Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge discussion
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Station Eleven
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March Group Read Discussion: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel
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1) Was this book already on your TBR listing?
2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!)
3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting?
4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book?
5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per ŷ: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult
6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book?
Mod
1) Was this book already on your TBR listing?
Yes, it was. I am curious as to whether I will enjoy reading this specific book and/or this specific author.
2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!)
Not really. I want to (finally) read The Violin Conspiracy and will probably use that to fulfill the prompt.
3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting?
Yes. It piques my curiosity. What or where is Station Eleven? And what connection does that title have to the storyline?
4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book?
I assume it depicts one of these post-apocalyptic settlements... I guess it attracts me since I want to know more about these settlements and this world.
5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per ŷ: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult
I enjoy Science Fiction! I don't purposefully avoid Dystopia/Post-Apocalyptic books, but I don't purposefully seek them out, either.
6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book.
I really don't know. I think this is the main reason I have not yet read it, although it was released in 2014! It doesn't appear to be something I would LOVE reading and I get the feeling that Mandel's writing may be a bit more 'edgy' than I typically enjoy. But we shall see!! I am very excited to give it a try and see what I think! Since I am reading Octavia E. Butler's Parable of the Talents a bit at a time, I'm anxious to see how Mandel's writing style compares...
I did my re-read of this book back in December but I am more that happy to join the discussion with you all. This is one of my favorite books and I'm not a big fiction reader.I'll answer the questions later ;)
I have read this twice already in 2015 and 2016 but it has been long enough that I am excited to read it again. I like that it's been a whole decade since the first time. I wonder if I'll still love it as much!
1) Was this book already on your TBR listing?No because I just read this book in December. It marked my 3rd time reading this book.
2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!)
No. I completed this prompt with a nonfiction choice, but this book is excellent for it.
3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting?
I do. Having read this book several times before, the title was not what I was expecting the book to be.
4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book?
The book cover is a bit off putting. With the cover I expect it to be like a circus or something so it surprises me at the directions it takes.
5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per ŷ: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult
I normally do not read books of this genre/subgenre. I sometimes read sci-fi or YA dystopian, but not always as I'm not a big fiction reader.
I first read this book in 2020 after I saw the HBO/Max mini series with Mackenzie Davis and I loved it. I just had to read the book onces I saw the adaptation.
6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book?
Having read this book several times before, I was surprised by it. It ended up being a 5-star which is a rare rating for me when it comes to fiction.
Mod
1) Was this book already on your TBR listing? - at the time that I read it, NO not at all!
2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!) - I'm not re-reading this, I just popped in here to say how much I loved this book!
3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting? No I found the title to be very OFF-putting! It sounded so boring!
4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book? No the cover image was confusing, I couldn't figure out what it was trying to show me until I started reading the book.
5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per ŷ: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult YES these are all things I love to read, and I've almost always loved to read (except for "adult" back when I was not an adult!)
6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book? I did NOT expect to like this book. I think the marketing was all wrong for this one, because I expected it to be dry and boring, and instead I LOVED this book, I love her writing, and I've loved every book I've read by her since. (I still have one book left from her backlist that I haven't read yet.)
In a way, the 2015 Challenge was life-changing for me (ok that's A LITTLE hyperbolic, but ... just a little) because it helped me learn that there were a lot of other authors and genres out there that I would really enjoy if I just gave them a try. I became a lot more willing to read outside my comfort zone, and then I got excited and I starting pushing myself to try new genres and new authors. I used to be very set in my ways, "I know what I like and that's what I read" and I was even a bit snooty about some genres that it turns out I love.
Mod
I'll answer the ques..."
Cool! I remember you typically read nonfiction! Glad for your hearty recommendation!
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Wow. Anxious to see how that goes for you!
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I thought I remembered this was one of your favorite authors! I have yet to read a Moriarty book...
"2) Are you reading this book for the express purpose of fulfilling the 2025 Popsugar prompt #31 A book where music plays an integral part of the storyline. (World Music Therapy Day is March 1, 2025!) - I'm not re-reading this, I just popped in here to say how much I loved this book!"
Very cool!
"3) Do you find the title of this book to be particularly interesting? No I found the title to be very OFF-putting! It sounded so boring!"
LOL See? I find it to be a bit intriguing... "Where or what exactly is Station Eleven?" was my first thought upon reading the title.
