Playground
About the book
Author: Richard Powers
Publisher: W. W. Norton & Company
More info:
The StoryGraph | Goodreads
Note: Content and trigger warnings are provided for those who need them at the bottom of this page. If you don’t need them and don’t want to risk spoilers, don’t scroll past the review.
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My Review
A bold statement: I think Playground is my favorite Richard Powers so far. I know he won the Pulitzer for The Overstory (which I definitely enjoyed!), but I said what I said.
Telling you too much about this book would spoil the whole thing, but here’s what you have to enjoy in order for it to be for you: multiple character POVs, multiple timelines, nature writing, social commentary, and big reveals.
What I can safely tell you is that yes, it’s about the ocean — in part — but also so much more. The topic risks being preachy, but this is Powers, so it’s not. It’s totally engrossing and very moving. But above all it’s incredibly, unbelievably smart, even the parts that may might strike your ear funny at first. It’s a spoiler to tell you why — you’re just going to have to trust me that this book comments on today’s world in unexpected ways.
Finally, you are definitely going to want to have someone on call to discuss the ending with. (Thank God I read this with a book club!)
Content and Trigger Warnings
Terminal illness
Colonization
Dementia
Family death and grief
Racism