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The typical post-apocalyptic novel about a dystopian future usually involves some form of government or a new way of life. The latter is true for "Station Eleven" by Emily St. John Mandel. Mandel manages to capture the rare pieces of real life and include them into a world that has been completely devastated by a flu. There are no zombies, no government take over, there are only people. The basis of this book is about the people within the novel who have somehow managed to survive. With intertwining stories of at least 5 characters, you find out slowly through the book how all of there lives are intertwined from before the flu and afterwards in the new world. Kristen, a budding actress, meets up with a "Traveling Symphony" that preforms Shakespeare for new towns up near the Canada/United States border. The people she meets along the way shape her into her new life and help her remember a life that she has all but forgotten. From the backstage's of a Hollywood production to main concourses of an airport, Mandel takes you through how each person survives when there's nothing left to survive for. With flashbacks for each character that takes you back to before the flu, you get a sense of how each character evolves and regains their sense of self. As a science fiction novel with a real-world twist, I would highly recommend this for anyone who loves a future dystopia while still being able to relate to it.

This book is on my reading list. Thank you for the review.

I ended up enjoying this book a lot more than I thought I would

It seems to be an interesting read. Thank you for your nice review.

This book has been on my to read list for awhile. I'm excited that it will be book of the month to finally give me the push that I need to read it.

I love a good dystopian read. This sounds extra interesting because it is focused on the people. I also love books with good characters, so this sounds like a worthy read.

Thanks for the review! I always find post-apoplectic stories to be so sad. This sounds like it has a unique twist on it though. It's nice to see that there's a world without monsters or crazed dictators.

I'm such a sucker for post-apocalyptic stuff. I'll have to read this. (And agreed about the zombies - they're still great fun as an agent of conflict, but it'd be nice to read something different for a change).

Im not confident I will read this book however I am intrigued by the character interaction.

Its an interesting story that gives a real picture of how life act once one loses hope, but courage takes one to a level of no return

Thanks for this! I'll have to check the book out in the coming weeks!

I generally find dystopian novels less to my liking and a dystopian novel that too including zombie is a strict no,no for me. However your review is very nice and detailed.

I didn't expect this novel to have such intricacies weaving through the multiple character plots. Found the book to be a refreshing take on dystopian worlds, with some very realistic characters coming together in the face of adversary. Maybe not everybody's cup of tea but for sure worth a try, and you may find out as I did, that it's a really wonderful read.

The review is great. I look forward on reading the book. Thank you for the review.

I just started the book and I'm already hooked. And that was from the first chapter alone. Now I'm on chapter 7 and I can tell already it's going to be a fast read.

-- 26 Apr 2017, 17:13 --

I'm almost done with the book now and I have to say I've lost my interest. It was so promising in the beginning and then, that was it. I don't like how parts are being unfinished or how the stories are going back and forth with time. It's too confusing and I'm almost forcing myself to even finish it.