Leave the World Behind by Rumaan AlamMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
Last month we watched a trailer for an upcoming Netflix movie, and when I found out it was based on a book, I was instantly interested in getting my hands on it.
Amanda and Clay have rented a beautiful house faraway from their city life, where they hope to relax for a week and spend some quality time with their kids. But their tranquillity is disrupted when an older couple turn up at their doorstep in the middle of the night, claiming to be the owners of the house...
Well, this is such a tense and interesting story. One I was instantly drawn into and couldn't stop reading.
The most disturbing thing about this book is how the awful things sneak up on the characters and the reader. Everything starts so normal. Beautiful clear days full of fun and wayward thoughts soon turn into manic assumptions and suspicion. The confusion and helplessness that arises when the characters aren't able to connect to the rest of the world is too real.
A power outage. Animals acting strangely. Not knowing what's going on. Strange signs that make no sense. A world without clear instructions. THIS is the real nightmare, and what made this harrowing book such an amazing and awful experience at the same time.
The interactions between the two couples—Amanda and Clay, Ruth and GH—were some of my favourite scenes. How four adults who seem so different and know nothing about each other, wind up becoming so close and dependent on each other. While still trying to maintain a safe distance.
Another thing I really enjoyed about this story is the random thoughts. How each character finds their thoughts running in unexpected directions. This made everyone feel so real.
Loved it! And now I'm looking forward to checking out the movie.
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