This is a short story collection. Each story is loosely connected and follows an overall plot, but that does not make it a novel in my eyes. It's similar to World War Z, where there is a global event (in this case plaque and climate change), and you're getting several pieces of the story through the lens of different characters. With a short story collection comes a few advantages and disadvantages in the reading experience. For me, the disadvantages typically outweigh the advantages. I'm not a fan of short stories in general, but I did like this book overall. I just wish this was made clear in the description or category. It says "a novel" on the cover. Come on now. I'll step out of my reading comfort zone occasionally, but only when I want to! Don't trick me into it. But enough of that. Now that I got those feelings out of my system, I can look at this without that I've been tricked biased. 

I cried a lot reading this. Mostly in the beginning stories. If you've ever experienced the death of a loved one, be warned. It's dark and has those science fiction like plots, but it feels very realistic. I wasn't expecting such a punch in the chest. I know, I will be thinking about these stories for a long time. Specifically, I liked the City of Laughter, Pig Son, Elegy Hotel, and Speak, Fetch, Say I Love You. I didn't feel as emotionally attracted to the rest of the stories. They were still interesting and thought-provoking, but they didn't carry the same emotional weight of the first half of the book. Overall, I really did like this read and would recommend it to most readers. I listened to the audio, which was good (full cast is a little much for me) but I think I would have preferred to read this physically just because I found myself wanting to stop and ponder. That type of reading is always best done physically.