The beginning of this novel, I was just hooked, like the first four chapters, were so atmospheric and spooky and I just thought her writing was brilliant, but then pretty quickly it changes to this whole thing about a Ponzi scheme and it just feels like she got carried away with her research on Ponzi schemes and way too much was included about it, it totally lost me, but there is so much that was still left hanging that I had to finish. The ending was okay. Had it gone a different direction in the beginning, this could have been amazing.

I'm not sure why this book gets such a high rating. I thought it was mediocre. At least it is a fast read.

There doesn’t seem to be a plot. Or it’s a very slowly developing plot, which I missed. I couldn’t finish this book.

Did not enjoy this book.
The connection between characters and events felt forced, and I am not sure what kind of book I had read when I finished reading it.
May be this book is beyond my level of literally appreciation.
I can't even remember how I came upon this book - I think it was recommended in a list of books by Canadian author or something like that. Wish I had skipped it.

This is my second St. John Mandel, and while I enjoyed Last Night in Montreal a bit more, this work showcases a mastery of storytelling and command of language. Her skill is imperceptible; in the act of reading, I am fully engaged. Between chapters and during breaks I recall how easy and beautiful and lingering those sentences are. The theme of willful ignorance resonates, and the use of haunting and ghosts as a device throughout the second half surprised me in the best way.

A dreary book full of unlikable characters. Pass.

I loved this book. At the beginning you're not sure where it'll go, but then the pace picks up and it forces you to keep reading to the end.

I had a hard time getting into this book but enjoyed reading it. It didn’t fully absorb me but the story telling is interesting and that’s what kept me reading. I didn’t particularly love any of the characters but they are written as real humans, flawed but trying to find their way in the world as we all are. A good book but not amazing.

Excellent book. I preferred it to Station 11, very good descriptions.

Only familiar with the author through reading Station Eleven, I was disappointed when I heard about the basic plot of this novel. I had been hoping for more of the speculative fiction Station Eleven kind of story. However, it quickly won me over. A novel with several threads can sometimes lose me, but I found all the threads to be compelling. The style is very similar to Station Eleven, meaning many jumps from character to character and across time lines. So, yes, sometime I found myself going back to previous chapters to try and sort things out. In the end, it all came together in a very satisfying way. If you loved Station Eleven, keep on the lookout for some overlapping characters (and don't worry too much about how they could exist in both fictional universes).