Leave The World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Book Review

I finished this book two days ago and I’m still trying to work out how I felt about it. 🤔⁣
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⁣I’ve seen extremely mixed reviews of this book and after reading it, I can understand why. The story leaves much to the imagination, which I assume is not for everyone. I actually enjoyed that aspect of the story… however, I still don’t really know what I think happened.
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⁣The story follows a white family vacationing at a rented house in upstate New York. After a massive blackout occurs in the city and across the east coast, an elderly black couple - who claim to own the house - show up seeking shelter. Due to the blackout, cell service and internet access are disabled, therefore preventing the flow of news and information. Do the strangers who showed up late at night really own the house? What is truly happening in the city?
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⁣The story plays out in a matter of days and explores issues of race, class and humanity. After a series of seemingly unexplainable events, the characters are all left to question their safety… both from the elements and from each other.
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⁣While this unique story certainly kept me guessing, I found some of the writing a bit irksome - especially the author’s frequent descriptions of intimate body parts (if you know, you know).⁣
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⁣I wouldn’t recommend this one to those who prefer a neat and tidy ending. However, if you enjoy suspenseful stories that force you to use your imagination, this book is likely right up your alley.⁣
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⁣⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5 stars⁣
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⁣If you’ve read this one, I would LOVE to discuss what you think happened! 😅