Group Reads Discussions 2023: "Severance" First Impressions *No Spoilers*

[SFFBC, Ancillary Mod]

Come talk about your initial, general impressions!

Please save all discussion of particulars, details from the story, character choices, plot questions, etc. for the full spoiler thread.

Content warnings for those who want them: (view spoiler)[ religion, cult (separate on purpose), pandemic, loss of a loved one, drug use, killing people/gore (hide spoiler)] (More about CWs here.)

[aPriL does feral sometimes]

Candace is a funny character!

[Melissa]

I'm getting this out of the library tomorrow.

[Edwin]

I am about 40% in now and am not exactly sure where the author is going with this story. I remain interested, but am reserving judgement.

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

I listened to it, I did not see humor but maybe that's how the narrator read it

[DivaDiane]

I did audio as well and didn’t have the impression it was meant to be humorous. But then I often miss humor in literature.

[CBRetriever]

this seems like chick lit mixed with dystopian fiction

[Cheryl]

It's a small pink book... atm I have no idea what to expect. I want to admire it, whether I enjoy it or not... it has the lauds.

[DivaDiane]

Oh it’s definitely not my idea of Chick Lit.

[CBRetriever]

DivaDiane wrote: "Oh it’s definitely not my idea of Chick Lit."

the part about her life pre "plague" seems like it to me with boyfriends problems, parties, job hunting, etc

[Allison, Fairy Mod-mother]

if that's the definition, almost all books are chick lit lol. count of Monte Cristo could be described the same way! I think the issue is more that chick lit has a derogatory nuance to it, which is a whole nother issue

[Stu]

138 pages in and, so far, the narrator seems preoccupied with other people's blasting air conditioning and the unsatisfactory nature of her own sexual encounters.

[Cheryl]

I wonder if the writing is too subtle to be appreciated if one is reading in snippets, or listening while doing chores/exercise. I found a lot more going on than many of you.

[Maureen]

You guys are talking about Severance by Ling Ma right?

[Cheryl]

Yes.

[Ellen]

41 % in and finding it to be a cure for insomnia thus far. I keeping finding myself asleep sitting up on the couch during the day or waking up at night sitting up in bed with the light on.