"4) What about the cover image? Does it attract you to the book? No the cover image was confusing, I couldn't figure out what it was trying to show me until I started reading the book."
Huh. Well, I may be completely wrong in my own interpretation.
"5) Do you typically read books in this genre/subgenre? The top 6 classifications per ŷ: Fiction, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Post-Apocalyptic, Fantasy, Adult YES these are all things I love to read, and I've almost always loved to read (except for "adult" back when I was not an adult!)"
Ha! Ha! I read Solzhenitsyn's books at age 13! What a weirdo I must have been! Even back then! 🙄😁
"6) What is your best guess as to whether you will enjoy reading this book? I did NOT expect to like this book. I think the marketing was all wrong for this one, because I expected it to be dry and boring, and instead I LOVED this book, I love her writing, and I've loved every book I've read by her since. (I still have one book left from her backlist that I haven't read yet.)"
I am so anxious to see what my reaction is to this one!
"In a way, the 2015 Challenge was life-changing for me (ok that's A LITTLE hyperbolic, but ... just a little) because it helped me learn that there were a lot of other authors and genres out there that I would really enjoy if I just gave them a try. I became a lot more willing to read outside my comfort zone, and then I got excited and I starting pushing myself to try new genres and new authors. I used to be very set in my ways, "I know what I like and that's what I read" and I was even a bit snooty about some genres that it turns out I love."
I have also had "snooty" opinions about literature in the past! And I totally agree with you regarding reading challenges totally opening up my mind and imagination to so many new, exciting, and varied possibilities!
Lynn wrote:Cool! I remember you typically read nonfiction! Glad for your hearty recommendation
LOL yes, as a nonfiction reader, me rating this book as a 5-star read says quite a lot. I loved it so much that last year when I did a re-read of it, I got a new copy so I could annotate it and I went crazy with annotations!
This is one of those cases where I can't decide which I like more: the book or the series adaptation.
Mod
Cool! I remember you typically read nonfiction! Glad for your hearty recommendation
LOL yes, as a nonfiction reader, me rating this book as a 5-star read says quite a lot. I loved it so much that last year when I did a re-read of it, I got a new copy so I could annotate it and I went crazy with annotations!
This is one of those cases where I can't decide which I like more: the book or the series adaptation"
Ah. I rarely watch adaptations unless it is in a movie format since I don't have TV. And I do take your high rating of this seriously, especially given that it is fiction! 😁
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All the other books have been delivered, and this is still slowly (but surely?!?) working its way to me! Ugh. As soon as it arrives, which I hope will be no later than tomorrow, I'll read it! LOL
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It is Sunday and I just checked the tracking. Evidently, my email to Better World Books got someone's attention because this book just moved on yesterday from the facility where it had been for 6 days. 👏👏👏👏👏 It should arrive by Tuesday. Fingers crossed!
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Cool, can't wait to hear your thoughts about it Lynn! This is one of my favorite books of all time and that says a lot since I'm not big on fiction.
That's awesome, Lynn! Can't wait to discuss.
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1. Do you agree with Javeen's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
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1. Do you agree with Javeen's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
I was a bit surprised by this initially, although it doesn't appear that he is necessarily intensely committed to their relationship. I can certainly understand that he is unable to rent an appropriate vehicle to transport his wheelchair-bound brother late at night, etc., and applaud his foresight in obtaining water and other groceries, preparing for isolation.
2. I am immediately questioning his brother's circumstances. (view spoiler) (An effective tension builder in the story!) What is your guess at this point?
Is it possible that an incident occurred in their past that makes Javeen feel especially guilty and/or beholden to his brother? Was Javeen somehow inadvertently involved in the cause of his brother's disability?
3. Do you have a friend you would trust as much as Javeen is trusting Hua? Especially with regard to such a deadly evaluation?
Wow. I guess if my D.O. called me with this information, I would be all in for following his instructions. Or perhaps a couple of friends who are also medical professionals, but it would be so disruptive to up and leave all of a sudden. That would be a very tough decision for me to make with only one person's input...
4. It's obvious Javeen has been prone to panic attacks in the past. Why do you think he was able to avoid panic and remain capable of rational thought and decision-making now? Or are his decisions "rational," in your opinion?
I think there are those who would consider Javeen to be delusional and/or easily manipulated, rather than rational. But I thought he was being very rational and decisive in the wake of mind-blowing information!
