The Stranding
by Kate Sawyer
A very different and well written story. Ruth is a a thirty something teacher living in the city just going through the motions really . The book ifollows from present to future in chapter to chapter it is very well down with Ruth moving to New Zealand unawares of a global nuclear attack reported in the news until she finds herself sheltering inside a dead whale with Nik a New Zealand photographer. It is cleverly down it shows comparison between present /future. A gripping and thought provoking book an new one on me. Very interesting read4.5/5

I love being given the opportunity to update our school library which is a unique space for both senior students and staff to access high quality literature. This is definitely a must-buy. It kept me absolutely gripped from cover to cover and is exactly the kind of read that just flies off the shelves. It has exactly the right combination of credible characters and a compelling plot thatI just could not put down. This is a great read that I couldn't stop thinking about and it made for a hugely satisfying read. I'm definitely going to order a copy and think it will immediately become a popular addition to our fiction shelves. 10/10 would absolutely recommend.

How quickly a person who has led a dissatisfied life realizes that the problem may have been her and not everyone else. The world as she knew it is gone. Ruth must change and adapt or die. Kate Sawyer has built and destroyed a community that is now just a dream. The future will be nothing like the past.

An end-of-the-world novel with a difference. I loved getting to know these two characters on such a deep level, and the writing is stunning.

I loved this premise. A duel timeline telling the story of Ruth’s life the year leading up to, alongside her life following, an unspecified apocalyptic event. The “Before” and the “After”. This set up creates a loop, with the end of the book catching up to the start of the book and I eat that kind of shit up.

So, let’s start with what I enjoyed. I enjoyed the unspecified apocalyptic event. Well, not the event, per se, but the unspecified nature of it. All through the Before sections of the book there are underlying hints of something going on. Other people discuss politics and news reports, but Ruth completely avoids it. It depresses her and she’d rather live her life ignorant of the misery suffusing the world. This gives a huge mystery to what actually causes the end of the world. Narratively this allows the story to focus on the characters and their journeys, rather than larger world events, which is fine and good. But it also gives the reader room to speculate and conjure up their own ideas, and means whatever happened can always be relevant—old politics and world threats can’t go out of date if you’re not specific about them.

I loved the overarching themes throughout the book. The whale, most obviously. Ruth’s affinity with them as a child, them being part of what drew her to New Zealand, one being what brought her together with Nik. That same one saving her life and providing her with food and shelter After. Also the parallels between Ruth and the whale. It’s in the very title of the book—both stranded on a New Zealand beach. And then towards the end of the book, how a pod of whales appears as Ruth’s children’s lives are changing.

And, as I mentioned, the circular nature of the book. I re-read the prologue once I’d finished the book, and it’s very clear the author put a lot of thought and attention in to it. It draws on details throughout the book and the true meaning of it only becomes clear once you’ve finished the book. I don’t want to say more and ruin the effect, but it’s a wonderful piece that brought tears to my eyes.

Despite all of this, I only gave the book three stars. So. What didn’t I like? Well, honestly, I wasn’t a huge fan of Ruth. And as the main character that holds a lot of weight. I didn’t hate her by any means, but I didn’t often find her sympathetic. She sleeps with a married man, she cheats herself, she seems somewhat stuck and perpetually unhappy in her life. Which, in contrast with After, I suppose might be the point. She comes to find herself and enjoy her life only when she has lost everything else. It didn’t make her any more likeable, though.

I did like other characters. I loved Fran, so much more headstrong and opinionated. I loved Ruth’s parents, obviously loving and happy. I loved Nik, so laid back and loving. There were also other characters I didn’t like. Alex—the less said the better, and Ruth’s daughters—so clearly their mother’s children. Overall a mixed bunch, but never enough of the characters I truly enjoyed.

I also disliked some aspects of the writing, particularly towards the start of the book and in the Before sections. There seemed to be an unnecessary focus on physical aspects—specifically characters’ bodies and how they fit together. It just seemed somewhat superfluous to the story. For me it added little and read awkwardly.

I preferred the early After chapters and the later Before chapters. So, really, the core story of Ruth travelling to New Zealand, the apocalyptic event happening, and her life immediately afterwards. This book balances both a plot- and character-driven story, and I was definitely more invested in the former.

What a fabulous debut this was from Kate Sawyer. The story was heartbreaking but inspiring in as Ruth comes to terms with her life being forever changed. When the end of the world comes she's away from everything and everyone she knows.

It's unlikely that anyone she loves survived the blast that ended the world, so it's especially sad to read the alternating chapters in the past as Ruth spends time with her friends and family. I enjoyed the way the story was told, as there's little hints in the past chapters that allude to what caused the fatal blast. Ruth tries very hard to ignore the news, preferring to pretend that nothing is happening, and you have to wonder if knowing every detail would have made a difference.

