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The Wall
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Hooked_on_books
Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

In this dystopia, GB is fully surrounded by a concrete wall, guarded along its length by conscripted citizens to keep “others” out. We start by following a.freshly minted conscript as he adjusts to his new task. I thought this book was fascinating, and a stinging social commentary on everything from attitudes toward immigration, caste structure and climate change. #ReadYourEbooks

TrishB Oh I have this languishing. You may have revived it up the pile. 6mo
Leftcoastzen 👍🐶 6mo
dabbe 🖤🐾🖤 6mo
Hooked_on_books @TrishB I hope so! It languished for me, too, and I‘m glad I finally picked it up. It‘s a quick read, if that helps. 6mo
46 likes1 stack add4 comments
review
rachaich
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

Sitting in the garden, reading, finishing this.
Yep, one to read, plus to pass on. I might try it for my 15 year old niece...

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rachaich
The Wall | John Lanchester
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My daughter recommended this as she's very into recent dystopia fiction.
It's good! Uneasiness surrounds the idea, that a wall is keeping The Others out and must be guarded.
There's blame alluded to, of the older generation and their responsibility.
I like...

21 likes1 stack add
review
FelinesAndFelonies
The Wall: A Novel | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

If you're a fan of Emily St. John Mandel's Station Eleven, I would recommend this less well-known dystopian cli-fi story about a society who has built a giant wall around its border. The only purpose is to keep out the Others. Each member of the society must serve time defending the Wall. It's a fairly short novel but has a lot to say about climate change, survival, & social divisions. ⭐⭐⭐💫

50 likes2 stack adds
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catiewithac
The Wall: A Novel | John Lanchester
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Mehso-so

Underwhelming climate change novel. I can‘t believe it made it on the Man Booker Prize short list a few years ago. The momentum of the story is fine but it never really goes anywhere. I‘m most disappointed by missed opportunities to dig deeper into this weird society, but Lanchester committed to his uninteresting “Everyman” narrator (who is complicit with his culture‘s subjugation of “others” but thinks pirates are terrible). 🌊 🛶 🔥

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Lucy_Anywhere
The Wall | John Lanchester
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#TBRPile 📚 “It‘s cold on the Wall. That‘s the first thing everybody tells you, and the first thing you notice when you‘re sent there, and it‘s the thing you think about all the time you‘re on it, and it‘s the thing you remember when you‘re not there any more.”

review
TCLinrow
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this book. It hit a little close to home with some of the themes, which made it feel a little too possible at times, but that kept me curious about what would happen next.

The way the story went through its stages was brilliant, allowing a glimpse into the fears and dreams of the characters as they grew and adapted to life on and off the wall that defined their existence.
⬇️

TCLinrow It was hardly an edge-of-the-seat thrill ride, but it was a slow burn that kept me asking 'What's next?' the whole time. 4y
Moony That sounds very interesting! 4y
61 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Minervasbutler
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

Readable dystopian novel that clearly takes its inspiration from Brexit, Trump, climate anxiety and the rest, describing a Britain after "The Change" which has built a wall around its coast to keep out "The Others". Slightly disappointing ending after a great first half.

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Graywacke
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

A polite attack on us, a book about an endless wall to keep out the rising water and anything else, a place where the words “Concrete, Water, Sky, Wind, Cold" are meaningful, and say a great deal about humanity, the planet's fragility, and hopelessness.

Cathythoughts Great review👍🏻 I thought this one very good too 5y
Graywacke @Cathythoughts Thanks 🙂 I noticed reviews are mixed. Readers either like it or find it boring. Glad you also enjoyed it. 5y
Ddzmini But would a wall really keep out the ocean??? After all water can erode and travel... (in the sky) it finds a way. If water really wanted in it would deep under or around... just look at the Grand Canyon... let alone other places. Just a thought 💁🏼‍♀️🌊 5y
Graywacke @Ddzmini it‘s maybe too rational a question for this book. 🙂 (edited) 5y
Ddzmini @Graywacke yea I just thought about New Orleans and what happened there 😲🌊 5y
61 likes5 comments
review
eddthered86
The Wall | John Lanchester
Pickpick

Great book. Runs the full range of the dystopian world he has created, whilst also putting in a great plot. Some lovely touches of characterisation, and the inter generational conflict almost sounded too real.

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AnneCecilie
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Mehso-so

Finally this book is over. I can‘t remember the last time I spent this long to read a 270p book. I started last Monday, went away for the weekend and didn‘t think about the characters or the book once. There‘s nothing wrong with the book, I‘m not just its right reader. If it hadn‘t made it to the Booker Longlist, I never would‘ve picked it up.

