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Ron's Reviews > Sea of Tranquility
Sea of Tranquility
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Mandel has a marked style of writing that feels nearly poetic, even if it's not exactly that. It's hard to describe why it feels this way. Maybe it's a combination of the writing and the structure of the storyline itself, short sections that at first feel unconnected - the meeting of one character and then another nearly two hundred years in time beyond the first - until the truth trickles through. Either way, the writing and style are terrific. The plot itself is an interesting mystery, wrapped within a dystopian, sci-fi world that's our own. All things I love, even if I don't actually read much sci-fi. Before beginning this, I had expected connections to both of her two previous books, but the direct link is really only to The Glass Hotel. You don't have to read it before reading Sea of Tranquility, but knowing and meeting a character again did strengthen my feeling while reading. What may have struck me most here were the human connections. Although loneliness is experienced by each character, the need for interdependence stands out.
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Reading Progress
November 28, 2021
– Shelved
November 28, 2021
– Shelved as:
to-read
May 9, 2023
–
Started Reading
May 13, 2023
–
Finished Reading
May 16, 2023
– Shelved as:
sci-fi
May 16, 2023
– Shelved as:
dystopian
May 16, 2023
– Shelved as:
2023
May 16, 2023
– Shelved as:
time-travel
Comments Showing 1-18 of 18 (18 new)
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Wyndy
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May 13, 2023 03:13PM
Terrific review, Ron. I haven’t read any of her work yet, but need to dive in. I’m not a big sci-fi fan, but poetic writing and human connections are right up my alley.
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Good review, Ron. The one outing I had with this author was with Station Eleven, and we did not get along very well. I probably won't return for another try, but I'm pleased you are enjoying her work.
Interesting review, Ron. I am not at all familiar with this Canadian born writer (I had to look her up) and also not a fan of science fiction. I'm pleased you enjoyed this. I do like meeting a character I have met previously when I read a new book.
Wyndy wrote: "Terrific review, Ron. I haven’t read any of her work yet, but need to dive in. I’m not a big sci-fi fan, but poetic writing and human connections are right up my alley."Thanks, Wyndy! I hope you like the way she writes. I may be stretching when using the word poetic, it's just hard for me to pinpoint why it comes across that way. Some dystopian can be taken with a grain of salt, but so far hers has come across with a more believable tone for me.
Zoeytron wrote: "Good review, Ron. The one outing I had with this author was with Station Eleven, and we did not get along very well. I probably won't return for another try, but I'm pleased you are enjoying her work."Thanks, Zoey! I'm glad you tried her work as well, and not getting along simply happens. I had previously thought Station Eleven was her first book, then learned there were a couple others. As much as I've liked the ones I read, I may not try all of her work.
Laysee wrote: "Interesting review, Ron. I am not at all familiar with this Canadian born writer (I had to look her up) and also not a fan of science fiction. I'm pleased you enjoyed this. I do like meeting a char..."Thank you Laysee! The "continuation" connections to her other book, which she also did in her previous one, draw me in. I think you've read David Mitchell, and her work reminds me of his this way. His books are much longer, but there are a few similarities between the subjects they touch upon.
Excellent review, Ron! Glad you enjoyed the novel. The structure of this story with a two-hundred-year gap sounds intriguing.
Fine review, Ron :)) I think this novel sounds more than good, following your advice I might start with Tha Glass Castle ... I'm intrigued, you are another GR Friend who does appreciate this novel :)
Great review Ron! Dunno why I've never heard of this author before. Think I'll try with Station Eleven first :)
Nika wrote: "Excellent review, Ron! Glad you enjoyed the novel. The structure of this story with a two-hundred-year gap gap sounds intriguing."Thank you, Nika! Yeah, I was a little daunted by the big jumps in time. After a few pages I didn't think about that at all, and the author had a nice way of then turning back in time too. A real treat.
Beata wrote: "Fine review, Ron :)) I think this novel sounds more than good, following your advice I might start with Tha Glass Castle ... I'm intrigued, you are another GR Friend who does appreciate this novel :)"Thank you, Beata! I wrote it wrong in my review - it's called The Glass Hotel. The two books become almost like a small series, but what's unique is that they could be from separate genres, and I don't think Mandel even thought about doing that until starting this book. A little supernatural in Glass Hotel, but not sci-fi or time jump like this novel. I like that sort of uniqueness.
Federico wrote: "Great review Ron! Dunno why I've never heard of this author before. Think I'll try with Station Eleven first :)"Thanks, Federico! Hope you enjoy when you get the chance. I think Station Eleven is the longest of hers I've read, but not daunting in any way. Well worth it I'd say.
I've heard great things about this book. The mix of genres you've mentioned seems like something I would enjoy. Wonderful review, Ron! :-)
Kimber wrote: "I've heard great things about this book. The mix of genres you've mentioned seems like something I would enjoy. Wonderful review, Ron! :-)"Thank you, Kimber! That mixing of genres is a trait I'm liking more and more as of late, maybe because it can still come across unexpectedly, and a pleasing ending never hurts as it was here for me.
Diana wrote: "I’m glad you enjoyed this!"Thanks, it was excellent!
Glad you enjoyed this Ron, terrific review!
Kay ☼ wrote: "Glad you enjoyed this Ron, terrific review!"Thanks so much Kay!
