Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a post-apocalyptic novel that intertwines the lives of several characters before, during and after a flu pandemic wipes out most of the world's population. The story centers on a traveling theater troupe that performs Shakespearean plays for the scattered survivors. Exploring themes of art, memory and the importance of human connections in a world where civilization has collapsed. The novel moves back and forth in time, revealing how the characters' pasts are connected and how they find meaning in a radically altered world.
The most compelling aspect is the beautiful exploration of how art and memory endure even in the face of societal collapse. The characters' stories, connected by their shared pasts and the traveling theater troupe, create a rich exploration of human experience that resonates deeply. There wasn’t much character growth or depth, which didn’t add to the story. Some characters also just felt forgotten throughout the book. I’d recommend Station Eleven to anyone who enjoys literary fiction with a post-apocalyptic twist. Especially those who appreciate stories that dive into the connections between people and the things we carry with us through the worst times.