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Cathythoughts
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

I‘m giving this one a Pick 👍🏻. The second half dragged a little for me - but ultimately redeemed itself. There were some truly poignant moments that made it all worthwhile. 👍🏻♥️💔 very glad I listened. Will be thinking about this one ... I think it has every right to make the Booker short list 🤞🏻

Cathythoughts Thanks @Ms_T I would never have got to it only for your post 👍🏻 (edited) 5y
Ms_T @Cathythoughts Lovely review and thank you for tagging me. I‘m glad you enjoyed it 😘 5y
TrishB I shall get to this one eventually! 5y
See All 6 Comments
Cathythoughts @TrishB I think it‘s really good 👍🏻 5y
erzascarletbookgasm Glad it‘s a Pick for you! 😘 5y
Cathythoughts @erzascarletbookgasm thanks Jessie ♥️ 5y
61 likes3 stack adds6 comments
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Cathythoughts
The Wall | John Lanchester
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I‘m half way through The Wall on Audible & my blue tooth battery just died. So I have to wait. I‘m very surprised, as I had no interest in it & Im finding that it‘s really good so far... it‘s giving me chills about the future of our world. It‘s also very quotable:
...” relief is probably the purest form of happiness there is “ ... I can identify with this.
Looking forward to the second half .... 👍🏻

Ms_T This is great to hear! 5y
JamieArc I felt the same way. I thought it was going to be dry and slow reading but I really enjoyed reading it. 5y
Cathythoughts @Ms_T yes! Thanks. I‘d never have gone there. I‘m really into it ! Part 2 up next 👍🏻♥️ 5y
Cathythoughts @JamieArc me too. I‘ve 2d half to go & I can only imagine I‘ll love it 👍🏻 5y
63 likes1 stack add4 comments
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AnneCecilie
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Ready to start my fourth book from this year‘s Booker Longlist

56 likes1 stack add
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JamieArc
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

I don‘t usually love man booker nominees, and expected this to be slow and dry, but found it quite the opposite. Dropped in a world ravaged by climate change, I was completely engrossed in the story and all the questions I had - who are The Others? Where is the setting? What happened? - drove me to read ahead. Even though many questions went unanswered, I found this a very satisfying and enjoyable read. #manbooker

58 likes3 stack adds
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Simona
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Panpan

I still have to read three books from the Booker longlist, but I‘m 💯% sure that this is the weakest book on this year‘s list. In my opinion this is just an average dystopian YA story. Some interesting thoughts/ideas about near future, but poor execution. #BookerPrize2019

Redwritinghood Agree! 5y
Redheadrambles Yep that seems fair. 5y
54 likes2 comments
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Redheadrambles
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

This ended up being ok despite all indicators to the contrary. It might not be a literary prize-winning effort and as a dystopia it takes a fairly minimalist approach to world-building. Take one big wall, add water, baby politicians and some "Others" and that is your backstory. However, I approached this as a type of team-bonding novel; a low-key version of Platoon, set in England with tea and biscuits and as such I enjoyed it

Redheadrambles #booker2019( No. 5 / 13 ) (edited) 5y
27 likes1 comment
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atla
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Mehso-so

This one, a 2019 Booker longlist title, was... fine. The intense foreshadowing kept me reading, and the writing itself was fine. I liked the way it played with the concept of “othering.” But it didn‘t do much for me emotionally or intellectually. A better examination of walls/borders and the human consequences can be found in another Booker longlist title - Lost Children Archive - which is denser but gives so much more to chew on.

10 likes1 stack add
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Moray_Reads
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Panpan

I'm puzzled about the hype surrounding this one. Yes, the themes of mass population movent, xenophobia and climate disaster are apposite but the writing is bland and the characters barely hold together. The world-building is sparse, not least because there is no information about what happened during the Change. Sea levels rose dramatically, that's all we know. It's a curiously flat book and I'm surprised it's a Booker long-lister

Kalalalatja Couldn‘t agree more! 5y
50 likes1 comment
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atla
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Long-listed for Booker Prize 2019. “Ravaged by the [climate] change, an island nation [...] has built the Wall - an enormous concrete barrier around its entire coastline. Joseph, a new Defender, has 1 task: to protect his section of the Wall from the Others, the desperate souls who are trapped amid the rising seas outside and are a constant threat. Failure will result in death or a fate perhaps worse: being put to sea and made an Other himself.”

