Finished: December 29, 2022
Why I read this
This is one of the first book my Mom recommended to me in my recent search to become an avid reader again. That and the shiny gold medal from the Pulitzer Prize on the cover made this an easy sell for me. After all, it is only 200 pages, how bad could it be?
What I learned
The bleak and terrifying world thrust upon the reader in this novel immediately brings on an intense discomfort. This paired with the unique writing style make the book both appealing and repelling at the same time. From the very beginning there is no hope for any of the main characters and the world is established as a permanently ruined planet. Reading this book encouraged me to think about our mortality and insignificance juxtaposed against the unbreakable human will to survive. The writing style helped me to see that a good book can be written in many ways and challenged my usual level of book that is more linear and clear.
What I didn’t like
It’s hard to bring a strong critique to a book like this one. It is thought provoking, artistic, and written like you would think it in the situation. I believe the author put every word in intentionally and expertly, so the world was built exactly as they wanted it. However, I always like to ask “why”. How did the world end up ruined, who caused it, is the whole world like this, or just this part of it? A strong part of me demanded for these answers while another part understood that to answer this would ruin the effect and no answer giving could improve upon the function of the imagination of the reader throughout the reading.
Questions I asked
In the face of guaranteed and permanent suffering, why persevere?
How far are we from making our planet the same unlivable biosphere?
Would humans really act this way after a catastrophe such as this, or would we band together in a more positive way?
My Favorite Quote
“Are you okay? No.”
Man and Boy
Books I liked like this one
Le Petit Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry (Silly I know, but for the simple text that ultimately reveals quite a lot about human nature)
Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (For the evil inherent in every person)
Book Reviews for Mom 