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A review by crybabybea
Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer
dark
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
Indescribable. Literally. This book is beautifully weird. It feels like a fever dream.
I wouldn't say the book necessarily surprised me in terms of plot twists; it was easy to guess what was happening from the very beginning. By about 20% I had a good idea what was going on, but it didn't stop me from wanting to know more. Which is so crazy because that's exactly what happens to the main character, who continually chooses to exhaust her curiosity even in the face of death and danger. And even then, at the end, there are no answers. We don't even know if the story we are reading actually happened how it is told. Our main character is unreliable and almost in a state of dissociation throughout the entire narrative. And, even though it was clear what was going to happen, my jaw still dropped. Many times.
I loved the way this was written. We are essentially reading the journal entry of the main character, written in retrospect after everything takes place. Each event unfolds with uncanny intrigue. We're pulled forward alongside our main character by the unstoppable force that is Area X. The overall tone, yes it's creepy, but in a dreamlike way. We are stuck in, more or less, solitude with our main character as she tries to uncover the mystery of the island.
Naturally, being stuck in solitude lends itself to intense self-reflection. The story of the biologist's journey on Area X is intertwined with her journey in her relationship with her husband. So in a sense the exploration of the force of Area X becomes an exploration of humanity, relationships, and connection. How do we find meaning in life when nothing actually matters? Do we repeat the same cycle over and over again for generations until the sun consumes the planet? Is there a sort of gauntlet we must all pass, an end goal we must all reach, a higher power we must all answer to? What makes us as humans different from the land we inhabit, the invisible ecosystems that live under our noses every single day? The book never answers these questions. But it sure does make you think about them.
I was, however, really surprised by the writing. There are some insanely profound quotes to be found here. Things I reread over and over again. Some lines written by VanderMeer could have found their place in a classic literary novel. His attention to detail makes the land feel immersive. Having a biologist be the main character/narrator was such a genius choice. You begin to see parallels between the biologist's experience in Area X with your own experience as a reader. The biologist's eye for miniscule details gives VanderMeer the opportunity to make the world feel incredibly detailed and real. The imagery used throughout, but especially in the more horror-esque portions of the book are beautifully portrayed.
Despite leaving with more questions than answers, I'm super satisfied by this book.
I wouldn't say the book necessarily surprised me in terms of plot twists; it was easy to guess what was happening from the very beginning. By about 20% I had a good idea what was going on, but it didn't stop me from wanting to know more. Which is so crazy because that's exactly what happens to the main character, who continually chooses to exhaust her curiosity even in the face of death and danger. And even then, at the end, there are no answers. We don't even know if the story we are reading actually happened how it is told. Our main character is unreliable and almost in a state of dissociation throughout the entire narrative. And, even though it was clear what was going to happen, my jaw still dropped. Many times.
I loved the way this was written. We are essentially reading the journal entry of the main character, written in retrospect after everything takes place. Each event unfolds with uncanny intrigue. We're pulled forward alongside our main character by the unstoppable force that is Area X. The overall tone, yes it's creepy, but in a dreamlike way. We are stuck in, more or less, solitude with our main character as she tries to uncover the mystery of the island.
Naturally, being stuck in solitude lends itself to intense self-reflection. The story of the biologist's journey on Area X is intertwined with her journey in her relationship with her husband. So in a sense the exploration of the force of Area X becomes an exploration of humanity, relationships, and connection. How do we find meaning in life when nothing actually matters? Do we repeat the same cycle over and over again for generations until the sun consumes the planet? Is there a sort of gauntlet we must all pass, an end goal we must all reach, a higher power we must all answer to? What makes us as humans different from the land we inhabit, the invisible ecosystems that live under our noses every single day? The book never answers these questions. But it sure does make you think about them.
I was, however, really surprised by the writing. There are some insanely profound quotes to be found here. Things I reread over and over again. Some lines written by VanderMeer could have found their place in a classic literary novel. His attention to detail makes the land feel immersive. Having a biologist be the main character/narrator was such a genius choice. You begin to see parallels between the biologist's experience in Area X with your own experience as a reader. The biologist's eye for miniscule details gives VanderMeer the opportunity to make the world feel incredibly detailed and real. The imagery used throughout, but especially in the more horror-esque portions of the book are beautifully portrayed.
Despite leaving with more questions than answers, I'm super satisfied by this book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror, Death, Gun violence, Blood, Suicide attempt, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Minor: Cancer, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide