Leave the World Behind

I think we're at the point where US writers are just having a lacklustre wank and idly fantasising about the end of the world. Leave The World Behind sets itself up for some interpersonal drama mixed with race and class politics but then doesn't do much with it. It's mundane, what appears to be a deliberate choice, and with the barest of efforts concludes that society is a myth and having faith in institutions is naïve. So you better go fend for yourselves, kiddies.

I suppose in this sense this book is very much of its time, at least if you're from the US. So bored with being "the leader of the free world" or whatever nonsense and can't be stuffed trying anymore. May as well participate in (and let's be real, cause) an apocalyptic war?

Time to avoid US authors and eschatological themes for a while I reckon!

This book was more of a slice of life than mystery than I thought it would be, and not in a bad way.

The omniscient narrator lets the reader look into the different perspectives of all the characters. This was especially entertaining as a character will think one thing, say another, and another character will think that they don't believe them.

I'm not sure if this count's as a spoiler, but the mystery of what happened in the world at large is never explicitly answered. The narrator will only give snippets of things occurring outside of the house. But like I said, I was more curious about the character's reaction to the same lack of info and to each other's flaws.

Overall it was an enjoyable read. Just expect more drama and less mystery.