5. This book was first released in September 2014. Definitely “pre-COVID.� We are reading it in the “post-COVID� world. Do you think your reaction might be different depending upon which time period you read it—Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID?
For me, I think this makes a huge difference. If I had read this within those first 6 years following its release, prior to the COVID outbreak, I think I would consider Javeen to be a nut-case! Someone easily threatened and scared into spontaneous knee-jerk reactions.
In one of your posts I could only see the first question.I see all 5 in the next so I'll answer those either later today or tomorrow :)
Mod
Unbelievable...
I see all 5 in the next so I'll answer those either later today or tomorrow :)"
Looking forward to it. I am intrigued that this is one of the few fiction books that you love!
Yes, I was surprised this turned out to be one of my favorite fictions as well. I'm not really into theater stuff which is why it surprised me. Last year when I read it was the first time I annotated the book so it really added to my perspective.1. Do you agree with Javeen's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
This is a complicated issue. (view spoiler) so in Jeevan's case I would certainly go with family because boyfriends/girlfriends are sometimes not in it for the long haul. If she had been his wife that would be a different issue.
*
2. I am immediately questioning his brother's circumstances. (view spoiler) (An effective tension builder in the story!) What is your guess at this point?
I was curious too. I do wish the book had gone more into it.
(view spoiler)
3. Do you have a friend you would trust as much as Javeen is trusting Hua? Especially with regard to such a deadly evaluation?
2 years ago I would have said 'yes, absolutely.' Now though having cut them off (long story), I sadly don't have any close friends that I can truly trust or turn to anymore. After that fallout I had with my friends, I have a harder time trusting people I'm close to. I had that issue prior to the fallout, but it got worse after I ended things with them. Let's just say they weren't there when I needed them in my darkest time so I could no longer depend on them when I needed them most.
On a side note, I find it another interesting contrast between the book and the series adaptation. In the series (view spoiler)
*
4. It's obvious Javeen has been prone to panic attacks in the past. Why do you think he was able to avoid panic and remain capable of rational thought and decision-making now? Or are his decisions "rational," in your opinion?
I loved this aspect of Jeevan. It reminded me of the days back during our pandemic and how I had an anxiety attack. It was barely within the first day or 2 of lockdown. I was already in my room for the evening and I was freaking out since my sister and her spouse had people over (I was terrified of others around because not knowing if they had the virus). I left my room and was freaking out in the dark. My sister tried to rationalize but I got in my car. I yelled at her (something I never do). I called my parents in the car and they were the only ones who could get me to calm down enough (we lived in separate cities at the time.) - Going back to the book, Jeevan's panic attacks were certainly something I could relate to.
As for his actions, there is nothing rational when it comes to panic attacks. Like I said, I yelled at my sister and that's something I never do and I felt so guilty after. I told her I didn't know what happened and why I just lost it even though she didn't deserve it.
Jeevan acted like many of us probably did during our pandemic in some ways, getting prepared with supplies (remember those long lines at the stores with only a certain amount of people going in at a time?) and stocking up for those 'just-in-case' moments. Some people may have handled things calmly and rationally, and others like me and Jeevan who went through it with occasional mental breakdowns.
5. This book was first released in September 2014. Definitely “pre-COVID.� We are reading it in the “post-COVID� world. Do you think your reaction might be different depending upon which time period you read it—Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID?
Oh, this is such a fascinating question!
I first read this book in 2022 when the HBO series adaptation came out. It was supposed to have been released a little earlier if I remember correctly but the pandemic pushed the release date back a bit and people weren't in the mood for pandemic storylines at the time.
To answer the question more directly, I do think it would have changed things for sure.
I don't think I would have seen Jeevan as a nut-case. I've been dealing with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks my entire life. We once had a threat of a gunman on campus (turned out to be a false alarm.) when I was in high school and I remember having a panic attack then. I was hyper-ventilating (I had to use a bag to breathe into and my teacher helped me get distracted by telling me to focus on the book I was reading. I remember the exact Star Wars book I was reading at the time and that was over 15 years ago.)
I've also been a germaphobe since my high school days so I didn't have a problem with all of the precautions that they were requiring us to do. Wearing a mask was just an extension of my germ rituals so I didn't have an issue the way most people did.
