A – Z Book Reviews

I don’t typically love apocalyptic premised novels due to how farfetched and stretched the plot lines can seem. I can, however, always get behind a well written novel. In the right apocalyptic setting, I am able to overlook some of the outlandish details and enjoy an intriguing climax and engaging characters. On occasion, some of the farfetched details or stretched plot lines can be quite entertaining and force me to wonder at the darkest of possibilities. I also tend to enjoy the initial shock factor and seeing the events unfold and gauge the character’s reaction and subsequent action plan.

It was hard to do that in Station Eleven because of the timeline. The setting jumped from time period to time period, which I feel hindered my ability to really connect with the characters. I don’t mind time jumps within a novel if it is done tactfully and with purpose. I just didn’t see the purpose in this one; it seemed a bit all over the place and not needed.

I initially thought this is what was making it hard to feel invested in the story line, but I later realized the beginning stages of the novel were just a bit boring. The character development was underdone and the entire lead up to the apocalyptic demise was lacking excitement. I eventually fell into the right rhythm to become slightly more engaged as I made my way through the novel (skimming through the repetitive descriptions of the post-apocalyptic landscape scenes). The problem is I don’t feel like it should take that long to find the connection.

This is basically a story of post-Flu and Pre-Flu. The Pre-Flu setting depicts a famous actor and his circle of friends/relatives. It tells of their learning about the flu and their action plan and next steps after gaining this knowledge. The post-Flu setting shows the few people left in the world and describes their way of life to survive. This is finally where the story picked up for me. We see the relationships formed to help with survival and the way humans inevitably turn against each other when faced with the worst of circumstances.

Overall, the novel had a good premise and was incredibly timely with its subject matter. The Georgia Flu wiping out the bulk of humanity seems to hit home for a lot of us after the Corona Virus epidemic. So, it could have been a truly immersive experience to ponder at the world’s demise after our own epidemic. For me, though, this book really missed the mark. I don’t feel like it lived up to the hype and all its positive reviews.