First Book Of 2015!

I knew that I wanted my first book of the new year to be one that I had a good feeling about. I'm not particularly sure why, but I guess I just wanted to get my reading year off to a good start. 2015 is only going to be my second year of reading a lot since my childhood (my teens are now referred to as 'the lost reading years') so I still feel like I have a lot of catching up to do. Starting the year off with a book that I thought I would like somehow just felt right and Emily St. John Mandel was there to fill that spot.

Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel | £8.50

"On day one the Georgia Flu spreads rapidly throughout the world. It has a 99.9% mortality rate. By week two civilisation has crumbled. In year twenty a band of actors and musicians called The Traveling Symphony move throughout different settlements performing concerts and Shakespeare. Life feels relatively safe but now a new danger looms, with the potential to threaten the hopeful world every survivor has tried to rebuild"

I don't really want to say too much more because this is one where knowing too much will probably spoil it. But it's not 'just another post-apocalyptic novel'. It's not simply about survival, it's also about family, friendship, community, humanity and the power of art. Mandel's writing is wonderful; not too ornate or elaborate, but very authentic and considered. There's no heavy moral, allowing each reader to take from the novel whatever they want. And the end is very fitting. It's satisfying and, well, quite perfect really.

I'd love to know what your first read of 2015 was/is going to be!

Jennie
xoxo