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Holly's Reviews > Sea of Tranquility

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St. John Mandel
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bookshelves: audiobook, fantasy-or-science-fiction, 2022-read

I'm not sure how I feel about this one. It's very much a 'written during the pandemic' book. It also almost requires you to have already read The Glass Hotel, and it even has a passing reference to Station Eleven. But both of those prior books are better than this one in my opinion. The plot of this book felt like a hodge podge of ideas - life in outer space, the future, life as an author, living through a pandemic, and the morality of time travel. But what really threw me off was the almost complete lack of character development. None of these characters felt 'real' to me. I will still gladly pick up future books by this author, but I can't say I would necessarily recommend this one unfortunately.
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Reading Progress

November 5, 2021 – Shelved
November 5, 2021 – Shelved as: not-yet-released
April 6, 2022 – Shelved as: to-read
April 11, 2022 – Started Reading
April 11, 2022 – Shelved as: audiobook
April 11, 2022 – Shelved as: fantasy-or-science-fiction
April 14, 2022 – Shelved as: 2022-read
April 14, 2022 – Finished Reading

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Comments Showing 1-27 of 27 (27 new)

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message 1: by Brandice (new)
Apr 14, 2022 03:47PM

Brandice Sorry this was a miss, Holly! I read Station Eleven several years ago and was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed it. Still need to read The Glass Hotel. Hope you love your next book!


message 2: by Janelle (new)
Apr 14, 2022 05:42PM

Janelle I was wondering about this. I had heard recently that you should probably read The Glass Hotel first which I had no desire to read even though I liked Station 11. I was looking forward to this one but have decided to pass.


message 3: by Yun (new)
Apr 15, 2022 02:16AM

Yun Oh dear! The premise of this book caught my attention, but I wasn't a fan of Station Eleven. Perhaps I should give this a miss too.


message 4: by JanB (new) - added it
Apr 15, 2022 05:14AM

JanB uh oh...I didn't like Station Eleven, loved The Glass Hotel, so now I wonder how this one will land. I appreciate your thoughts Holly!


message 5: by Kathleen (new)
Apr 19, 2022 08:42PM

Kathleen "almost complete lack of character development"--Not good. I'll pass!


message 6: by Julie (new)
Apr 25, 2022 09:58PM

Julie Excellent review, Holly. A family member of mine just picked this one up, but I was hesitant to give it a go, due to my mixed feelings regarding Station Eleven. Hope your next read is a bit more enjoyable!


message 7: by Denise (new)
Jun 17, 2022 03:57AM

Denise I’m feeling better about dropping this one now. I’m 15% in and so bored.


message 8: by Lisa (new) - added it
Jun 28, 2022 12:22AM

Lisa Almost exactly how I feel about this. I can’t help thinking I’m missing something, and now that I’ve read this, it might be “The Glass Hotel”.

I really enjoyed “Station Eleven”, so this doesn’t put me off reading the author’s other books, starting with TGH.


message 9: by Mark (new) - rated it 3 stars
Aug 05, 2022 01:37PM

Mark Davies I agree. I found this book a rather lazy time travel story, with no new ideas or twists.


message 10: by Ufuk (new) - rated it 3 stars
Aug 19, 2022 06:38PM

Ufuk Cetincan The connection to The Glass Hotel (which was a thoroughly enjoyable book) was the most exciting and intriguing part of the novel. The rest of it was a vague thought experiment at time travel at best. 3/5 stars agreed.


message 11: by Beth (new) - rated it 2 stars
Aug 21, 2022 04:54PM

Beth Agree. Total lack of character development and mishmash of time travel, "the anomaly," pandemic, moon colonies and environmental disaster.


message 12: by Sim (new)
Sep 04, 2022 07:59PM

Sim Completely agree about the lack of character development. The only character I really felt for was Edwin - he felt the most fleshed out. The rest I didn't care for. I found Olive almost annoying.


message 13: by Silver (new) - rated it 3 stars
Sep 10, 2022 12:05PM

Silver 100% agreed!


message 14: by Amy (new) - rated it 4 stars
Nov 21, 2022 02:24PM

Amy What was the reference to Station Eleven? I either missed it, or forgot about it very quickly.


message 15: by Douglass (new) - rated it 4 stars
Dec 17, 2022 02:06PM

Douglass Gaking I haven't read either of those other books, and I enjoyed this.


message 16: by Shannon (new) - added it
Dec 22, 2022 10:34PM

Shannon I struggled with Station Eleven due to lack of character development and it sounds like this has the same problem so I will probably pass on it.


message 17: by Kruunch (new) - rated it 2 stars
Jan 01, 2023 09:28AM

Kruunch I wasn't a fan of Station Eleven although beautifully written, due to its (anti) climax invalidating half the story lines. Sea of Tranquility is much the same but without the excellent character development of Station Eleven. By the end it made me shrug and move on.


message 18: by Daniel (new) - rated it 3 stars
Jan 22, 2023 11:55AM

Daniel Spot on! My feelings exactly!


message 19: by Nessa (new) - added it
Jan 31, 2023 03:29AM

Nessa Lynn I just finished it and I’m letting it sit with me until I can make a proper rating but I definitely feel the same.


message 20: by Jade (new) - rated it 1 star
Feb 01, 2023 08:17PM

Jade I have read all of this author's books, and while Station Eleven was my favourite (among my top picks, really) this book was absolutely terrible in comparison, and felt as if she was trying to force the same emotion and reception as Station Eleven. Toe it felt lazy, despite how needlessly complicated it was. I don't know. I actually finished it, maybe a month ago, but I still can't figure out what it even was. I'm so glad I'm not alone.


message 21: by Pam (new) - rated it 3 stars
Feb 16, 2023 04:38PM

Pam Same. Disappointing characterization and lackluster plot.


message 22: by البيان (new)
Jul 28, 2023 10:05PM

البيان للاستشارات good book


message 23: by Ric (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jan 08, 2024 09:08AM

Ric I disagree with the need to read The Glass Hotel. I haven't and had no idea that Vincent and other parts of the story were imported and/or tangential. That said, I'm not if I was richer or poorer due to the experience. My opinion of Sea of Tranquility is probably pretty similar to yours.


message 24: by Lindsay (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jan 18, 2024 06:31PM

Lindsay Ward Agreed that the character development was poor. I didn’t feel particularly connected to any of these characters! Except maybe Olive.


message 25: by Garrett (new) - rated it 4 stars
May 20, 2024 05:10AM

Garrett Books I’m so glad you wrote this. I haven’t read any of her other books but just finished Sea of Tranquility and I was so confused because it felt like parts of the story were missing. I didn’t know these novels are interconnected and share characters. That was so confusing.


message 26: by Holly (new) - rated it 3 stars
May 24, 2024 03:20PM

Holly Garrett wrote: "I’m so glad you wrote this. I haven’t read any of her other books but just finished Sea of Tranquility and I was so confused because it felt like parts of the story were missing. I didn’t know thes..."

The Glass House definitely has a lot of character development that you just don't get in this book without having read that one first. I really dislike when authors do that without warning you in the blurb or some other way.


message 27: by Eva (new) - rated it 4 stars
Jan 09, 2025 10:39PM

Eva Thompson Also, the guy who was the arborist? Like okay we get it, he’s an arborist. No need to tell me another 15th time. Could have spent that time to write about gaspery’s training at the institute instead of having a quick “5 years later” transition


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