Maybe she wouldn't have made the decision to travel if she'd known how bad things were, and would have stayed home with her parents; but if she had it's very likely she wouldn't have survived. I think her loved ones would have been happy knowing she had a chance of survival, albeit a small one.

I really feel like Ruth learned a lot about herself; I guess the end of the world has a funny way of showing you what's important in life. A quote that sums this up for me is:

'That is a regret: how much energy she put into trying to make people like her. She laments the time she wasted on worrying that she wasn’t nice or good, so much focus on intangible concepts, when other people’s opinions of her were none of her business.'

Wow - what an amazing story. I love dystopian fiction and was really intrigued about the premise of this novel, I wasn't disappointed (I have since gone on to buy a hardback copy to treasure forever).

The main character Ruth, lives in London with boyfriend Alex, who on paper is an arrogant, selfish, gas-lighting, controlling idiot. Ruth and her boyfriend visit her parents and that's where she comes to the realisation she doesn't love him and that he's quite controlling, to the extent she wants to go to New Zealand and follow her dreams and passions for once to see whales in their natural environment. In the build up to Ruth's departure you see a lot of references to "environmental changes" and "concerns from politicians" that the characters reference as part of their lives watching television and reading newspapers. etc.

Not long after Ruth arrives in New Zealand there is some sort of global natural disaster, when it reaches New Zealand, Ruth has no choice but to take shelter in the mouth of a stranded whale on the beach with a man. After the initial fallout of the global catastrophe, Ruth emerges from the whale into a world that is unrecognisable to the one she left.

From there the reader is treated to an amazing novel full of triumph, loss, love and humour and is a lesson for us all in what you actually need to survive.

I have a thing for dystopic fiction so I had a feeling that I'd love this book. I wasn't wrong! Sawyer was so creative in the way that she told Ruth's story. I loved that the story was told in two parts, the before everything happened and the after. They also matched up in such a satisfying way and worked really well to build Ruth's character.

If you're a fan of dystopic fiction then I definitely recommend this book. It's so cleverly written and a great read.

A young women decides to change her life and travel a bit to see the world. Unfortunately her timing isn't great and when she arrives in New Zealand presumably a nuclear war breaks out, although this part isn't clear. The rest of the story is about how her life changes. She meets a young man on the coast by a stranded whale, who dies soon after. They hide inside the Whale whilst the World is coming to an end and survive the initial blasts. The story then continues with their life thereafter.. A fascinating story of how adaptable we are when the need arises. .

Ruth arrives on the North island of New Zealand on Boxing Day, just after a devastating disaster has happened and the world is unrecognisable. She somehow manages to survive, with the story told in a dual timeline structure between the Before and After the earth changing event.

I thoroughly enjoyed this wonderful book as I have not read a post apocalyptic or dystopian novel for some time. Although do make sure you have plenty of free time to read this in large doses, as it’s difficult to put down!

Current events taking place worldwide also draw sad parallels to the book, so just a warning for people suffering from severe anxiety about the state of the world. That aside, The Stranding is not entirely depressing or just full of doom and gloom, there are plenty of hope filled light hearted moments too. It’s an engrossing original story about survival, hope, courage, friendship, love and loss, resilience and the human spirit.

An incredible first book by Kate Sawyer!

I received an advance copy of this book from Hodder & Stoughton, Coronet through Netgalley, however this did not influence my unbiased review of the book.

I have serious feelings about this book, and I’ll start by saying that I would give this ALL the stars if I could.

Ruth tries to ignore the bad news going on in the world. She goes to work, moves in with her boyfriend, realises he’s not who she thought he was, has a short-lived affair, ends it with the boyfriend and decides to go travelling.

So Ruth is on a New Zealand beach with a complete stranger when the worst thing that could happen, does happen. They hide inside the carcass of a recently dead whale, and when they re-emerge onto the beach, everything is changed.

This is told in alternate chapters of before and after, and shows the stark difference between the two times. It also shows what’s really important in a life: the human drive to survive and love.

Honestly, I’m so desperate for other people to read this, that I don’t want to give too much away, so that you don’t lose that element of surprise and the joy tinged with sadness when you turn each page. It really did make me think about what’s important in my own life.

The Stranding was just an absolute pleasure to read.

A riveting story of a young woman who doesn't really know where she stands or what she wants from life. Told backwards, the story centres on Ruth, who decides to leave everyone she loves and care for and go on a journey of self discovery, which doesn't quite pan out the way she wanted. Quite a heartfelt read

This book wasn’t at all what I was expecting. I somehow thought it was about a woman living inside a whale. Instead it features a dual narrative of Ruth in London in a new relationship, realising she’s made a mistake, and then Ruth in New Zealand after an unnamed apocalyptic event. It’s beautifully written and completely gripping and it made my heart hurt. I haven’t stopped thinking about it since I finished reading.

