Emily St. John Mandel

Lilia Albert is abducted from her mother’s home when she is seven years old. The abductor is her father who discovers that his daughter is being physically abused by his ex-wife. They spend several years running from the law in the United States. Meanwhile the police detective Christopher, assigned to the case becomes obsessed with the crime and makes it his life’s work to find Lilia
Lilia’s life is spent moving so when she establishes relationships, they are short lived. Her boyfriend Eli travels to Montreal to find her after she leaves him in Brooklyn.
Enter another character enters the story and it is Michaela, the daughter of the police detective. She’s working as dancer of some sort in a sleazy Montreal nightclub and has befriended Lila.
It’s a complicated story about abandonment, obsession, mental illness and lost love.
Not an easy read but a well told story.… (more)

This one took me on an unexpected emotional rollercoaster. The last 50 pages had me completely devastated, sobbing in my bed—a testament to the powerful impact of this novel. While time travel is a familiar theme, the exploration of its consequences and moral intricacies behind decisions elevates this story to a deep and rich narrative. My jaw was on the floor as the plot unfolded, and the seamless weaving of different threads, coupled with authentic character relationships, made the story resonate profoundly. It's challenging to convey more without getting into spoilers, but suffice it to say, that I wholeheartedly recommend it to everyone. This book is already a strong contender for my book of the year. The strength of storytelling and emotional depth of this novel make it an absolute must-read.… (more)

I loved this book! Having already loved Sea of Tranquility, I found Station Eleven equally phenomenal. It’s unreal that this book was written five years before COVID-19 disrupted our lives. So many eerie, true-to-life moments made it hard to believe it wasn’t written post-pandemic. It makes you realize how close we are to complete collapse at any moment, both personally and as a society. The pacing is fantastic, with each chapter ending making me immediately reach for the next. The characters are so clearly detailed that I felt I really understood their motivations. This story is captivating, suspenseful, magnificent, deep, devastating, and yet somehow hopeful. I maintain that in any true survival experience, leave me behind because I don’t have what it takes! Having made it through the last five years, it meant something extra, although I’d love to hear from the perspective of readers before 2020.… (more)