Station Eleven By Emily St. John Mandel
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Web ID: 2133312Uniquely satisfying payoff!
I have never read a book so fast! This is a masterpiece in every sense of the word. As you read this half drama, half post-apocalyptic story, you slowly and gradually learn how 5 seemingly unrelated people are connected through one man, and how every little thing that happened between these people before the virus affects the lives of hundreds 20 years after the world fell. Travel throughout the Great Lakes region with these characters, and you will not be disappointed. This story was very thought-provoking for me in many different ways. It examines just how much human beings are affected by art, how art affects real life, and how much it can make the difference between surviving just to survive, and truly living. It also makes you wonder what could be out there. I was constantly thinking to myself, "I wonder what happened to all those people I used to know? What are my childhood friends up to? That person I talked to for 5 minutes in a class?" I do love the apocalypse drama, but I've never seen a story like the Traveling Symphony chapters being set in that world while being entirely about the people and relationships in it, as opposed to surviving in a fallen world like most post-apocalyptic stories. It is not a post-apocalyptic story, it is a human story that happens to be set in a post-apocalyptic world (besides all the parts of the story set before the virus, of course). I could not recommend this book enough. Whether you are a new reader, someone trying to rediscover their love of books, or a lifelong booklover, you will not be able to put this book down until it's over.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Gorgeous Dystopian
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨ (4.5/5) I adored this literary dystopian. One of the hallmarks of a great dystopia, for me, is its ability to quietly draw you in—until you suddenly realize just how traumatizing the world is. But by then, you're too invested in the beauty of the story to look away. Emily St. John Mandel masterfully weaves a post-pandemic narrative that is eerie and intimate, sweeping and grounded. The prose is beautiful, immersive, and emotionally resonant. The blending of timelines was seamless, and I found myself eagerly piecing together how the characters connected across the decades. 🛑 No spoilers—but the ending? Quietly perfect. It doesn’t explode or unravel; it releases you. And somehow, that feels more profound. 📚 Quick Summary Set in the eerie aftermath of a flu pandemic that collapses civilization, the novel follows Kirsten Raymonde, a member of The Traveling Symphony—a nomadic troupe of actors and musicians preserving art in the Great Lakes region. As they journey through settlements, they encounter a dangerous prophet whose presence ties back to the night the world changed: when Hollywood actor Arthur Leander died on stage during King Lear. Mandel’s story shifts across time, illuminating the fragile, beautiful threads that connect life before and after the fall. 💬 Final Take: This is not just a dystopian. It’s an ode to art, memory, and humanity in the face of collapse. Quiet. Harrowing. Gorgeous.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Good not great.
LIked it...didn't love it. Very similar to Severance.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Not so compelling
I really like dystopian post-apocalyptic work, but this feels… fluffy? Unsubstantial? Still trying to understand how the graphic novel of the title bears any relationship with the character, other than how it ties some of them loosely together. In the end, there was no point to any of the stories, and not enough compelling in any of the stories to stick with me. Very disappointed.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Underwhelming and anticlimactic
Thin plot combined with underdeveloped characters. Despite its flaws, there were some compelling twists and enjoyable moments.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Very interesting read
I randomly decided to give this book a try and I am so glad I did. This dystopia fed read is something that really pulls you in. You feel what you would during certain situations and feel the emotions of the characters. This book really hit home with the covid-19 pandemic. If you've been looking at reviews to read this book ... do it .
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Shakespeare Meets Survivalists
The idea of keeping art alive in a post-apocalyptic world is a compelling device—Shakespeare meets survivalists—and though Station Eleven is dystopian fiction, it shouldn’t be pigeonholed: readers who normally avoid this category will appreciate it. Station Eleven is literary and clever—it's one of those books that make you feel smart while reading—but it's the story itself that keeps you turning pages.
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Customer review from barnesandnoble.com
Didn't feel believable
I thought the premise of this novel was interesting, but just couldn't believe that so much goodness would exist in an apocalyptic world. Maybe I'm too much the cynic.
Customer review from barnesandnoble.com