A review by smily_tiffany
Severance by Ling Ma

challenging dark slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Reading this right after Station Eleven meant that I approached it for awhile as a side-by-side comparison of two authors' takes on pandemic lit. About 100 pages in, I realized that the heart of Severance is not the pandemic and its aftermath. It is a book about identity, with the lens of a pandemic to force the protagonist Candace to take stock of her life, in the face of extremely dire circumstances. The book spends a lot of time traveling back to formative moments in Candace's past. Arguably more time in the past than her present in a group of pandemic survivors traveling to a mysterious place called "The Facility." Where Station Eleven explores the stories of multiple characters and their reaction to crisis, the backdrop of New York City and other members of the survivors crew are simply devices for Candace's journey of self-determination. Candace spends her whole life struggling to reconcile her heritage, familial trauma, and expectations and desire, and the pandemic is simply another complicating factor for her. Ma's writing is measured, thoughtful, sharp, and effective. She doesn't throw much fluff in, and lets the story speak for itself. It's an interesting read overall.