Review: The Way the World Ends

The Way the World Ends by Jess Walter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely LOVED everything about this...novella? short story?! At any rate, it was just positively brilliant. From the cast of professor-types that both fed into and defied stereotypes (the sulking English professor; the overly perky meteorology instructor; two zealous geology professionals interviewing for a teaching opportunity that seemed to be beneath them both) to the incorporation of timely political commentary (our orange leader; old, white conservative men; etc.), this clever societal condemnation delivers what we all so desperately need—hope. That promise of possible salvation is provided by Jeremiah, the rainbow-engine that kept this train moving. Though this character is infused with the innocence of a child seeking self-knowledge and desperately turning to the adults for answers, he is also the catalyst for the final illumination. The reader is led to the revelation that whilst the future may be dark, we most certainly have not yet exhausted possible solutions.

Full of cleverly written humor, snarky phrases and word choices that may even make the reader snort, this piece is one that has sent me immediately to the author’s page in search of more of his work. Seriously folks—one of my all time favorite reads.

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