Severance

This is an introspective novel that skillfully combines elements of dystopia, satire, and coming-of-age storytelling. Set in a post-apocalyptic world, the book follows the story of Candace Chen, a millennial corporate worker, as she navigates the aftermath of the mysterious Shen Fever pandemic.

The narrative seamlessly alternates between Candace's pre-apocalypse life in the corporate world and her present-day struggle for survival in a desolate New York City, where she joins a group of survivors led by a power-hungry individual. Against this backdrop, the novel delves into themes of consumerism, capitalism, and the soul-draining monotony of corporate culture.

Ma's writing style is both serene and compelling, capturing the ordinary and unsettling moments of Candace's journey with depth and emotional resonance.

While the story may have a slower pace at times, it compensates by exploring profound questions of identity and self-discovery. Severance offers readers a unique and thought-provoking perspective on the human experience.

This is closer to a 3.5 - but rounding up. Took me a few tries to pickup the book and finally finish it.

All I can say (without spoiling it) is that Ling Ma mastered writing - from time shifting between present and past. And successfully building a strong world for her well developed characters to tell their stories.

Reader be warned, At times it feels like our present - small details on the sequencing of events. This is not a book to escape from reality if that's the intent.