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A review by shereadytoread
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
challenging
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
A book about what happens when SOMETHING happens. The reader is meant to (or try to) align themselves with a middle class white family who rents an airbnb for vacation, and slowly it is revealed how internal biases and general dependence on every day luxuries leave us stranded in times of confusion.
It plays into race and class when the middle class family is unexpectedly faced with the rich black homeowners unexpectedly crashing their vacation. How do we decide who to trust and who is part of our community and safety.
This style of writing knocked it down a little for me. It is overly descriptive in areas of little importance and then big issues seemed to be glossed over. It is written in a relatable way since our brains often work that way, but it can be off-putting just looking at some else's internal monologue for that long when there are other things to focus on.
One issue for a lot of people is the rather abrupt ending, but I think that was actually a shining point. If you are seeking an emergency/apocalyptic/adventure then this is probably not for you. A disaster novel for modern times, is more about figuring out what is coming and how to react than actually experiencing it.
It plays into race and class when the middle class family is unexpectedly faced with the rich black homeowners unexpectedly crashing their vacation. How do we decide who to trust and who is part of our community and safety.
This style of writing knocked it down a little for me. It is overly descriptive in areas of little importance and then big issues seemed to be glossed over. It is written in a relatable way since our brains often work that way, but it can be off-putting just looking at some else's internal monologue for that long when there are other things to focus on.
One issue for a lot of people is the rather abrupt ending, but I think that was actually a shining point. If you are seeking an emergency/apocalyptic/adventure then this is probably not for you. A disaster novel for modern times, is more about figuring out what is coming and how to react than actually experiencing it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Body horror