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ambershelf's Reviews (1.3k)
On an otherwise ordinary day, the world wakes up to wooden boxes outside their doorsteps. Each box contains the resident’s name and the answer to their fate: a string that indicates the exact years one will live. As the world devolves into a frenzy of interpreting the validity of the boxes, each person must make their own decisions. Do they wish to see their fate? What does one do if they are blessed with a long string? How do you come to terms with a short one?
THE MEASURE follows eight loosely connected people and their journeys after the boxes arrive. Some of them are blessed with a long string and decide to embark on world-changing journeys; some are hit with the surprise of a short string and must utilize their remaining time wisely; others simply choose not to look. With a simple concept, Erlick brilliantly asks the readers to confront our mortality and all the uncertainties within life.
I wanted to love THE MEASURE but am left wanting more after finishing the book. Part of it is due to the multi-POV style; I would’ve liked to see more focused character developments centering around fewer narratives that dig deep into the effects of the strings. With eight characters, the emotional intensity is sometimes diluted, and I struggle with connecting to a few narrators.
Unfortunately, I also guessed the ending, which impacted the buildup throughout the book. In the end, I only shed a few tears when I was expecting ugly snot-over-my-face crying. Overall, I still enjoy THE MEASURE, but I think WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR (Paul Kalanithi) offers a more powerful introspection on mortality. These two books could be a great companion read!
THE MEASURE follows eight loosely connected people and their journeys after the boxes arrive. Some of them are blessed with a long string and decide to embark on world-changing journeys; some are hit with the surprise of a short string and must utilize their remaining time wisely; others simply choose not to look. With a simple concept, Erlick brilliantly asks the readers to confront our mortality and all the uncertainties within life.
I wanted to love THE MEASURE but am left wanting more after finishing the book. Part of it is due to the multi-POV style; I would’ve liked to see more focused character developments centering around fewer narratives that dig deep into the effects of the strings. With eight characters, the emotional intensity is sometimes diluted, and I struggle with connecting to a few narrators.
Unfortunately, I also guessed the ending, which impacted the buildup throughout the book. In the end, I only shed a few tears when I was expecting ugly snot-over-my-face crying. Overall, I still enjoy THE MEASURE, but I think WHEN BREATH BECOMES AIR (Paul Kalanithi) offers a more powerful introspection on mortality. These two books could be a great companion read!
As a millennial drone, Candace Chen is devoted to her routine of going to work and going home. So when a plague that turns people into zombies hits, she barely notices it. When Candace finally decides to venture out of New York City because she can't survive on her own forever, she runs into a group of survivors with a cult-like operation. While the party promises to provide everything they need in the post-apocalyptic world, Candace must tread carefully and decide, perhaps for the first time, what she will sever ties with to survive.
When I think of a post-apocalyptic world overrun with zombies, I imagine action-packed, gory and loud scenes, and SEVERANCE completely flips the script. Ma brilliantly employs Candace's indifference to world events and her absurd belief in diligence as a satire to reflect millennials working in soulless jobs. Her upbringing as an Asian immigrant is another theme explored beautifully in SEVERANCE. While Candace's parents cut their ties with China to assimilate into the US, her job brings Candace right back to her "homeland", where Ma explores the interconnected links between the West and the East in the age of globalization.
There is so much more to unpack about SEVERANCE. For one, the "fevered" is stuck in a loop doing the same things every day, like how most maintain the same routine as office workers before the plague hits. The juxtaposition of Candace feeling stuck in her career pre-fever and her struggles assimilating into the survivor group post-apocalypse is another ingenious illustration of finding our place in a company that gives zero f*cks about our well-being.
SEVERANCE is an influential and visionary novel narrated by a character with a quiet and quirky voice yet packs a punch to shed light on the predicaments of capitalism. It's a book that readers will have different takeaways depending on their working experience, and one that I recommend to everyone.
When I think of a post-apocalyptic world overrun with zombies, I imagine action-packed, gory and loud scenes, and SEVERANCE completely flips the script. Ma brilliantly employs Candace's indifference to world events and her absurd belief in diligence as a satire to reflect millennials working in soulless jobs. Her upbringing as an Asian immigrant is another theme explored beautifully in SEVERANCE. While Candace's parents cut their ties with China to assimilate into the US, her job brings Candace right back to her "homeland", where Ma explores the interconnected links between the West and the East in the age of globalization.
