Sci fi horror is my favourite genre when it comes to movies, and every so often there’s a fantastic book in this category too. In “Annihilation” by Jeff VanderMeer there’s a mysterious “shimmer” settling over the land, and explorers are going into it… but they aren’t coming out.
Cue a group of brave women scientists who attempt find out what happens in the shimmer. Once inside they find weird mutations, chunks of time are lost, and their sense of reality starts to warp.
Our central character, an unnamed biologist, wants to find out what happened to her husband, who entered the shimmer and never returned.
This one is a slow build, with a creeping sense of dread that grows with every page. The best part is having no idea what’s going to happen in the shimmer but knowing it’s probably not good.
I was absolutely gripped by this book. It’s quite cerebral, but so exciting and readable at the same time. The aspect I enjoyed the most about Annihilation is the complexity of the story – the author is comfortable not explaining everything, and that makes it all the more gripping.
The unsettling, distorted versions of nature the explorers encounter draw some clear links to genetic testing and the traumatic impact humans have on the natural environment. This book reminded me of Margaret Atwood’s amazing MaddAddam trilogy which tackle similar themes.
There’s three more books that make up Vandermeer’s Southern Reach series and I’ll be reading those for sure.
Bonus: The Annihilation movie is awesome too, and it’s fun to see how the mysterious shimmer and its contents are brought to life.
Cherie lives, works, and reads in beautiful Tasmania – the green island gem below Australia known for its gorgeous landscape and beautiful wildlife. She holds multiple academic qualifications in English, journalism, and fine art theory, and has worked in writing, editing, and communications roles for more than a decade. Most importantly, she has a deep love for books that began as soon as she learned how to read.
Old, new, any genre – for Cherie, reading is about as vital as breathing. She is interested in sharing books that move, excite, and compel, so others can share the joy of a truly great read. While she reads across most genres, her favourite is literary fiction. Particularly anything by Margaret Atwood, Ottessa Moshfegh, Kate Atkinson, Elizabeth Berg, Ann Patchett, and Anne Tyler.
Cherie frequents Tasmania’s beautiful boutique book shops as well as scouring secondhand shops for books to add to her extensive home library. Catch up with her on LinkedIn and on Instagram.
A Curated Lifestyle Magazine Focused on Art, Creativity, Fashion, Books, Interiors, Mindfulness, Travel & Sustainability.