I do think had I read this pre-Pandemic though I would have viewed this book along the lines of any other science fiction or medical horror novel. In my sophomore year of high school year I had to read The Cobra Event . It was a book I did not want to read because pandemics and what they do to the human body terrified me. I tried to get out of the assignment but my teacher did not want to create a new lesson plan so I was forced to read it and I had nightmares for weeks. So I would have put 'Station Eleven' along the lines of 'The Cobra Event' only without all the gore and creepy stuff.
Reading it post-Pandemic though adds a new layer because it almost makes it real since we've been through our own. There's so much that speaks to the humanity of it all within this book.
Among some of the things I annotated in my copy were these:
-Comfort
-Fear/Pain
-Art/Reality
-Creation/Destruction
-Sacred/Beauty
Thanks for all of these questions, Lynn. I loved answering them and I look forward to continuing the discussion about this book. I find it so strange that I mark it as one of my favorite books of all time but it's truly up there for so many reasons.
Mod
And replies to Ron's answers to come as well! Your connections to this book are so intriguing!
L Y N N wrote: "Oh, my! I just finished reading the third section and am so excited! I adore books that weave interconnectedness throughout the story line! More questions tonight or tomorrow. And replies to Ron'..."
Yae more questions! I am having a blast answering them. I have such an appreciation for this book and the series adaptation. Both are so different so that's why I can't decide in this case whether I love the book more or the series.
I wish I could share a pic of how my book looks with all of the highlighting, annotating, and tabs. It's my most precious out of all the books I've tabbed and annotated.
Mod
1. Do you believe Charlie and the sixth guitar/Jeremy and their daughter Annabel are still alive?
2. Arthur and Miranda both grew up on Delano Island, a somewhat isolated small rural community. At dinner, Arthur asks Miranda whether she enjoys living in Toronto: “The revelation of privacy, she can walk down the street and absolutely no one knows who she is. It’s possible that no one who didn’t grow up in a small place can understand how beautiful this is, how the anonymity of city life feels like freedom.� This is echoed in the Symphony where all members travel, live, and perform together 24/7, much like living in a small rather isolated community. What do you believe may be some of the pros and cons of “small town� vs “big city� life?
3. How would you describe Miranda and Paul’s relationship?
4. Do you agree with Elizabeth when she says to Miranda, “I think this is happening because it was supposed to happen.�
5. Was the identification of “Station Eleven� what you expected? What significance do you think this may have in the rest of the story?
Mod
(Sorry for all the spoiler notations, but I try to be sensitive to those who haven't read this yet but plan to do so in the future...) 😊
1. Do you believe Charlie and the sixth guitar/Jeremy and their daughter Annabel (view spoiler)
I do! I refuse to give up hope!
2. Arthur and Miranda both grew up on Delano Island, a somewhat isolated small rural community. At dinner, Arthur asks Miranda whether she enjoys living in Toronto: “The revelation of privacy, she can walk down the street and absolutely no one knows who she is. It’s possible that no one who didn’t grow up in a small place can understand how beautiful this is, how the anonymity of city life feels like freedom.� This is echoed in the Symphony where all members travel, live, and perform together 24/7, much like living in a small rather isolated community. What do you believe may be some of the pros and cons of “small town� vs “big city� life?
Having lived in small rural communities all but the first 4 years of my life, I would agree with this sentiment. I can relate to how difficult it might be to literally live, eat, and breathe with the same group of people 24/7 as the Symphony members do. Whew! That would be tough, especially for me! Though I do appreciate that instant anonymity that comes with visiting a large urban environment. It does feel freeing to me in many ways. There can be more of a sense of community among residents of a smaller more isolated environment, but it can also be a good thing to feel freer to be yourself among those who don’t know you as well. I think you can explore who you really are or might be when among more people. Plus it gives you a broader range of behaviors to observe and perhaps imitate, if you desire to do so.
3. How would you describe Miranda and Paul’s relationship?
Ugh. In my opinion, (view spoiler) But perhaps this is just based upon my own past experiences.
4. Do you agree with Elizabeth when she says to Miranda, “I think this is happening because it was supposed to happen.�
Oh, my. This is SUCH a loaded question for me! My gut reaction? “Hell, no I don’t agree with her!� In my opinion and life experience, you either make yourself available for an intimate relationship or you don’t. It’s truly just that simple for me. I had this discussion with my ex-husband about 10 years prior to my divorcing him. Evidently, that was only MY opinion, and obviously, not his opinion, since he more than made himself available to someone else! Hence, the divorce which was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself!
