Specimen Days
Specimen Days
Fiction | Short Story | Adult | Published in 2006
Book Brief
Beta336
Short Story • Fiction
•
Science Fiction•
American LiteratureNew York City • Various Decades
2006
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham interweaves three narratives—a factory worker in 19th-century New York, a modern-day grieving couple, and an android in a futuristic city. Drawing inspiration from Walt Whitman's works, each story explores humanity, love, and transformation against the backdrop of societal change and individual struggles for connection.
Mysterious
Contemplative
Dark
Melancholic
Reviews & Readership
6,569 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham is praised for its lyrical prose and inventive narrative structure, weaving three different stories across time. Critics commend its thematic exploration of human connection and resilience. However, some find the shifts in style and setting jarring, which may detract from the overall cohesiveness. The novel's ambition is both its strength and potential stumbling block.
Who Should Read Specimen Days?
A reader who enjoys Specimen Days by Michael Cunningham likely appreciates lyrical prose, speculative fiction, and interconnected narratives. Fans of David Mitchell's Cloud Atlas and Margaret Atwood's speculative works would find this novel intriguing for its exploration of time, humanity, and identity through historical and futuristic lenses.
6,569 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
336
Short Story • Fiction
•
Science Fiction•
American LiteratureNew York City • Various Decades
2006
Adult
18+ years
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