You're very interesting.To hear about this girl ISL IVL. A.. She moved to this place Call morning S I d e in island city. She lived there with her mother and her sister.Aunt was a superintendent of a building. She wanted to know about the past because it was very interesting for her. Her mother did not like to talk about things because she was involved in a criminal case with this lady Name B e z I d u r a s. They had a P Past, but they had to leave and because of a federal Read population program. They?
Had a very interesting pass which she wanted to know about her father.But her mother was very Secret is about Her phone. Her aunt told her stories and folklore about the past. This was w a v e in the Book this was very interesting because it tied a lot of things together. The lady what's the dogs was very important to because this was about Book more about the spirit from the mountains. The dogs are at night but during the day they were three sons. This was very interesting as well. This was based in the future but also had ties to the past. It all comes together nicely in the end.

I don't know what was magic and what was real in this story. It had this mysterious cloud wrapping it up. The Morningside building was like the castle in Jack and the Beanstalk. You needed to get magic beans (or special invitation) to be in this building. I also wondered if it was going to be like Rosemary's baby.

Silvia moved into the Morningside with her mother. She, not being able to go to school and not having something else to do, got interested in lady living in the penthouse and her beast of dogs. She thought those dogs were actually sons of the lady and they turn into dogs in the morning. In her child mind, it was entertaining and this type of mystery was only thing she could do. With her friend, Silvia decided that she needed to figure out both her past and this woman's past.

This book carries some themes from Obreht's other books: the air of mystery, beastly animals, and hidden pasts. Everytime previous super and Silvia called each other snoop, all I could think of was Snoopy walking by trying to play detective. If you liked her previous books, you'll like this one too

Téa Obreht’s new novel The Morningside exists at the blur where speculative fiction shades into just “fiction.” Featuring the 33-story apartment building that gives the novel its name, The Morningside takes place in a near future where climate change is eroding human society and displaced populations are the norm. But the flooding that isolates the neighborhoods shrinks the stage for the novel’s haunting drama.

https://bookandfilmglobe.com/fiction/morningside-in-america-or-somewhere/

I count Ms. Obreht as a favorite author, and this may be the novel I enjoyed most from her catalog. Sil reminded me of the protagonist in Fight Night by Toews. Her blend of precociousness and fear of messing up was endearing. The usual element of folklore was front and center with the Vila story and in Aunt Ena's tales. It hit just right and I recommend.

Tea Obrecht is a significant writer of literary fiction. I was anxious to give this a try. While I love family stories and dystopias I have little appetite for magical realism. I am the wrong audience for this book. The reviews are good and I definitely want to see this author be
Successful.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Random House for an advanced copy.

The Morningside: A Novel, Tea Obreht, author; Carlotta Brentan, narrator
This novel takes place sometime in the future. It is a world in disarray after war, class warfare, racial issues and weather have caused catastrophe. Floods have destroyed cities. Places are uninhabitable. In an effort to bring back these cities, a Restoration Project moves people to locations and provides homes for them. Everything is rationed because food is scarce as are many other necessary things. Material wealth is largely absent for most people. “Special” people still seem to live well, however.
Apparently, cities were emptied by the fighting and the malignant climate. Silvia and her mother left their home to try to start life again in one of the cities experimenting with the Restoration Project. In this new place, many of the residents do not eat meat because they are also made of flesh. Dwelling places are furnished with things found abandoned, often in need of repair. Most people follow the rules, and work to restore order and to preserve what they have and to restore some of what they have lost. Those that don’t follow the rules are often ridiculed and reported. There is always the fear of reprisals in the atmosphere.
There is very little news of actual progress, but there is an underground chain of information called “The Dispatch”. Who runs it? How long will it be allowed to exist? Does it keep people and life in check or does it create more problems with the spread of rumors? Do misperceptions cause problems? Do people rush to conclusions? Are people vindictive? Has the world moved on from the disorder of disagreement to peaceful and orderly confrontation? Is anyone trying to find out if progress is being made or if they are wasting their time?
Silvia and her mom now live in a place called Island City. Silvia’s Aunt Ena is the caretaker of a building called Morningside. They live in the same building. Aunt Ena is a teller of tall tales, and she fills Silvia’s head with stories. Silvia believes she has to protect her family, and she places amulets around the building. If they are placed incorrectly, she fears tragedy will befall them. Although Silvia’s mom forbids Ena from telling her stories, she tells her stories anyway. Some are legends, some conspiracy theories. Ena tells Silvia about a mythical creature called a Vila, and Silvia, just about 11 years old, has an active, precocious mind. She decides that one of the tenants in the building, a well-known artist, is exactly that, a Vila that possesses magical powers. She believes that the tenant turns men into her three dogs, and then back into men again, depending on whether it is day or night. Ena has enchanted her with tales of the supernatural. Aunt Ena promises to reveal the secret of this tenant to her when she is ready to hear it, but Aunt Ena dies suddenly and never does reveal anything to her. Silvia wants very much to prove that she is ready and can discover it for herself.
One day, Silvia meets a man who calls her Snoopy. He has been watching her and he asks her to do him a favor. Several years ago, he was a writer, but he crossed a line and thus, the wrong people. He was the janitor of The Morningside before Aunt Ena. When he was let go, he was unable to take anything with him and he asks Silvia to locate his mail from a dozen years ago and return it to him. When Silvia discovers he has a key to the elevator that takes the resident she believes is a Vila, up to her penthouse apartment, she wants to get the key. She makes a bargain with him and retrieves his mail in exchange for the elevator key.
Silvia has no friends in the building or the neighborhood. She is lonely and adrift. Although she is on a list to attend school, there is a long wait for an opening. The education system has broken down as well. Then one day, a new family moves in with a daughter her age. The system does not defy this young girl whose family apparently has influence, and she is admitted to school immediately. When they become friends, after a period of trial and error, these two young girls, not yet teenagers, but a bit too curious for their own good, plot to discover if the artist resident is indeed a Vila. There are moments of tragedy and mayhem. Silvia’s mom is trapped in an underwater salvage dive. Her friend suggests doing very dishonest and risky things. Suddenly there are accusations of terrible crimes. What happens to her friend? Silvia discovers who puts out The Dispatch and her mom makes horrifying accusations about a tenant? Are they well founded? Does tragedy ensue?
Years pass and Silvia relocates. The Dispatch author is revealed. Silvia’s mother becomes more open-minded and keeps fewer secrets. Does the book end hopefully or with feelings of impending doom? I am not sure I even understood the entire meaning of the novel. At times, I found it disjointed and very hard to follow. There were many quirky characters and sub-plots. The secrets and mysteries were subtly revealed but were not “aha” moments. In the end, the world seemed to revert back to a more natural state with people willing to do with less and to live within nature’s boundaries. It made me think of Henry David Thoreau who preferred living in, and with, nature as his guide.