5. Was the identification of “Station Eleven� what you expected? What significance do you think this may have in the rest of the story?
Not at all! Though I admit I am now fascinated to imagine what possible connection this may have with the remainder of the book! (view spoiler) Yes, you set those limits, girlfriend!! 😊 Claim your life for yourself! And now I am anxious to know (view spoiler)
Mod
You know, I truly enjoyed composing very detailed reviews on a blog, but it just took up so much of my "reading" time that I decided I would prefer to read more and review less as I entered old age! 😉 I feel as if time is running out! LOL
"1. Do you agree with Jeevan's decisions in the wake of his conversation with Hua? Would you have (view spoiler)
This is a complicated issue. (view spoiler) so in Jeevan's case I would certainly go with family because boyfriends/girlfriends are sometimes not in it for the long haul. If she had been his wife that would be a different issue."
Then I would agree with the interpretation of their relationship as evidenced in the series since that was my impression just from reading the book. Agreed about family taking precedence.
"2. I am immediately questioning his brother's circumstances. (view spoiler) (An effective tension builder in the story!) What is your guess at this point?
I was curious too. I do wish the book had gone more into it.
(view spoiler)"
Interesting that this was better delineated in the series adaptation. We are left wondering in the book, IMO.
"3. Do you have a friend you would trust as much as Jeevan is trusting Hua? Especially with regard to such a deadly evaluation?
2 years ago I would have said 'yes, absolutely.' Now though having cut them off (long story), I sadly don't have any close friends that I can truly trust or turn to anymore. After that fallout I had with my friends, I have a harder time trusting people I'm close to. I had that issue prior to the fallout, but it got worse after I ended things with them. Let's just say they weren't there when I needed them in my darkest time so I could no longer depend on them when I needed them most."
Oh, my! We have that in common. My breakup came after 30 years of being BFFs. It was tough and yet I had kinda seen it coming for the last 5 years or so. In my case it was her complete lack of respect for me and my own beliefs. Ugh. We had dealt with those differences successfully for so long and then all of a sudden she was determined to convert me to her way of thinking. And she knew that any relationship I had in the wake of my divorce was based upon mutual respect or it was over. So...it was over! Rather than deleting her from my cell phone contacts, I had to block her since she kept texting me with her attempts to convert me. Strange... I would say in the wake of my divorce I learned to never again trust any person as much as I had my ex-husband. And perhaps it was a good thing for me to learn to keep more of myself to myself...
"On a side note, I find it another interesting contrast between the book and the series adaptation. In the series (view spoiler)"
Oh, my! That puts a totally different spin on it!
"4. It's obvious Jeevan has been prone to panic attacks in the past. Why do you think he was able to avoid panic and remain capable of rational thought and decision-making now? Or are his decisions "rational," in your opinion?
I loved this aspect of Jeevan. It reminded me of the days back during our pandemic and how I had an anxiety attack. It was barely within the first day or 2 of lockdown. I was already in my room for the evening and I was freaking out since my sister and her spouse had people over (I was terrified of others around because not knowing if they had the virus). I left my room and was freaking out in the dark. My sister tried to rationalize but I got in my car. I yelled at her (something I never do). I called my parents in the car and they were the only ones who could get me to calm down enough (we lived in separate cities at the time.) - Going back to the book, Jeevan's panic attacks were certainly something I could relate to.
As for his actions, there is nothing rational when it comes to panic attacks. Like I said, I yelled at my sister and that's something I never do and I felt so guilty after. I told her I didn't know what happened and why I just lost it even though she didn't deserve it.
Jeevan acted like many of us probably did during our pandemic in some ways, getting prepared with supplies (remember those long lines at the stores with only a certain amount of people going in at a time?) and stocking up for those 'just-in-case' moments. Some people may have handled things calmly and rationally, and others like me and Jeevan who went through it with occasional mental breakdowns."
Rationality is a fairly subjective evaluation, IMO. To be determined by each unique person. Your answer made me re-evaluate Jeevan's reaction as somewhat panic-stricken and perhaps not completely "rational." Perhaps it is not so rational to purchase SEVEN whole grocery carts full of food and then wheel them into the hallway outside your brother's apartment! All past midnight and unannounced! 😃
"5. This book was first released in September 2014. Definitely “pre-COVID.� We are reading it in the “post-COVID� world. Do you think your reaction might be different depending upon which time period you read it—Pre-COVID vs Post-COVID?