There is so much more to unpack about SEVERANCE. For one, the "fevered" is stuck in a loop doing the same things every day, like how most maintain the same routine as office workers before the plague hits. The juxtaposition of Candace feeling stuck in her career pre-fever and her struggles assimilating into the survivor group post-apocalypse is another ingenious illustration of finding our place in a company that gives zero f*cks about our well-being.
SEVERANCE is an influential and visionary novel narrated by a character with a quiet and quirky voice yet packs a punch to shed light on the predicaments of capitalism. It's a book that readers will have different takeaways depending on their working experience, and one that I recommend to everyone.
GLORY is a political satire inspired by the unexpected fall of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe's president for almost 40 years until his removal by a coup. Bulawayo leverages biting prose and witty conversations to portray the events leading to the fall of a long-time autocrat, the advancement of a new president who promises change but repeats dictatorship, and finally, the rise of the disenfranchised to take back their power and fight for liberation. But all the characters in the story are animals!
As a lover of satire, I thoroughly enjoy how Bulawayo writes about the oppressors, their thoughts, actions, and general disregard for the well-being of their people. While some reviews stated the repetitiveness of her writing, I personally adore this insertion of repetitive words and phrases that sometimes last a whole page; artistically, I think it strengthens the point of how brutal the regime is with a deep sense of sarcasm. But this writing style is likely not something everyone will enjoy.
GLORY reminds me a lot of BoJack Horseman, my all-time favorite TV series with anthropomorphic animals; both star animals as characters and utilize satire to discuss heavy topics. GLORY is a brilliant story that examines the cruelty of totalitarian rule and the resilience of the oppressed. It is a book that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you cry. GLORY is political satire at its finest.
As a lover of satire, I thoroughly enjoy how Bulawayo writes about the oppressors, their thoughts, actions, and general disregard for the well-being of their people. While some reviews stated the repetitiveness of her writing, I personally adore this insertion of repetitive words and phrases that sometimes last a whole page; artistically, I think it strengthens the point of how brutal the regime is with a deep sense of sarcasm. But this writing style is likely not something everyone will enjoy.
GLORY reminds me a lot of BoJack Horseman, my all-time favorite TV series with anthropomorphic animals; both star animals as characters and utilize satire to discuss heavy topics. GLORY is a brilliant story that examines the cruelty of totalitarian rule and the resilience of the oppressed. It is a book that will make you think, make you laugh, and make you cry. GLORY is political satire at its finest.
Poppy and Alex have nothing in common; she's a free spirit who wants to travel and meet people; he's a homebody who prefers reading. But since college, Poppy and Alex have been best friends who travel together every summer. Until two years ago when everything changed; they haven't spoken since. This summer, feeling detached from her job and life, Poppy has one final chance to make peace with Alex on their last trip together.
PWMOV is a cute friends-to-lovers romance that still has all the Emily Henry magic, excellent character development, captivating writing, and relaxing summer vibes. The book alternates between this summer — after Poppy and Alex stopped talking for two years but are trying to salvage their friendship — and the past 12 summers. In this juxtaposition, the readers can compare how the duo's dynamic changed because of an unknown reason from their last trip. Stylistically, this is my favorite Henry book. But because I'm totally an Alex and dislike traveling (I know, so weird!), it is tough connecting to Poppy, and I was secretly judging her decisions throughout the book.
Regardless, PWMOV is still a fabulous book with gorgeous writing, specifically on Poppy and Alex's trips. For those who love to travel, which I'm assuming is the majority, PWMOV will be a great read during summer vacations!
PWMOV is a cute friends-to-lovers romance that still has all the Emily Henry magic, excellent character development, captivating writing, and relaxing summer vibes. The book alternates between this summer — after Poppy and Alex stopped talking for two years but are trying to salvage their friendship — and the past 12 summers. In this juxtaposition, the readers can compare how the duo's dynamic changed because of an unknown reason from their last trip. Stylistically, this is my favorite Henry book. But because I'm totally an Alex and dislike traveling (I know, so weird!), it is tough connecting to Poppy, and I was secretly judging her decisions throughout the book.
Regardless, PWMOV is still a fabulous book with gorgeous writing, specifically on Poppy and Alex's trips. For those who love to travel, which I'm assuming is the majority, PWMOV will be a great read during summer vacations!
