Jasmine's Reviews > Sea of Tranquility

Sea of Tranquility will transport the reader throughout time.

Emily St. John Mandel’s latest release loosely connects to her previous books Station Eleven and The Glass Hotel.

This story follows several characters in the past, present, and future. It begins in 1912 when Edwin St. Andrew, exiled from his family for his views on colonialism, experiences something so inexplicable he believes he imagined it.

About a century later, Mirella wants to reconnect with her old friend Vincent and learn more about her possible knowledge of a Ponzi scheme that left many in financial ruin.

In 2203, the story follows a well-known author who previously wrote a dystopian book about a pandemic. A book that is gaining popularity again since the population is currently in the clutches of a real pandemic. Sound familiar?

Two centuries later, Gaspery is bored working as a Hotel Detective and thus takes on a riskier but more enlightening job.

A singular moment ties all of these characters together in a way that is difficult for them to comprehend.

It sounds complicated, but Mandel’s writing is so clear and crisp that it’s relatively easy to keep all the timelines and characters in order.

Even though this has ties to her two previous books, they can all be read as standalones. I’ve read The Glass Hotel but haven’t got around to Station Eleven yet.

In some ways, this book reminded me of Cloud Cuckoo Land by Anthony Doerr. They both cover a broad timeline.

This novel has themes of death, illness, loneliness, and hope for humanity.

This is a relatively short novel, but it leaves a huge impact.

Thank you to HarperCollins Canada for providing an arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

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