This has probably been one of the more divisive books of the past year. It seems that some people love it, others really don’t. It’s an odd story. Amanda and Clay take their two kids for a vacation in a rental home on Long Island. The house they rented is idyllic and offers an opportunity to disconnect from the world and spend some time together as a family while closer to nature (or at least poolside near trees). But then something odd happens.
It’s the middle of the night. The kids are in bed, and Amanda and Clay are enjoying some time together. Suddenly, there’s a knock on the door. They didn’t invite any guests. They don’t know anyone in the area. The distance that just a few moments ago felt like a welcome blanket of solitude instantly turns threatening. They don’t know what to do. Should they open the door? Pretend there’s no one home? Call the police? They open the door.
On the other side of the door are an older couple – Ruth and G.H. – who claim they are the owners of the house. They are there because a weird blackout swept the city while they were out, and not knowing what was happening, they thought it would be safer to head out of the city to their second home. They offer to partially refund Amanda and Clay’s fee if they can use the downstairs apartment to shelter in until they can figure out what’s going on.
And from there, things keep getting weirder. The animals are behaving oddly. There are strange sounds that are powerful enough to crack glass. There’s no internet or phone connection, so they can’t contact anyone. We’re given small tidbits of information about what’s happening in the outside world, but not a complete picture (and obviously I can’t talk about it here or spoilers).
I’m not usually one for apocalyptic books. I don’t like disaster entertainment, because I spend so much time imagining them in my anxiety-ridden mind. I don’t really need any help there, thanks. I just read this because I was curious. There were some things about it I liked. The characters weren’t entirely believable, but they were interesting enough. I always find it intriguing to see how different people react to the same set of extreme circumstances.
In the end, though, this book didn’t really offer me enough. The plot doesn’t give enough detail and texture to really form a picture. The characters are’t that interesting for a whole book. The conclusion is… well, not super conclusion-y. It also suffers in comparison to the one apocalyptic novel I did love – Station Eleven. This doesn’t come close, and I kept on comparing as I was reading.
I think if this is your kind of book, and you enjoy vague plots, this will be right up your alley. But if you’re looking for a lot of character development or an edge-of-your-seat plot, it doesn’t really deliver. I’m glad I gave it a try, because it would have bugged me not to be able to form an opinion amidst the discussion. Though, unfortunately, that opinion is pretty much: it was okay.
A magnetic novel about two families, strangers to each other, who are forced together on a long weekend gone terribly wrong
Amanda and Clay head out to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a vacation: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter, and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they’ve rented for the week. But a late-night knock on the door breaks the spell. Ruth and G. H. are an older black couple—it’s their house, and they’ve arrived in a panic. They bring the news that a sudden blackout has swept the city. But in this rural area—with the TV and internet now down, and no cell phone service—it’s hard to know what to believe.
Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple—and vice versa? What happened back in New York? Is the vacation home, isolated from civilization, a truly safe place for their families? And are they safe from one another?
Suspenseful and provocative, Rumaan Alam’s third novel is keenly attuned to the complexities of parenthood, race, and class. Leave the World Behind explores how our closest bonds are reshaped—and unexpected new ones are forged—in moments of crisis. – Goodreads
Book Title: Leave the World Behind
Author: Rumaan Alam
Series: No
Edition: Audiobook
Published By: Ecco
Released: October 6, 2020
Genre: Fiction, Apocalyptic, Sci-Fi
Pages: 241
Date Read: August 28-29, 2021
Rating: 5/10
Average Goodreads Rating: 3.24/5 (79,768 ratings)