Originally posted to I Should Read That

Annhilation had been languishing on my TBR for over a year before I picked it up. Having loved the film version starring Natalie Portman, I had high hopes for this weird little book, however I’m not entirely sure what to think.

Annhilation is a dense, dizzying book that honestly doesn’t always make sense. I’m not entirely sure I’m the right reader for it, but I can certainly see its genius. It’s an incredibly atmospheric read that pulls you right into the suffocating setting and tense environment and story -- he's incredibly effective at building the world of the Southern Reach in all its weird glory. The levels of tension that VanderMeer creates are pretty astonishing -- my shoulders were up around my ears throughout the entire book. That being said, the book is left open ended enough that I wasn’t sure this tension ever really diffused or resolved. 

I really enjoyed the character of the Biologist, who’s real name we never learn, and the journey that she undergoes in Area X. Her journey is a little bit jumbled as she ventures further into the bizarre environment, and it really reflects her mindset so well. Her flashbacks to her life before Area X, both as a child and as a married woman, add so much to her story and to the overall mood of the book. Although I really came out of Annhilation with no clear answers about her, her state of mind, or her fate, I thought her story carried the book well.

I’m being a little more open about the ending and the fact that we get no answers from VanderMeer because I really don’t think this book will suit everyone. If you like a thumping good read, a fast-paced tale of adventure, or even a book that simply answers the questions it poses, Annhilation will not be for you. However, I do think it’s worth a crack for the great writing, bizarre and wonderful world, and the deep dive into a character's mind.