies the enigmatic Shen Fever, a strange and mysterious illness that spreads rapidly across the globe. Originating in China, it is caused by microscopic fungal spores lingering in the air, pushing its victims into a zombie-like state, unconsciously repeating mundane tasks until they eventually die.
Against all odds, our somewhat unloveable protagonist, Candace Chen, seems to be immune to the Fever and we get to closely follow her tumultuous journey, both before and after the pandemic’s outbreak. She often grappled with her personal opinions on the state of the world, especially on the fevered, and witnessed first-hand how the city of New York transformed as the pandemic progressed. While most of the world rapidly succumbed to the Fever, Candace kept on working in an empty office. In true millennial fashion, she kept worrying about her performance in a doomed world. There was always a looming sense that the apocalypse is near — when it was, in fact, already there. Eventually, she woke up to reality and miraculously found her way to a group of survivors in a quest to find their own promised land.
Candace’s story is one of (immigrant) family dynamics, being a millennial in a capitalistic world obsessed with work, and ultimately survival. In a patchworked timeline, it explores the influence nostalgia and memory can have on a quarter-life existential crisis — or, in this particular case, in an apocalyptic world. Candace can be annoying sometimes, but her authenticity and relatability make it impossible to not empathise with and root for her.
Reading this book back in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, when I first bought it, seemed like a daunting thing to do. Even the thought of reading it was too triggering at times. But now, with some distance from that alternative reality, I can say it was strangely comforting. Ling Ma brilliantly portrayed our society’s predictability in the face of adversity, with very realistic characters, reactions and situations that hit close to home. Her satirical and dark humour, which I would have once so vehemently despised out of fear, provided me with a paradoxical solace, offering a fresh perspective on my own anxieties. Nevertheless, I would still recommend you to think about your triggers before reading it.
Even though I initially did not like the ending and even considered it dull, I ended up having a revelation about it. Candance led Bob into fully succumbing to nostalgia and becoming fevered by telling him stories of the past and asking him how he felt about being back in a place that reminded him of his childhood. However, in the process, she inadvertently lead herself down the Fever path: her mom suddenly appeared to her in visions (when it clearly did not happen before), talking to her coherently, advising her on what to do… This was probably the beginning of the Fever for her. And what other reason could she have to disregard the low gas warning sign, keep going until the car stopped and then just keep walking? She then began living in Jonathan’s own memories of Chicago… and the rest is history.
In conclusion, Severance is an unforgettable book, a true testament to Ma’s skilful storytelling and thought-provoking ability. Her exploration of societal themes, coupled with the unsettling familiarity of the pandemic backdrop, creates an immersive reading experience — one that will stay with you long after you finished it.
[Read between 24 May 2023 - 27 May 2023. | Review written on 18 June 2023. || I am also on Bookstagram and Goodreads as @asreadbycatarina!]
(When life imitates art.)
_______
Mini-review: Well, I found a new favourite dystopia! This book is SO good it took me out of a reading slump. Taking a jab at our capitalistic workaholic society, it is the perfect critique of the modern world. Plus: it is impressive how the unfolding of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be an exact enactment of certain parts of this 2018 book. If you are still struggling with what has been happening in our world since 2020, I would leave it for later. (I am not, but I still had to pause my reading several times because the similarities made me uncomfortable.) The ending was kind of dull and rushed but rather than that, it is nothing short of perfect!
_______
Wow, wow and wow again.
Get ready to be blown away by Ling Ma’s Severance. This brilliant literary fiction dystopia subtly and metaphorically defies notions of capitalism, work and humanity, all against the backdrop of a chilling pandemic… Relatable much? Eerily enough, published in 2018, this book mirrors in detail our own collective experience during the COVID-19 outbreak.
At the heart of the narrative lies the enigmatic Shen Fever, a strange and mysterious illness that spreads rapidly across the globe. Originating in China, it is caused by microscopic fungal spores lingering in the air, pushing its victims into a zombie-like state, unconsciously repeating mundane tasks until they eventually die.
Against all odds, our somewhat unloveable protagonist, Candace Chen, seems to be immune to the Fever and we get to closely follow her tumultuous journey, both before and after the pandemic’s outbreak. She often grappled with her personal opinions on the state of the world, especially on the fevered, and witnessed first-hand how the city of New York transformed as the pandemic progressed. While most of the world rapidly succumbed to the Fever, Candace kept on working in an empty office. In true millennial fashion, she kept worrying about her performance in a doomed world. There was always a looming sense that the apocalypse is near — when it was, in fact, already there. Eventually, she woke up to reality and miraculously found her way to a group of survivors in a quest to find their own promised land.
Candace’s story is one of (immigrant) family dynamics, being a millennial in a capitalistic world obsessed with work, and ultimately survival. In a patchworked timeline, it explores the influence nostalgia and memory can have on a quarter-life existential crisis — or, in this particular case, in an apocalyptic world. Candace can be annoying sometimes, but her authenticity and relatability make it impossible to not empathise with and root for her.
Reading this book back in 2020, during the height of the pandemic, when I first bought it, seemed like a daunting thing to do. Even the thought of reading it was too triggering at times. But now, with some distance from that alternative reality, I can say it was strangely comforting. Ling Ma brilliantly portrayed our society’s predictability in the face of adversity, with very realistic characters, reactions and situations that hit close to home. Her satirical and dark humour, which I would have once so vehemently despised out of fear, provided me with a paradoxical solace, offering a fresh perspective on my own anxieties. Nevertheless, I would still recommend you to think about your triggers before reading it.
Even though I initially did not like the ending and even considered it dull, I ended up having a revelation about it. Candance led Bob into fully succumbing to nostalgia and becoming fevered by telling him stories of the past and asking him how he felt about being back in a place that reminded him of his childhood. However, in the process, she inadvertently lead herself down the Fever path: her mom suddenly appeared to her in visions (when it clearly did not happen before), talking to her coherently, advising her on what to do… This was probably the beginning of the Fever for her. And what other reason could she have to disregard the low gas warning sign, keep going until the car stopped and then just keep walking? She then began living in Jonathan’s own memories of Chicago… and the rest is history.
In conclusion, Severance is an unforgettable book, a true testament to Ma’s skilful storytelling and thought-provoking ability. Her exploration of societal themes, coupled with the unsettling familiarity of the pandemic backdrop, creates an immersive reading experience — one that will stay with you long after you finished it.
[Read between 24 May 2023 - 27 May 2023. | Review written on 18 June 2023. || I am also on Bookstagram and Goodreads as @asreadbycatarina!]