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A review by ksheaffs
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
adventurous
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Station 11 is my favorite kind of book, where somehow the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. It’s subtle while you’re actively reading it but sinks in once you’ve set it down and leaves you with the feeling that you’ve just experienced something really special. In a word, it’s dazzling.
If you’re looking for a suspenseful Walking Dead esq post apocalyptic novel and nothing else, Station 11 might disappoint. Yes this plot is present but is it more a device to examine the characters and how they rebuild their identities after a catastrophic event draws a line between the world they know and a world they can’t begin to imagine. The switching pov and multiple timelines unravel a complex web of a select group of people all connected through one man. Pick this book up for its beautiful prose, its vibrant characters, its atmospheric quality, and its unpacking of the the question, “if survival is insufficient, what does it take to thrive?”
If you’re looking for a suspenseful Walking Dead esq post apocalyptic novel and nothing else, Station 11 might disappoint. Yes this plot is present but is it more a device to examine the characters and how they rebuild their identities after a catastrophic event draws a line between the world they know and a world they can’t begin to imagine. The switching pov and multiple timelines unravel a complex web of a select group of people all connected through one man. Pick this book up for its beautiful prose, its vibrant characters, its atmospheric quality, and its unpacking of the the question, “if survival is insufficient, what does it take to thrive?”
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death, Murder, Kidnapping, Gun violence, Child abuse, Abandonment, and Suicide