Oh, this is such a fascinating question!
I first read this book in 2022 when the HBO series adaptation came out. It was supposed to have been released a little earlier if I remember correctly but the pandemic pushed the release date back a bit and people weren't in the mood for pandemic storylines at the time.
To answer the question more directly, I do think it would have changed things for sure.
I don't think I would have seen Jeevan as a nut-case. I've been dealing with anxiety, depression, and panic attacks my entire life. We once had a threat of a gunman on campus (turned out to be a false alarm.) when I was in high school and I remember having a panic attack then. I was hyper-ventilating (I had to use a bag to breathe into and my teacher helped me get distracted by telling me to focus on the book I was reading. I remember the exact Star Wars book I was reading at the time and that was over 15 years ago.)"
Well, I didn't feel Jeevan was a nut case. In fact, I felt he was reacting in a very practical manner. Much moreso than I might have... Anxiety and panic attacks can be so debilitating! Scary stuff! Glad your teacher was able to help you cope at that time.
"I've also been a germaphobe since my high school days so I didn't have a problem with all of the precautions that they were requiring us to do. Wearing a mask was just an extension of my germ rituals so I didn't have an issue the way most people did."
While I have not been that careful earlier in my life, I had absolutely no problem with masking and wearing gloves/using a handwipe as I shopped, etc. That all made total sense to me. But I usually try to do what I can on my own to stay healthy and avoid western medicine/pills whenever possible! 😊
"I do think had I read this pre-Pandemic though I would have viewed this book along the lines of any other science fiction or medical horror novel. In my sophomore year of high school year I had to read The Cobra Event . It was a book I did not want to read because pandemics and what they do to the human body terrified me. I tried to get out of the assignment but my teacher did not want to create a new lesson plan so I was forced to read it and I had nightmares for weeks. So I would have put 'Station Eleven' along the lines of 'The Cobra Event' only without all the gore and creepy stuff.
Reading it post-Pandemic though adds a new layer because it almost makes it real since we've been through our own. There's so much that speaks to the humanity of it all within this book."
What a poor example of a teacher! Yikes! I'm so sorry you were forced to do that! I think for me personally, reading this prior to COVID would have changed my perception in quite a few ways. But having lived through a pandemic helped me relate much better to this book without freaking out or feeling it was a bit over the top...
"-Comfort
-Fear/Pain
-Art/Reality
-Creation/Destruction
-Sacred/Beauty"
Each its own subject for discussion!! How perceptive of you!
Mod
While not an all-time favorite, it was certainly memorable and thought-provoking, as I would expect for dystopia.
Final questions and thoughts to be posted this weekend!
Cool, I still need to answer your previous questions which I'll do today.
1) No, it was not. It was actually selected for my small town book club book for March. 2) No, but I was thinking about using it for happy dystopian.
3) I did find it intriguing and not related how I might have mused.
4) Cover also did draw me in. It was interesting without being cluttered or weird looking.
5) Yes, I do. I have a side plague book quest. I find patient zero/plague outbreak stories interesting.
6) I thought I would, and I did!
Other-
We were asked what we’d put in the museum of civilization; maybe a mug or jewelry.
Did the story have a “main character�? -Maybe K?
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I have been dealing with trauma and haven't had the energy to keep up with other responsibilities. But I am back! 🤗
I will finish this up later today or tomorrow. Sometime this weekend!
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1) What are your thoughts regarding Miranda's "Station Eleven"?
2) Did you have a clue as to the real-life identity of "The Prophet"?
3) How do you think other's lives might have been changed if Arthur had lived?
4) What do you think of Clark's Museum of Civilization? Is it a valuable contribution? Or meaningless/inane? What would you contribute to such a collection?
5) Would you say the story has a “main character�/protagonist? If so, who would you name?
6) Did you enjoy this book? What is your overall reaction?
7) Would you recommend this book to other readers? Why or why not?
Mod
1) What are your thoughts regarding Miranda's "Station Eleven"?
It has been long enough I honestly don't remember much about this 'comic' other than I totally respected Miranda's efforts throughout the years and was extremely disappointed for her that (view spoiler)
Mod
I did. I can't remember exactly where in my reading of the book I wondered if this crazed man wasn't Tyler. I think it was when his mother became so radical and they left with a cult group...
