Reviews

Annihilation by Jeff VanderMeer

peachesandhoney's review against another edition

challenging mysterious reflective slow-paced

3.75

Think of the book and movie as separate entities!

Really interesting narrative voice that was more distant and almost “scientific” that I wasn’t used to. Also likely would have liked it more as a physical book than audiobook, a couple times I zoned out and then it took a minute to get back into it. Liked the concepts and biological exploration of it, cool ideas with unique execution. Something different!!

pettypierrot's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

5.0

braveamateur's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful mysterious reflective tense

5.0

sydsmith23's review against another edition

adventurous dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

maddivillines's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

adamlewis1's review against another edition

adventurous dark mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

The book starts slow, picks up in the middle and then ends slow. There is some real intrigue with the tower, but the author sticks close to the origins of science fiction, meaning, the idea that there isn’t much action in a true science fiction novel. Personally, I feel like science fiction is better today with more action. Besides my own wants, this book is a solid read, and short enough to not feel like wasted time if read from cover to cover.

hollyleaf's review against another edition

mysterious

• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

Unsettling. I am probably going to have to sit on this for a bit before I have any coherent thoughts.

cherrypopgirlielibrary's review against another edition

3.0

I really enjoyed this book. Although it was very different from the movie. Which, in my opinion, made it better.
I have to admit, though, that I am still thoroughly confused as to what's going on in Area X. But that just makes me want to read the next two books even more. Hopefully those will answer some of my more pressing questions.

seyahrue's review against another edition

3.0

This book is such a mind fuck that I honestly don’t know what to think of it. It was definitely an enjoyable read, one that I picked up because of the recent film adaptation (which is only barely linked to this book, it’s almost as if the director based it on a dream he had that vaguely resembles something he read in the book)

I’m definitely intrigued, and I have so many questions left unanswered by this that I definitely want to read the other two books in this series, if only to see if they reveal anything more about what in the world just happened.

leahreadsstuff's review against another edition

challenging dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

What an incredible book. I was riveted from the first page. The opening is forbidding and tense, and the atmosphere only gets more ominous from there. The sense of creeping unease builds quickly, and the more I discovered with the narrator, the more disturbed I became. 

It’s compelling, uncomfortable reading. I found the narrator fascinating and off putting and intriguing all at the same time. I can’t say that I have any idea what the truth of the story is, but I don’t think I have to. The experience was enough. 

“Desolation tries to colonize you.”