Now streaming on Netflix, Leave the World Behind is an unsettling progression towards the destruction of civilization from the perspective of two families, one black, one white, both unaware of the gravity of the events unfolding outside their door. In a moment of crisis, two families must come to terms with their own biases, projections, and understanding of the world and all its mechanizations when the great unknown creeps ever closer.
Amanda and Clay, along with their two children, rent a vacation home in the Long Island countryside, expecting rest and relaxation. At first, it's just as they expected. Warm sunshine, a sparkling pool, and delicious meals served in a pristine kitchen. That is, until one night the owners of the vacation rental arrive on their doorstep, informing them of a city blackout and telling them all communications are down. No TV, no internet, no cell phone, and no news of what's happening. But something is wrong. They can feel it.
What unfolds leaves both families simultaneously suspicious of and clinging to each other, as they attempt to navigate a shared crisis in the unknown.
Leave the World Behind is absolutely terrifying because the reader must wonder what "event" has happened. There are speculations from the protagonists, with facts of distant destruction and death sprinkled in. So, the reader knows it's the end of the world, but the characters oscillate between anxiety and denial. The title of this book might be Leave the World Behind, but you won't be able to put the unsettling feeling it provokes behind you!
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