Thank you to Grove Atlantic for providing me with a copy of Megan Hunter's novel, The End We Start From, in exchange for an honest review.
PLOT - In the not-too-distance future, a major flood has destroyed London and the unnamed narrator must try to survive with her newborn baby.
LIKE- The End We Start From is a survival story at a break-neck pace. Although due to family visiting, I had to read it in small chunks, Hunter's novella can easily be read in a single sitting. Due to the fast pacing and intense subject of the story, I would highly recommend setting aside a few uninterrupted hours and diving in.
I liked that Hunter left a lot of mystery, she does not spell things out. Although we know that there has been extreme flood, we don't know more details. For example, we don't know the range and extent of the disaster. This put me in the mindset of the narrator, as she struggles to survive with a lack of direct information. The larger scope of the disaster is really irrelevant to this particular story. The focus is on her survival, the immediate situation, and deals with the rumors and misinformation that she receives as she moves to different refugee camps. She must assess her best move on the fly, including dealing with dangers.
The End We Start From reminded me of The Walking Dead or Cormac McCarthy's novel, The Road. The themes and general story line are not a new idea, however, The End We Start From remains compelling because of the narrator and the exploration of how humans react in extreme circumstances.
The ending was very interesting to me. It switches from a story of physical survival to one of emotional survival. Hunter ends the story at a precarious moment. The only thing that I was left feeling certain of, is that the narrator is a survivor and will continue to survive.
DISLIKE- I'm a bit uncertain as to whether only naming the characters by their first initial was a good move. As a reader, I sometimes found it to be confusing and distracting. I had to reread sections to remind myself of a character, which took me out of the story. From a storytelling standpoint, it creates a necessary barrier that the narrator must put up for her own survival. It also quickens the pacing.
RECOMMEND- Yes. The End We Start From is a fast-paced and emotional journey. It's filled with danger and tension. I never quite knew where it was heading and I found the ending to be quite a surprise. I'd seek out future novels by Hunter.