Station Eleven by Emily St John Mandel

Title: Station Eleven
Author: Emily St John Mandel
Published: 10th September 2014
Publisher: Picador 

Review
There has been so much noise and excitement on the lead up to Station Eleven's publication that I could not wait to get my hands on it and find out what all the fuss was about.
Although a dystopian novel, it also had present day twist about it which I greatly liked. Instead of just focusing on life after the Georgia Flu, it flashes back to before and during the epidemic.
It has been a while since I read a post apocalyptic novel and I was very keen to read one again as these sorts of stories always fascinate me. I am always eager to know how the author is going to deliver their take and Emily Mandel actually managed to surprise me by centering around a traveling Shakespearean Symphony group in a world where civilisation has gone backwards.
I thought the concept of Station Eleven was brilliant, a civilisation that goes backwards and not forwards like other dystopian novels. It was fascinatingly realistic and draws upon the back of the mind thoughts we have about what would happen if an epidemic happened, leaving less than 1% of the population behind.
The characters were well rounded and highly detailed and it was riveting to read how they had adjusted to post doomsday life. Emily Mandel is a brilliantly clever writer and you can read in her words the amount of thought and effort that has gone into making this the brilliant novel that it is.
Surprisingly thought-provoking and realistic, Station Eleven will enthrall you.