8little_paws Aww a beautiful fluff 5y
13 likes1 comment
review
Emilymdxn
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

7/13 #bookerprize longlist

A slow build for me but I came to like it much more than I thought I would at the beginning. It seemed simple but got deeper and more complex as it went on and I really didn‘t want it to end. I liked the bare almost mystical landscapes and the enigmatic characters like the captain and the hermit. I‘m not sure if this will end up on my personal shortlist cause there‘s so many good books this year but I really liked it

JanuarieTimewalker13 That‘s great that you stuck with it!! I couldn‘t. 5y
AnneCecilie I‘ve this at the library, ready for me to pick it up. I‘ve seen mixed reviews for this one, so glad you liked it. Makes me more positive towards it. 5y
79 likes1 stack add2 comments
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Kalalalatja
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Mehso-so

A bit #MoreMehThanYeah. While I did like the setting and premise of the book, it was just a bit too boring to really wow me. The characters felt flat, and some parts moved way too quickly, while others were way too slow.

I‘m counting this as my #SoldiersStory for #Booked2019, since the MC is serving out his compulsory military service for most of the book.

#BookerPrize2019

TrishB I‘m probably going to wait for an offer on this one. Curious but can definitely wait! 5y
Cathythoughts I was going to let it go ... but #SoldiersStory is a book I need to tick 🤔 (edited) 5y
Cinfhen I‘ve seen lots of mixed reviews 5y
See All 7 Comments
Kalalalatja @Cathythoughts it is relatively short, if that helps 🤷‍♀️ @TrishB @Cinfhen definitely a #borrownotbuy or a cheap kindle deal. It wasn‘t bad, but it wasn‘t great either 5y
TrishB @Cathythoughts I really recommend this one for soldiers story 5y
Cathythoughts @TrishB thanks ! I just took a screenshot of your suggestion- I‘ve never read John Boyne.. so maybe it‘s time to give him a go 👍🏻 5y
Cinfhen Thanks, Katja 👍🏻 5y
81 likes1 stack add7 comments
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mklong
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Panpan

Everything about this, setting, plot, characterizations, even the message the author seems to be putting across, is all just too simple. There is no complexity in any of it to dig into. And yet, the plot points are still over explained. To the point that even the most crucial events, that should be exciting, lose all impact. I think I'm starting to hear a "how did this make the Booker long list?" echo.

Booker 5/13

Redheadrambles @mklong oh boy - I keep moving this further down my bookshelf and I brought it in like March ! 5y
mklong @Redheadrambles I‘m very glad that I got this one from the library! 5y
BarbaraBB @mklong @Redheadrambles I liked it a lot but now I read your review and do agree with most of what you say! 5y
emilyhaldi Yes!!! I'm in complete agreement with you! 5y
mklong @emilyhaldi I loved your review too! 5y
43 likes1 stack add5 comments
review
rmaclean4
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

Dystopian novel about England. The world building was effortless (I did not see the author working to create this world it was just revealed) and the story was engaging to a point. There was a detachment from the characters for me. Well written and I would be curious to read more work from this writer but this story held me at arms length. 3.5 🌟

Cathythoughts Interesting... I‘m getting least attracted to reading this one from reviews I‘ve seen. 5y
rmaclean4 @Cathythoughts I am glad that I had heard very little about this before I read it. Worth a read but would not be my pick for the Booker. 5y
16 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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mreads
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

First person narrative always translates well to audio I think. Set in future Britain after climate event led to a wall being built and patrolled around the island to keep out 'others'. Obvious commentary on government and ordinary peoples inertia regarding climate change and also immigration.
Longlisted for the Booker I'd vote no on short listing it. But entertaining enough to be a pick.

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emilyhaldi
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Panpan

This book is as dull and monotonous as the endless concrete wall at its center. The dystopian plot is not well thought out nor clever- climate change has caused water levels to rise, walls are built surrounding Britain to exclude “The Others” from being able to enter, while the world seems to somehow continue otherwise unaffected- no food shortages, a persevering economy, etc. What the plot lacks is not offset by the writing... (cont. 👇🏻)

