Reviews of Severance tend to emphasize the apocalyptic part of the plot: an epidemic of Shen Fever, which causes people to mindlessly repeat routines from their lives, such as setting the table, trying on clothes, or watching TV. Readers drawn to Severance based on the zombie-like premise will be severely disappointed, because that premise forms a surprisingly small part of the story. The book uses it as a device to explore life as a millennial, the immigrant experience, and the commodification of America.
The metaphor was particularly clear to me near the beginning, when our heroine Candace's boyfriend imagines a future where New York City is taken over by chain stores and restaurants that offer a simulacrum of its vibrant culture, and Candace finds herself taking photos that perpetuate the same cliches. Humans continue to desire the same experiences even when the original meaning and impetus for them is lost.
The book also tells the story of Candace's parents emigrating from China, and her job as production coordinator for a publisher. I enjoyed all of the component pieces, and felt like they all contributed to the core theme in more or less obvious ways. Narratively, though, the different elements felt disjoint.
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