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A review by jlynnoh5
Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz
4.0
Ever read a book and get a serious case of deja vu? I definitely had that occur several times while reading Songs for the End of the World by Saleema Nawaz. Masks, social distancing, rationed food products – it all rings a little close for comfort given our current situation. Written between 2013-2019, the novel takes place during a global pandemic that occurs during the summer of 2020.
You might be asking yourself…”Is this author a time traveler? A Nostradamus? A psychic? All of the above?” Regardless, she is extremely skilled at her craft and I highly recommend checking out this novel.
From the publisher – This is the story of a handful of people who find themselves living through an unfolding catastrophe.
Elliot is a first responder in New York, a man running from past failures and struggling to do the right thing. Emma is a pregnant singer preparing to headline a benefit concert for victims of the outbreak–all while questioning what kind of world her child is coming into. Owen is the author of a bestselling plague novel with eerie similarities to the real-life pandemic. As fact and fiction begin to blur, he must decide whether his lifelong instinct for self-preservation has been worth the cost.
As the novel moves back and forth in time, we discover these characters’ ties to one another–and to those whose lives intersect with theirs–in an extraordinary web of connection and community that reveals none of us is ever truly alone. Linking them all is the mystery of the so-called ARAMIS Girl, a woman at the first infection site whose unknown identity and whereabouts cause a furor.
Written and revised between 2013 and 2019, and brilliantly told by an unforgettable chorus of voices, Saleema Nawaz’s glittering novel is a moving and hopeful meditation on what we owe to ourselves and to each other. It reminds us that disaster can bring out the best in people–and that coming together may be what saves us in the end.
This was a beautifully written story about the very core of humanity. How we deal with isolation, fear and pain, while continuing to hold on to hope and resiliency in the face of great adversity. The novel is much more than a disaster/pandemic story, reminding the reader of the importance of human connection. It reminds me a lot of Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, Station Eleven, another expertly crafted character study set during a global catastrophe.
Nawaz creates an amazing cast of characters, weaving them together in creative and unique ways. The story reads like a “six degrees of separation” game, as each chapter serves to connect one person to the next. I thoroughly enjoyed Elliot’s character as I felt he had the most realistic and developed experience throughout the novel.
Though narrated by several different individuals,the plot remains easy to follow, which speaks to it’s strength and deepens the reader’s understanding of each character’s motives. The plot takes place both in the past and present, providing interesting context for the events leading up to the pandemic and further cementing the relationships between the characters.
I definitely recommend this novel if you are looking for your next great read.
You might be asking yourself…”Is this author a time traveler? A Nostradamus? A psychic? All of the above?” Regardless, she is extremely skilled at her craft and I highly recommend checking out this novel.
From the publisher – This is the story of a handful of people who find themselves living through an unfolding catastrophe.
Elliot is a first responder in New York, a man running from past failures and struggling to do the right thing. Emma is a pregnant singer preparing to headline a benefit concert for victims of the outbreak–all while questioning what kind of world her child is coming into. Owen is the author of a bestselling plague novel with eerie similarities to the real-life pandemic. As fact and fiction begin to blur, he must decide whether his lifelong instinct for self-preservation has been worth the cost.
As the novel moves back and forth in time, we discover these characters’ ties to one another–and to those whose lives intersect with theirs–in an extraordinary web of connection and community that reveals none of us is ever truly alone. Linking them all is the mystery of the so-called ARAMIS Girl, a woman at the first infection site whose unknown identity and whereabouts cause a furor.
Written and revised between 2013 and 2019, and brilliantly told by an unforgettable chorus of voices, Saleema Nawaz’s glittering novel is a moving and hopeful meditation on what we owe to ourselves and to each other. It reminds us that disaster can bring out the best in people–and that coming together may be what saves us in the end.
This was a beautifully written story about the very core of humanity. How we deal with isolation, fear and pain, while continuing to hold on to hope and resiliency in the face of great adversity. The novel is much more than a disaster/pandemic story, reminding the reader of the importance of human connection. It reminds me a lot of Emily St. John Mandel’s novel, Station Eleven, another expertly crafted character study set during a global catastrophe.
Nawaz creates an amazing cast of characters, weaving them together in creative and unique ways. The story reads like a “six degrees of separation” game, as each chapter serves to connect one person to the next. I thoroughly enjoyed Elliot’s character as I felt he had the most realistic and developed experience throughout the novel.
Though narrated by several different individuals,the plot remains easy to follow, which speaks to it’s strength and deepens the reader’s understanding of each character’s motives. The plot takes place both in the past and present, providing interesting context for the events leading up to the pandemic and further cementing the relationships between the characters.
I definitely recommend this novel if you are looking for your next great read.