Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Quite a fascinating post-apocalyptic tale, set in a near future realistic scenario. The way Mandel has created a type of spider web of characters in an almost TV show like scenario.

The world as we know it has been reduced to a pre-technology, pre-electricity and pre-internet time. The population has been reduced to a minimum.

Survival has become a thing of the most ruthless, the fittest, and the ones willing to do anything to live a day longer.

The whole plot is set around and connected via one individual. Not the main character, but rather someone most of the characters, who play major roles in the story, have been in contact with. I thought it was an interesting way to go about it. A kind of six degrees of separation via one person.

To be completely frank, I thought the beginning was a wee it confusing, so much so I wasn't sure where Mandel was taking it at all. Even when it became evident that it was going the apocalyptic route I still didn't quite get why Mandel kept coming back to Arthur and Co.

I really enjoyed the idea of the Symphony.What a wonderful grand gesture of hope in an otherwise desolate world. A travelling company of musical artists and performers of Shakespearean plays. Art as a beacon of light and home comforts of a forgotten world.

Certainly a different way of going about it, and although it reminded me slightly of Revolution, it was a good read.
I received a copy of this book via NetGalley.