Reading the booming post-apocalyptic sci-fi genre that has taken pop culture by storm in recent years has become one of my favorite non-guilty pleasures. There could never be any guilt in the genius of The Hunger Games and Divergent, even when you stay up all night reading them and are so tired that you confuse your kids’ names the next day…
I love this genre, and I love crushing on it and falling for it time and again. When Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel rolled out last fall, I was excited to check it out. I mean, the reviews were phenomenal and it sounded wonderful. Then I heard about the book friends who read it.
And they raved about it. And raved.
Word on the street was that this novel was something different. While including all the awe and excitement known to its genre, Station Eleven had a different element: an element of heart and passion and the wisdom that comes from walking through tough stuff on this earth.
I loved the play between characters and time that Mandel artfully executes. I love the way she ties one character to another through circumstances and the acuteness of their situations. It is a gorgeous thing to tune into and my friends were right: raving was in order. A lot of of raving.
Have you read this book? If not, do! I see sequels and I see movies–lots of them. This is a literary bandwagon that you’re going to want to hop on–and not let go of.
When Carrie of Normal Level of Crazy and I got together to chat it out, our mutual love of this novel was clear. It was fun to swoon about Mandel’s talent and speculate about what was to come in any future books. It was also wonderful to have the chance to ask our burning questions: Why did they not use bicycles? How exactly did Jeevan fit in?
Did you have any burning questions when reading this book? Ask them because I’d bet money that Carrie and I asked the same ones!
Here are a few more excellent thought-provoking discussion questions about Station Eleven found on About.com:
- Did the story seem realistic to you? Realistic enough to frighten you? Why or why aren’t you afraid of the possibility of something like a virus wiping out most of humanity and the world reverting to the dark ages?
- Did you suspect what the knife tattoos on Kirsten’s wrist meant?
- At what point did you suspect or realize that the prophet was Tyler?
- What do you think the Traveling Symphony finds when they come to the place where Kirsten saw electric lights through the telescope at the airport? Do you think there could be large communities or even countries that have either been untouched by the collapse or have begun to rebuild?
- What does the Star Trek quote on the side of the symphony’s van mean – “Because survival is insufficient”?
We LOVE books and love to chat them up with you, so please share any thoughts you have on this gripping novel!
And then join us for next month’s treasure, The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins! I just finished this last night and my mind is reeling with thoughts and questions! This is a good one, trust me.
The synopsis from Amazon:
“Intersecting, overlapping, not-quite-what-they-seem lives. Jealousies and betrayals and wounded hearts. A haunting unease that clutches and won’t let go. All this and more helps propel Paula Hawkins’s addictive debut into a new stratum of the psychological thriller genre. At times, I couldn’t help but think:Hitchcockian. From the opening line, the reader knows what they’re in for: “She’s buried beneath a silver birch tree, down towards the old train tracks…” But Hawkins teases out the mystery with a veteran’s finesse. The “girl on the train” is Rachel, who commutes into London and back each day, rolling past the backyard of a happy-looking couple she names Jess and Jason. Then one day Rachel sees “Jess” kissing another man. The day after that, Jess goes missing. The story is told from three character’s not-to-be-trusted perspectives: Rachel, who mourns the loss of her former life with the help of canned gin and tonics; Megan (aka Jess); and Anna, Rachel’s ex-husband’s wife, who happens to be Jess/Megan’s neighbor. Rachel’s voyeuristic yearning for the seemingly idyllic life of Jess and Jason lures her closer and closer to the investigation into Jess/Megan’s disappearance, and closer to a deeper understanding of who she really is. And who she isn’t. This is a book to be devoured.” -Neal Thompson
Grab a copy now or leave a comment below for a chance to win a free copy. As long as you live in the continental U.S and are 18 or older, you are eligible to win. One person who leaves a comment on this blog post before Monday, 3/16/15 at 5:30am will be sent a free copy!
We are so excited to dig into The Girl on the Train with you next month, readers! Enjoy!
****Thanks to Penguin/Riverhead for providing a copy of The Girl on the Train for this giveaway!****
3/16/15 UPDATE: Congrats to Meredith J. for winning the copy of The Girl on the Train!
First image credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:3987080, copyright:Deklofenak
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Janine Huldie says
This book is on my list and admit I wasn’t sure. I mean it has gotten great reviews, but wasn’t sure it was the norm for what I read, but you know I truly trust your opinion and going to have to give it a try soon now. Thanks Meredith 😉
Meredith says
Janine, I think would love both of these books, Janine! And love that you read with us 🙂
Erin Dymowski says
I so want to read this book and you know I loved Station Eleven too. Erin
Meredith says
Reading with you is too much fun, Erin!
Amy Mayo says
oooo I’m always looking for something new to read. I hadn’t heard of either of these books recently – but do remember hearing of them a while back.