Amazing! Political, timely and engrossing, I loved The Stranding. Eerily reflective of current events, the book is both terrifying and comforting.

I sadly couldn't get into this. Real promise with the storyline, I think it's just a case of my mood reading having not been in the place for this. Will continue to try when I can.

A post apocalypse novel is what we need right now. Life will be normal again, won’t it? The Strandig starts with Ruth discovering a dying whale washed up on a New Zealand beach. Then we flip to London where Ruth is entangled in a relationship that she thinks promises much but bout which everyone one else is sceptical. The flipping between present and past continues through the book. Shortly after the whale dies a nuclear blast occurs which Ruth and a stranger survive by climbing into the dead whale. The Stranding is a powerful beautiful book that is ultimately hopeful and about survival but boy are there tough times along the way. An incredible book.

Exquisite

The Stranding is an astonishing debut. I was hooked and in tears before the end of the first two chapters. It's a beautiful tale of love and loss. Emotional, and lyrical and I can't wait to see what Sawyer writes next.

Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review.

A fantastic book which is well written and completely engaging. I have been completely pulled in and kept hostage by this one.
This is unique, intriguing and one that I have devoured.

When a wave of light destroys Earth as we know it, two survivors, Ruth and Nik, hide and protect themselves inside the carcass of a beached whale. It surprised me to learn that it's a debut novel because it is so beautifully and skillfully written. It is a tale of love, loss and perseverance. Ruth and Nick emerge from the whale's bones after the apocalypse and must rebuild and learn again how to live, after surviving the end of the world.

I love novels which start with a bang, throwing you headlong into the story and daring you to catch up. Iain Banks’ literal explosion with the first line of “The Crow Road” being ‘It was the day my grandmother exploded’, Donna Tartt’s engrossing “The Goldfinch” with the explosion at the art gallery, or the ‘Call me Ishmael’ brusque opener from “Moby Dick”.

“The Stranding” does that, as we crash into Ruth, running to save a beached whale. She runs with a backpack on, in what could be Australia or New Zealand, desperate and sunburnt. The unfolding of the story from there is beautiful to behold, delicately handled and completely engrossing.

We know fairly early on that there has been, or is, some kind of climate disaster. It made me think of Leave The World Behind as Ruth meets Nic, who scoffs at her attempts to save the whale, under the shadow of apocalypse.

Climate change novels seem to be more and more popular, or I’m just reading more of them. Ali Smith’s seasonal quartet but perhaps most of all Summer and Bewilderment by Richard Powers. Ever since I was small, we’ve been talking about other power sources than coal and oil, but nothing really seems to have been done beyond discussion. As we see Germany flooded, Canada on fire as well as the other parts of the world being dangerously hot, cold, dry or wet, it’s clear that it’s urgent. We need to do something more, our world leaders need to drive the green options as the easy ones. Recycling, rinsing out yogurt pots, fewer flights and mild hybrid cars are not going to save the planet. The top ten companies responsible for 70% of the world’s emissions, need to do something at source. It’s too late once the plastic has been made or the oil pumped out of the ground.

There are parallel running stories in this, as we are told more about how Ruth got to where we find her in the beginning and at the same time, the adjustments she’s making in the aftermath of whatever she is going through in the present day. This telescoping forwards and backwards of time is a joy to read, as the puzzle pieces are carefully curated and placed at exactly the right time to reveal the whole picture. One of my bugbears is novels where there is a BIG THING that is revealed at the end and is consequently a massive disappointment. (God of Small Things, I’m looking at you).

The characters are well filled in and human, not always likeable but understandable and relatable. Ruth and Nic’s burgeoning companionship forms part of the foundation for this, when they disagree with each other and you as the reader can appreciate both points of view. It makes for interesting reading, I think, when there are no real villains or heroes – just normal people doing everyday things, one step removed from our own lives.

Ultimately this is a cautionary tale, an imagining of what is around the corner for us if we don’t sort out the damage we are all doing to the world we live in. This is part of the reason I think the story struck a chord with me – the best stories are the ones you pick up in every spare minute, over breakfast and at lunch and before you go to bed. It sits on your chest and keeps you company while you’re not reading, as you wonder what Ruth’s up to and how her parents are. It’s why it feels like such a loss when you finish a book, as you feel like you’re going to miss friends you’ve just met.

I don’t know if Kate Sawyer is going to write a sequel, a continuation or anything but I do hope she does. I’m pleased that this novel has been shortlisted for the East Anglian Book Awards with the winners announced on November 25th. Online tickets are available for free if you’d like to see it live – there are a few different categories and great books in all of them.

Thanks as always to Netgalley and to Hodder & Stoughton for the DRC, this book is available to buy now!