3) How do you think other's lives might have been changed if Arthur had lived?
Arthur fully intended to fly to join Elizabeth and Tyler, but then he died. I can only imagine that Tyler might well have been changed by sustained and more intimate contact with this father. Having been raised by a single mother who became rather cult-like in her religious beliefs the last 15-20 years of her life, I realize how easily a child can be influenced by a single parent. (Much to my mother's chagrin, I did not follow in her footsteps regarding her zealous beliefs...) I felt very sorry for Tyler as a result. Though not enough to absolve him of his many crimes. IMO, the world would have been much better off without him in it as an adult simply because of the harm to he caused others--death/murder/suicide, intimidation, etc. Although, Arthur didn't seem to be very good at following through on his intentions with regard to close relationships, so perhaps he would not have been a positive contributor to Tyler's life and development. (There are no guarantees...)
Mod
I think anything that educates us about others is valuable. I also felt as if it might provide motivation to those left behind to keep striving to re-establish some form of civilization as it was in the past, yet hopefully way better! Uncertain what I might contribute. I guess it would mainly depend upon what I still 'owned' but anything could be considered pertinent, IMO.
5) Would you say the story has a “main character�/protagonist? If so, who would you name?
I believe Kirsten is the most obvious answer since she seems to lead the narrative. Though overall I felt many characters' contributions were very important to the story line. I believe the interconnectedness of characters makes the idea of a "protagonist" a bit less obvious or necessary.
6) Did you enjoy this book? What is your overall reaction?
Hmmm... I did, if you can consider a "dystopian" novel to be "enjoyable"! LOL What mainly appealed to me was the complex interconnectedness of characters. But for me, dystopia overall is not "enjoyable" since in the aftermath it typically feels depressing to me...
7) Would you recommend this book to other readers? Why or why not?
I would recommend it, but with disclaimers regarding the fact that I mostly appreciate the interconnectedness of the characters' lives and I feel this would be an excellent "book club" read as it should provide much fodder for discussion. Especially since we have now experienced a global pandemic in our "modern world." Though I also found it extremely thought-provoking just on an individual/personal level as well.
Mod
But finally this discussion is finished. I hope some others will contribute over the next few days and then I'll move it to the 2025 Monthly Group Reads folder where it should be! 😁
Mod
That's interesting! What were the book club members' reactions to it?
"2) No, but I was thinking about using it for happy dystopian."
I think it would fulfill that prompt, though, IMO, dystopian books by definition are not necessarily "happy"! 😉
"3) I did find it intriguing and not related how I might have mused."
I agree!
"4) Cover also did draw me in. It was interesting without being cluttered or weird looking."
Yes!
"5) Yes, I do. I have a side plague book quest. I find patient zero/plague outbreak stories interesting."
THAT is interesting! 🙂
"6) I thought I would, and I did!"
It sounds as if this book was "right up your alley," as we used to say! 👍
"We were asked what we’d put in the museum of civilization; maybe a mug or jewelry.
Did the story have a “main character�? -Maybe K?"
I used these as inspiration for a couple of the final questions! Thank you!!
Ultimate Popsugar Reading Challenge
Books mentioned in this topic
The Cobra Event (other topics)Big Little Lies (other topics)
Parable of the Talents (other topics)
The Violin Conspiracy (other topics)
Station Eleven (other topics)
Authors mentioned in this topic
Octavia E. Butler (other topics)Emily St. John Mandel (other topics)
No one has volunteered to lead the discussion. I have a copy being shipped to me that should arrive March 3-5 and I will be reading it and am posting some initial discussion questions to start us off! :)
HERE is a listing of potential discussion questions. These are meant to not only help those who volunteer to facilitate these monthly discussions but also to provide ideas for members participating in discussions!
Every person reads at a different pace, so please use spoiler tags if you are sharing any plot-related surprises. This allows others to decide whether this information might reveal surprising information they have not yet read. It can also be helpful to other readers if you post the location within the book noting your progress (chapter and/or page number). That way, if someone else has read that far they can go ahead and open the spoiler, but if not, they'll know to skip it for now and return later...
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Use this for spoilers, just remove the spaces:
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Posts here should only be contributions to discussion about this book. 😊