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45 pages 1 hour read

Leave the World Behind

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020

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Book Brief

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Rumaan Alam

Leave the World Behind

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2020
Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Long Island • Contemporary

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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Super Short Summary

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam follows Clay, Amanda, and their teenage children, who rent a Long Island house for a vacation. Their stay is interrupted by the arrival of G. H. and Ruth, the house's owners, reporting a city-wide blackout. As news alerts and a mysterious noise heighten tension, the two families struggle with distrust and uncertainty, seeking to comprehend an escalating disaster.

Mysterious

Unnerving

Suspenseful

Dark

Contemplative

Reviews & Readership

3.4

176,164 ratings

41%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

26%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam skillfully portrays a gripping apocalyptic scenario, enriched by sharp social commentary and a tense atmosphere. Critics praise its timely themes and Alam's evocative prose. However, some found the plot's ambiguity and pacing less compelling. Overall, it's a thought-provoking narrative that captures contemporary anxieties.

Who should read this

Who Should Read Leave the World Behind?

Fans of intense psychological thrillers like The Road by Cormac McCarthy and Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel will relish Leave the World Behind. Ideal for readers who appreciate suspenseful, thought-provoking narratives that delve into human dynamics amidst unforeseen crises.

3.4

176,164 ratings

41%

Loved it

32%

Mixed feelings

26%

Not a fan

Character List

Clay

A professor of humanities and a father, Clay struggles with his work ethic and feels anxious about the practicality of his skills in a survival situation.

Clay’s wife, Amanda, is career-focused and takes pride in her job while grappling with latent biases and the challenges of controlling her environment amidst a crisis.

A Black financial expert and co-owner of the vacation house, G. H. is confident due to his upper-class status but faces limitations in the crisis and grows into a paternal role.

G. H.'s wife and co-owner of the house, Ruth initially feels uncomfortable with the living arrangements but gradually becomes more accepting of the other family.

A pre-teen on the verge of maturity, Rose is depicted as resourceful and influenced by fiction, guiding her interactions with the unfamiliar post-apocalyptic reality.

Clay and Amanda’s teenage son, Archie is characterized by typical adolescent behaviors but gains symbolic importance as his health declines during the crisis.

Book Details
Pages

256

Format

Novel • Fiction

Setting

Long Island • Contemporary

Publication Year

2020

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

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