Station Eleven
By: Emily St. John Mandel
My Rating: FIVE OUT OF FIVE STARS
Best for: 16 and up

Survival is insufficient…

What a story.

Station Eleven debuted in 2014 and was super well reviewed. I think I remember it being on all kinds of “best of” lists and nominated for all the awards. Had I read it then, I’m sure I would have loved it too–it’s REALLY well done.

But reading it post 2020? That’s an entirely different discussion.

An out-of-control flu variant spreads mercilessly across the world. Within a week 99% of everyone is dead. The (un)lucky few who remain have to pick up the pieces.

Here’s what’s crazy: Emily St. John Mandel predicted what could happen in a modern day pandemic, and it’s eerily close to what did happen. It made me feel like in 2020 we were just on the edge of what if.

The end of everything.

No electricity.
No telephones.
No Internet.
No gas for cars or planes.
No pharmaceuticals.
No guarantee you wouldn’t die from an infected paper cut.

Freaky, freaky stuff. Anyway.

Post apocalyptic isn’t a new genre. There are plenty of stories on this topic if it’s what you’re looking for. There are plenty of author’s who’ve done a good job imaging worst case scenario. That’s not what I loved about Station Eleven, however, regardless of the accuracy.

What I loved most was the storytelling.

The story is less about the pandemic, and more about the people living through it. There are several points of view, and it was so fun discovering the ways seemingly unconnected people and events were actually intimately connected all along. I don’t even think there’s a main character in this story–everyone has a part, and all the parts paint the picture. I thought it was a masterpiece.

I don’t think everyone will agree with me. If you’re someone who doesn’t like books that make you earn your experience, this one might not be for you. Emily St. John Mandel weaved this terrifically complex tale that jumps from present to past to future and back again. It all comes together in the end, and I loved the brain sweat that was required to keep up. It was just the challenge I was up for. You might scratch your head and wonder why you just drop kicked your book across the room.

I hope you have a paperback.

There is some violence. Some language. Suicide. Death. No explicit sexual content. It’s mostly just creepy to read about what could have been. Best for 16 and up.

Happy Reading!