RaveThe New York Journal of BooksIt’s clear from the premise alone that Gabrielle Zevin loves games, but readers don’t have to be gamers to appreciate this story (though there are many Easter eggs hidden for people who have played even basic-level games) ... The detailed descriptions of the games themselves are artistic and layered and will make readers itch to pick up a console, even if they’ve never played before ... also covers themes of sexism, disability and pain, and loss and grief, somehow managing to tie everything together without ever feeling overly complicated. It’s a masterpiece that works on both a grand scale, and a minute, more intimate one.
Emily St. John Mandel
RaveThe New York Journal of BooksEmily St. John Mandel is a master of writing thoughtful speculative fiction novels that transport readers to places beyond their imagination, and her latest book, Sea of Tranquility, further cements that legacy. At 215 pages, it also proves you don’t need a lengthy tome to write a book on an epic scale and tempt the reader to absorb the story all in one go ... The concise, poignant writing makes it clear that this is a thoughtful, nuanced study of humanity and the reality people move in every day ... the pace drives the story forward to discover the connection. The characters could feel fleeting in the hands of a less-talented writer, but they’re all incredibly complete and authentic. A sense of loneliness emanates from all of them, contributing to the book’s overwhelming feeling of being adrift ... Though the simulation hypothesis and the multiple pandemics that occur in the different storylines could lead to a sense of despair and nihilism, the author manages to make this an entirely human and hopeful book.
Julie Murphy
RaveNew York Journal of BooksMurphy has a talent for crafting characters, and it deserves applause; she makes the reader care about people from their very first description, and then somehow finds new depths to explore and probe throughout the book ... Murphy discusses what Cindy faces as a larger woman, both in her everyday life and on the show, with blunt and refreshing honesty. The book gets extra oomph from its exploration of Cindy’s grief over her late parents, and her solidifying self-identity. It’s hard not to cheer her on as she fights for herself, both in the dating competition and in her struggle to come to terms with her father’s death. Murphy’s warm and funny Cindy would make Cinderella proud.
