Title: Station Eleven
Author: Emily St. John Mandel
First published September 9, 2014
333 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780385353304 (ISBN10: 0385353308)
Rating: 4.07
Overview
In a world where civilization has crumbled, Station Eleven follows the journey of a Hollywood star, a valiant rescuer, and a group of traveling actors who are dedicated to preserving art and humanity. It all begins on a snowy night when the Hollywood actor dies on stage during a production of King Lear, marking the start of a catastrophic event that changes everything.
The novel takes us on a gripping journey through time, from the actor’s early days as a film star to fifteen years later, where the Traveling Symphony, a group of actors, roams the Great Lakes region, risking their lives to keep the arts alive. As the story unfolds, we witness the mysterious ways in which fate connects five people – the actor, his savior, his first wife, his oldest friend, and a young actress with the Traveling Symphony.
In the midst of all this, a dangerous self-proclaimed prophet threatens their survival. This beautifully written, suspenseful, and poignant novel is a testament to the power of human connection, art, and the resilience of the human spirit.
About the Author
Emily St. John Mandel grew up on the west coast of British Columbia, Canada. She pursued contemporary dance at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre and spent a short period of time in Montreal before moving to New York.
Mandel has written five novels, including her upcoming release, The Glass Hotel, and her acclaimed work, Station Eleven, which was a finalist for both the National Book Award and the PEN/Faulkner Award. It was also the winner of the Morning News Tournament of Books and has been translated into 34 languages.
She currently resides in New York City with her husband and daughter.
Editoral Review
Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel has become a defining piece of literature for our times. Published on September 9, 2014, the novel is a post-apocalyptic tale, set in a world where a deadly flu epidemic has killed most of the world’s population.
The book, which is Mandel’s fourth, has been hailed as a masterpiece of writing and has earned numerous awards, including the Arthur C. Clarke Award, the Toronto Book Award, and the National Book Award.
Mandel’s writing style is both lyrical and direct. Her often-poetic prose contrasts with the harsh, raw setting of the book, which is set 20 years after the collapse of civilization in North America.
The themes of loss, memory and hope run throughout the book, and the characters are vividly drawn. The novel is very much a character-based story, and the relationships between the key players are at the heart of the narrative.
The plot of Station Eleven is compelling and inventive. The action shifts between the present day and the time before the collapse, as well as exploring the experiences of those who survived the epidemic.
The novel also features a traveling theater troupe that performs for communities of survivors, bringing a touch of the old world back to the new. The main character is named Kirsten Raymonde, an actress in the Traveling Symphony who was just eight years old when the epidemic struck.
Throughout the book, she grapples with a sense of loss and nostalgia for a world that no longer exists. Mandel’s work is rooted in history and culture, and Station Eleven is no exception.
The book’s examination of a fictional flu pandemic has been compared to the real-life COVID-19 pandemic that our world is currently experiencing. This brings a new level of relevance to the novel, making it a powerful read for those seeking to contextualize the current moment.
The novel delivers on multiple levels. The writing is exceptional, the narrative is engaging, and the themes are profound.
However, like any work of literature, it is not perfect. The plot can feel somewhat disjointed at times, as the story moves back and forth in time, while certain plotlines are not fully developed.
Additionally, some characters can feel underdeveloped, leaving the reader wanting more. Despite these minor drawbacks, Station Eleven is a must-read for fans of the dystopian/post-apocalyptic genre.
Mandel’s storytelling is exceptional, weaving together multiple strands of narratives and characters into a nuanced and deeply satisfying read. The book is rich in emotion and meaning, exploring the depths of human experience in a world stripped of its comforts and modern trappings.
It is a book that will leave a lasting impression on its readers, resonating long after the final pages are read. Overall, Station Eleven is a masterfully written, thought-provoking novel with broad cultural significance.
It deserves its place among the best in the genre, and is an essential addition to any bookshelf. The Washington Post would highly recommend this novel, and we would give it a score of 9 out of 10.
