Station Eleven ...

[SurpriseSparDay]

Any takers?

Was unsure whether to post under C. Virus given the subject matter - but it would only scare people more.

Bloody hell though, I can see why this book has been so lauded. And I’ve only read Pt I, and a snippet of Pt II (essentially, the free Amazon sample). It was a diversion from what I should be doing so I won’t read the rest till next week.

It’s one of my favourite books and terrifies and inspires in equal measure. I gave it a friend for Christmas and she says it haunts her!

I really want to know that it maintains that standard all the way through - without reading anything spoiler-y.

I loved that book. Obviously it's on my mind a LOT at the moment. At least there are gorgeous uplifting flickers of hope at the end. Not sure I could read it right now though...

“No more Internet ...”

But it occurs to me that that was written more than six years ago. Surely, surely we have Artificial Intelligence wily enough to channel all the world’s resources into keeping enough fuel going to power the Internet? (Even if working devices dwindled to a very precious few.)

It’s been on my mind recently. Obviously. Things are bad, but I’m communicating with my family, friends, colleagues from the palm of my hand. Binge watching films and TV I never got round to seeing. Deep diving into serious research in the middle of the night, from my bed. Typing this. “No more Internet” would be a whole other story ...

I attempted this when it first came out and couldn't get into it, might have to revisit it now!

It's one of my favourites too. I resisted reading it for ages because the blurb just didn't interest me, but once I started I couldn't stop.

I really loved it. I've been meaning to seek out more of her books.

Any thoughts on loss of Internet? ...

More than halfway through now. It’s terrifyingly prescient. And beautifully constructed.

I had to make a journey this week that I honestly feared might end exactly like the last ditch escape attempted by residents in the book.

I really enjoyed this book. I read it before corona virus, but in fairness it is not so much about the pandemic as humanity's response and how we keep going. Because surival alone is not enough. I loved it.

My thoughts on the loss of internet issue are that this was a virus that killed more or less instantly and the vast majority of the population died. It was the swiftness and scale of the fatalities that brought everthing crashing down.

One of my absolute favourite books ever. I read it years ago but it remains so vivid in my mind. And now we are living (a version of) it. The scene I can never forget is that self-quarantined aeroplane...

It's a fantastic book. I read it on holiday last year. I'd downloaded it on to my kindle months previously and forgotten what it was about so it was a bit of a surprise to say the least.

Despite the subject, it does have some wonderful, hopefully moments.

I look forward to the aeroplane! Am currently holed up with Jeevan in his brother’s flat. “Day fifty eight” (Big Brother voice).

I did wonder whether Emily St. John Mandel was referencing BBC Security Correspondent Frank Gardner - or perhaps some other Frank.

I truly loved this book. Might re read 🙂

One part that stuck with me was when they rode the bike to power the computer, to see if they could connect to any internet left out there in the world, and there was nothing. Haunting.

Later it occurred to me that was a bit stupid as obviously with the ISP gone there wouldn't be any service! Even if there was internet in the next country or whatever. But anyway it was still a good scene.

Brilliant book! I've been thinking about it a lot lately.

It's a great book.
I just love that something as random as a comic could be a major part of the plot. And that museum in the Airport is just so haunting.
It's making me now rethink how much bollocks there is in our lives and how different the world would be if the internet switched off tomorrow.

I’ve just read the bit where she says none of the Symphony knew much about science - which was surprising given how many years they’d had pre-flu to find things out from the Internet.

Ouch ...

Just reread it thus afternoon. Even better on a second reading as I can take my time and not so worried as I know what happens.

Finished reading it last night.

I’m in awe at the writer’s skill. It’s so gentle. And so devastating. Really amazing work.

It is phenomenal.
What I remember from it is the sense of hope. I'm really trying to hang on to that right now.

I was horribly conscious of all the pointless hope at the start. So hard to shoulder the burden of knowing that no miracle is coming..

Another book a little like this is Age of Miracles. That is truly a hope-free book.
It's about an ordinary teen girls' life when the earth tilts 1 degree off its axis. Super depressing, possibly not recommended! Really enjoyed it though.

I read it a few years ago and loved it, might have to reread!

Also the Wool Trilogy of books. About a virus which decimates the planet and people go and shelter in bunkers. The story is set quite a few years after they first moved to the bunkers and they’ve set up proper underground lives.