emilyhaldi Lanchester overexplains every thought or action of the narrator to the point that it could pass for a YA novel. I‘m confounded as to why this book has been chosen for the #manbooker long list. 5y
Megabooks Blech! 5y
Cathythoughts Interesting!!! Some of these Booker books ... I don‘t get it 5y
See All 16 Comments
TrishB And I had been tempted by this one. I‘ve found I like them less and less each year. (edited) 5y
Kalalalatja Well, I‘m in no hurry to get to this, then 😅 5y
Redwritinghood Agree. This is definitely not the strongest of the Booker contenders this year. One thing that bothered me was how he said they produced all their own food, but they kept drinking tea and coffee. I was so distracted thinking “there‘s no way they could grow tea and coffee in England” every time a character drank tea or coffee. It was annoying. (edited) 5y
batsy I love an entertaining pan like this one 😆 Nice review ! 5y
erzascarletbookgasm I wasn‘t drawn to this one when I read the synopsis..🤷‍♀️ Nice review 👍 5y
emilyhaldi Right! @Redwritinghood So many details that didn‘t correspond with the narrative. 5y
emilyhaldi Glad to be of service 😆 @batsy 5y
Reviewsbylola You‘re not a dystopian fan tho so why did you read this? 😆 5y
BarbaraBB I did like this one but I recognize all you say about it. I think I liked the premise and was maybe not very critical. 5y
emilyhaldi @BarbaraBB and I, on the other hand, tend to hate dystopian plots, so I was hyper-critical 😆 since this made the long list I thought I would give it a try but I need to stop trying to make dystopian fiction happen!!! 🙅🏻‍♀️ 5y
BarbaraBB Haha. I do like dystopian sometimes. Do you hate them all? 5y
emilyhaldi @BarbaraBB my hate for them grows with every additional one I read 😆 feels like the same trope to me each time. 5y
Mdargusch Yuck. I never would‘ve picked this up. #justsaynotodystopian 5y
84 likes16 comments
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Redwritinghood
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Mehso-so

This is a dystopian novel about climate change, nationalism, and immigration, as much as it is about human nature and basic survival. The book started out slow with a dissertation about the wall and climate change and the disruption of society-not the most interesting way to do world-building. It did pick up about halfway through. Despite the characters constant fight for survival, however, the book just didn‘t seem to move quickly. 2.5⭐️ #Hoopla

66 likes1 stack add1 comment
blurb
Pricel101
The Wall | John Lanchester
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1- Currently reading The Wall, themes of climate change, anti immigration and slavery. One chapter to go will add a review!
2- Podcast- Broken Harts is a 6part series about a lesbian couple who adopt 6 African American children and the ensuing tragedy.
3- Book discussion- Tan France‘s (Queer Eye) new memoir! Love talking books with @samjmitchell 💜📖

BarbaraBB I hope you‘ll like the book. I certainly did. 5y
12 likes1 comment
review
Debblyliz
The Wall | John Lanchester
Pickpick

A slow book with periods of boredom for the characters punctuated with sheer terror. I found there to be parallels between those on The Wall and the young men in the trenches in WW1; a lack of understanding why and mistrust in the elite and the old not serving time. Questions are raised about immigration and climate change, I enjoyed the quiet spaces in the book which allowed reflection.

Itchyfeetreader This is a fascinating review you have piqued my interest ! 5y
Debblyliz Thanks ☺️ 5y
13 likes2 comments
review
JanuarieTimewalker13
The Wall | John Lanchester
Bailedbailed

I have to bail. 80 pages in and it‘s as bad as doing a 12 hour shift at the Wall. Lol To me, this book is like watching paint dry.

JanuarieTimewalker13 I realize this may be a bit harsh, my hemoglobin is low and I‘m like Edward before the hunt, but I still stand by it, maybe not as bad as watching paint dry, that is extreme, but let‘s say the book wasn‘t for me. 5y
28 likes1 comment
blurb
JanuarieTimewalker13
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Sandy Hook, E beach, Gateway Recreational, NPS.
Beautiful day to start this one. So far on p36 and I‘m hoping it takes off soon, bc It‘s a bit of a slug right now🤞🏽

Cinfhen @BarbaraBB just posted about this book!! She liked it and said it was good. Try to stick with it❤️ (edited) 5y
BarbaraBB I like your edition more than mine! 5y
JanuarieTimewalker13 @cindhen I will @BarbaraBB It‘s the library‘s. I broke a cardinal rule and brought it to the beach, but it never left my hands. Lol 5y
49 likes1 stack add3 comments
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BarbaraBB
The Wall | John Lanchester
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“It‘s not the future, but it‘s a version of a future, and it feels a lot like a version of the future that we are heading for.”