I Iove reading your take on books, we have similar tastes (iI’m that we’ll pretty much devour anything written well ) so it excites me to read these recaps.
♡♡
Meredith says
Amy, so appreciate you tuning in! And yes, check out both of these reads!
Courtney says
oh! Girl on the train sounds fabulous! Thanks for keeping me with a constant to read list!
Meredith says
Courtney, can’t wait to hear your thoughts on it!
Adrienne says
Gotta be honest, I loved Station Eleven, but was kind of disappointed with the ending. If there were a sequel, I would be ALL over that.
And I would LOVE to win The Girl on The Train! it’s already on my to-read list!
Meredith says
Adrienne, I agree with this. It felt almost flat and unfinished to me–which, of course, feels like a wide open door for a sequel! Let me know if you hear anything about a 2nd!
Frugalistablog says
Well if it’s a bandwagon I need to jump on, then I suppose I need to!
Meredith says
It’s a captivating one too, Frugie–you’ll be glad you did!
Meredith says
Girl on the Train is in the number one slot of my reading list currently and I don’t have a copy yet. Perfect timing!!
Meredith says
Perfect timing indeed! How cool!
Jen Gallagher says
I have heard good things about The Girl on The Train. Thanks for helping me find a few new books to add to my list!
Meredith says
So fun to keep adding cool titles, Jen 🙂
hollow tree ventures says
I LOVED Station Eleven, and The Girl On the Train is next on my list – AS SOON AS I WIN A COPY!!!!
Meredith says
Got it 😉 It’s a good one!
Special Crazy Mom says
Oh my gosh I just finished Station Eleven and realize how ill -equipped I am for a post-apocalypse event of any kind: flu, zombie, whatever. I LOVED this book- loves that it focused on how communities were developed where they ended up- an airport, a motel, a gas station. Loved that instead of working towards getting back to what they lost with technology, a group focused on what still mattered to people’s souls- music and the arts.
I did realize what the knives meant pretty early in, and figured Tyler was the prophet when he was preaching to the plane. Creepy.
Great read- highly recommend. I read Girl on the train right before that- 2 thought provoking reads in a row! My brain is tired…..
Meredith says
Yes! I found all the set-up of communities to be fascinating. I could have read about the intricacies of the airport life for forever. And agreed, it was really beautiful that there was still a focus on feeding souls, not just bodies. There was a lot of beauty in the book. Tyler was so creepy! Thanks for reading and sharing theses thoughts!
Erika Haak says
So, I know you will choose a winner randomly, but going to put my two cents in here. Our book club has Girl on the Train up for April–there are 512 people on the library hold list and I only read books and not an e-reader. I am desperate to get my hands on this one. I am on the hold list for Station Eleven too!! Excited about both of these books 🙂
Meredith says
They are such hot books right now, I know! Love that your IRL club is reading them too and so appreciate you tuning in here, Erika!
Barbara says
LOVED Girl on a Train! I’m sure you will too!
I’m adding Station Eleven to my to-read list. Love this genre! If you don’t mind an excessive amount of blood & guts, The Enemy series (YA) by Charlie Higgons is another great one. I’m (not so) patiently waiting for the 6th one to come out!
Meredith says
Putting this series on my list, Barbara! Thanks for the recommendation and for checking in here!
Melissa Olson says
I need a good book or 2 to get lost in when my 3 little guys are sound asleep!
Meredith says
That is exactly when I read, Melissa! Mommy’s sweet alone time 🙂
Anne says
These look like great recommendations – looking forward to reading with you
Meredith says
It’s on! And it’s going to be fun, Anne 😉
Amanda says
Can’t wait to read Girl On The Train! I love this genre!
Meredith says
It is so fun, Amanda–so captivating, I know!
Momluvsagdolls2 says
I heard this book is good so I def want to read it! Would love to win a copy so I can review it when I’m done on my new book channel: mommybookworm 🙂
Meredith says
Congrats on the new book channel! Sounds so much fun!
Suzanna says
Oh, this book was just recommended to me! I’d love to win a copy and join you next month! Right now I’m reading Unbroken and loving it, but I can be done in time to join in on the discussion 😉
Meredith says
Unbroken was a fascinating read! Enjoy that–and always happy to chat about it when you finish 🙂 But yes, snatch up this book after and thrilled to have you join in next month, Suzanna!
Lindsay says
So glad I found this article. Good stuff & even better reads 😀
Meredith says
Thanks for joinin in, Lindsay! We love our books 🙂
Selena says
I just finished Station Eleven yesterday and loved it. Girl on the Train is going on my list of books to check out next.
Meredith says
Wasn’t it such a cool read, Selena? Would love to hear your thoughts on Girl on the Train when you read it!