Sloth Week: “Sloth” - A Terrifying Read on Bed Rest
Sloth: A Terrifying Read on Bed Rest
If there was ever a book that made you want to get up and try to outrun your problems, this would be the one.
I, genius that I am, read this while on bed rest for the flu. It was the first thing to keep my attention off how sick I’ve been feeling.
The writing style is immediately gripping and the world-building is exquisite. Within the first 5 pages we’ve seen the introduction of two complex characters, the end of the UK as we know it, a thriving new plague that is taking over, and the relived pain of a child’s death. That’s how the story starts.
The reader is barely given time to absorb one horrific element of this new world before another is being introduced. Survival is all-consuming resolution that gets harder and harder to keep. The only distraction from the plight of the two protagonists is the gnawing question of how long you would survive in a similar situation.
If there was ever a book that made me want to literally outrun my problems, this would be the one. It was a little spooky reading it from bed when all I wanted was to get up and get my heart rate over 103 to stay safe from this immersive and terrifying plague to which I was being introduced.
That added anxiety did nothing but make the world feel more real, and the issues more pressing. Once again, it called into question my own ability to survive in a scenario where any comfort could get you killed.
One of my favorite aspects of the narrative was how it highlighted the best and worst of humanity. Like any good apocalyptic tale, it was unflinching in its portrayal of class, bigotry, and depravity. It was, likewise, unafraid to offer up a glimmer of hope in a dark time.
Despite being an incredibly short read, Sloth is an emotional rollercoaster that I’m glad I rode. It had everything I’d ask for such a book with no filler and, appropriately, no time to recover from the heartaches.
It made me want to get up and move, but it also made me want to slow down and appreciate all that I have. I would highly recommend this title for anyone craving a good, albeit short distraction.
Review by Cat Voleur
Twitter: @Cat_Voleur