This is John Lanchester describing the tagged book, about England after an (utterly believable) apocalypse due to climate changes. It is a very good book and it fits The Clash‘s lyrics perfectly!

#LondonCalling #WanderingJune 📸: Google

Cinfhen This sounds really good!! I remember you recently reviewed it!! I think I may have stacked it then 🤩 5y
Cinfhen Nope, but I did now!!! #Stacked 5y
BarbaraBB @Cinfhen It is a short one and easy to read but its impact is as huge as the wall surrounding England 😘 5y
See All 9 Comments
TrishB Have already stacked this! Waiting for a bargain. 5y
JanuarieTimewalker13 Cool!! I‘m starting this today!! 5y
BarbaraBB @JanuarieTimewalker13 I think you‘ll like it. I am looking forward to your thoughts! 5y
BarbaraBB @TrishB The paperback will be published in September! 5y
JanuarieTimewalker13 @BarbaraBB The beginning is sluggish, but I‘m going to plod along...🐢 5y
BarbaraBB There will be action soon! @JanuarieTimewalker13 (edited) 5y
73 likes5 stack adds9 comments
review
BarbaraBB
The Wall | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

The UK has build a wall around its coastline to protect its inhabitants against the rising sea and refugees trying to enter the country after the Change. We follow some people who take turns defending the Wall.

This is a frightening and very realistic novel about migration and climate change, about survival in harsh and uncertain times. The book describes a world that is unmistakably ours, albeit irreparably damaged.

#Booked2019 Cli-Fi

TrishB I quite fancy this one! Stacked... 5y
Cinfhen Sounds interesting 🤓great review 5y
Kalalalatja Ooooh, this sounds good! 5y
BarbaraTheBibliophage Yes, your review makes me want to give this a try! 5y
readordierachel Sounds very timely. Stacked! 5y
62 likes6 stack adds5 comments
review
rsteve388
The Wall | John Lanchester
Pickpick

I think thia book is a good mirror to reflect upon what our world will be like when climate change in no longer stoppable. Wheb our efforts are meaningless and we must find a new way to live. It was a social commentary on how in times of crisis we sheild ourselfes off from.helping others and create this us Vs them mentality.

The ending was of survival and while it wasnt a happy ending it was an ending of relief.

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rsteve388
The Wall | John Lanchester

Daily Check-in

Walked 8 miles between yesterday and today.
Read up to chapter 19.
I am going on a hike tomorrow.

#BookFitnessChallenge
#BFC19

baes Awesome job! 6y
Clwojick Enjoy your hike! Bring water to stay hydrated 💙 6y
TheEllieMo Well done 👍🏻 Enjoy the hike! 6y
7 likes3 comments
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rsteve388
The Wall | John Lanchester

So today for #BFC i walked : 4 miles.

Listened up to.chapter 21 of Nelson Mendela Long Walk to Freedom.

Read up to chapter 10 of The Wall

#BookFitnessChallenge
@wanderinglynn

BookwormAHN Great job 👏🏻 6y
wanderinglynn Fantastic walk! 🙌🏻 6y
dariazeoli Nice work! Keep it up! 6y
See All 8 Comments
TheSpineView That's awesome! 6y
alisiakae Great book choice! 6y
Caterina Great job!! How are you enjoying Long Walk to Freedom? 6y
rsteve388 Long Walk to Freedom is amazing. Truly inspiring in South Africas Fight for freedom.and Mendelas journey to becoming President. I read up to chp 40 today and it is so interesting and impressive. 6y
Clwojick Great job 💜💚 6y
12 likes8 comments
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JaneyWaneyB
The Wall: A Novel | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

What will we do when the sea levels rise? What will become of humanity? This book offers a version of that future told through the eyes of Kavanagh a lad sent to defend the Wall from the Others. People are sent to the Wall, they have to survive 2 yrs in the cold hoping that the Others don't make it over the Wall. Fans of dystopian novels will enjoy this, I did.

#Dystopian #Future #ReadABook #BookNerd #Bookaholic #Books #Defenders #Survival

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Tashreads
The Wall: A Novel | John Lanchester
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Pickpick

The first third of this book is repetitive and rather dull, but I am so glad I stuck with it. The second and third parts enthralled me. It is a cautionary tale about what happens when we build walls ( *cough* Trump!) and the disastrous, possible effects of climate change. It really is a dystopian novel of our time.

JanuarieTimewalker13 Ok, I‘m so glad I read your review, bc I‘m on p61 and pretty much bored to tears, but I will hang on. 5y
72 likes3 stack adds1 comment