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A review by mcloonejack
On the Beach by Nevil Shute
4.0
“On the Beach” is a startling read, but not in the way most people interpret “startling.” There’s not much, if any, in the way of big action, despite taking place after a month-long nuclear war wiped out the majority of the planet. There’s some unbridled hedonism as the prospect of a radiation sickness death drifts towards the story’s home in Australia, but nothing too crazy.
No, what’s startling—and, to my mind, also shockingly feels true—is that even with certain death looming on a consistent timeline, people just… continue living their lives, for the most part, whether they acknowledge their coming doom or not. The military carries out missions they know will be foolhardy but to both have something to do and to grasp onto hope. Families plan gardens and care for farms they’ll never see the fruits of the labor from. Men who lost their wives and children in the initial bombing continue to speak and plan as if they’re alive.
It’s the monotony of our looming deaths that “On The Beach” captures, and while it’s times remarkably dated, it also has moments where it’s truly gorgeous. All told, I highly recommend it.
Now would I recommend it as one’s subway read, as I did with my paperback? No, probably not lol
No, what’s startling—and, to my mind, also shockingly feels true—is that even with certain death looming on a consistent timeline, people just… continue living their lives, for the most part, whether they acknowledge their coming doom or not. The military carries out missions they know will be foolhardy but to both have something to do and to grasp onto hope. Families plan gardens and care for farms they’ll never see the fruits of the labor from. Men who lost their wives and children in the initial bombing continue to speak and plan as if they’re alive.
It’s the monotony of our looming deaths that “On The Beach” captures, and while it’s times remarkably dated, it also has moments where it’s truly gorgeous. All told, I highly recommend it.
Now would I recommend it as one’s subway read, as I did with my paperback? No, probably not lol