A dystopian/future fable that gives Harriet the Spy vibes. Clever, beautifully written! I will definitely read this author again.

*Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for granting me access to an early copy of this book*

This is another book that left little impact on me. The writing style and the story is very reminiscent of the historical and literary fictions novels that I've read and those are not genres I gravitate for. The overarching narrative seems to be a story of "haves vs have-nots" and how both parties react to and are impact by the same events, but you had to squint to to detect this throughline. There was an attempt at world-building through both magical realism elements and a post-apocalyptic setting (I think) but of these felt unnecessary and out of place. Characterization was also weak, with all the characters coming across as simultaneously amorphous and rough around the edges. As a result by the end of this book I had only vague impressions of who they were as people but had not desire to get to know them better, especially with the consistent displays of dysfunctional relationships. Honestly the only reason I completed this book was to get closure on Silvia's past and why her mother was so secretive but the revelation was very underwhelming. There was at least enough narrative there to keep it from feeling apathetic, which seems to appear a lot in contemporary fiction, but this was not for me. Not a bad read, just a very lukewarm one.

Tea Obreht is one of the most significant writers of our time. Her way of moving through the world--I sense a kind of slinking or strolling as she moves past observation and culls story and unique characters to inflict plot upon her readers. A lovely read; I can't wait to get the paperback so I can re-read it again.

Téa Obreht’s The Morningside promises a world of mystery and magical realism, but ultimately delivers an underwhelming experience. The novel follows Silvia and her mother as they settle into the crumbling luxury tower of the Morningside, guided by Silvia’s enigmatic Aunt Ena. The setup is rich with potential, blending folktales of a lost homeland with the eerie presence of Bezi Duras, a reclusive penthouse dweller.

The strongest aspect of The Morningside lies in its exploration of the stories we tell to make sense of our past. Ena’s folktales are enchanting and provide a vivid contrast to Silvia’s stark reality, adding depth to the theme of identity and belonging. Silvia’s quest to uncover the truth about Bezi Duras and her own family’s past adds a layer of intrigue that keeps the reader engaged.

However, despite its promising elements, the novel fails to fully deliver. The pacing feels uneven, and many of the potentially powerful themes—such as the tension between past and present, and the search for identity—are not as developed as they could be. Silvia’s character, while relatable in her struggles, lacks the depth needed to drive the story forward in a compelling way.

The magical realism, a hallmark of Obreht’s storytelling, feels sporadic and at times forced. Instead of weaving seamlessly into the narrative, it often disrupts the flow, leaving the reader feeling disoriented rather than enchanted.

In conclusion, The Morningside offers glimpses of enchantment and has moments that shine with potential. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fully realize its ambitions, leaving a sense of what could have been. It’s a decent read for those who enjoy themes of identity and family secrets, but it might not leave a lasting impression.

This was a unique read for me that I thoroughly enjoyed. I loved getting to know the main character and I felt so motivated to learn where the story was going.

I thoroughly enjoyed this dystopian tale of a young girl and her mother. The daughter knows nothing of her background which her mother keeps secret. They live in the Morningside where an aunt had lived previously. There are some colorful characters, but the bulk of the book is in determining what had happened. It’s vaguely familiar and unsettling. Glad I read this one.

I was not able to review this book by the publish date but now that I have read it I gave it 3 stars.

The Morningside” takes place in Island City, a swampy version of Manhattan after climate change has flooded the coast. Rather than detailing the political structure of this battered place, Obreht drops provocative hints about the latest efforts to rebuild the city’s infrastructure and the government’s image. So many citizens have fled the rotting metropolis that federal authorities have recruited desperate refugees from abroad to participate in a Repopulation Program. Lured by the promise of a better, safer, more stable life, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free have arrived from Back Home.

This is my first book by Téa Obreht, but it will not be my last.

I would not be exaggerating if I said this book was one of the most beautifully written stories I have had the opportunity to read. From the very first page, you're transported to Island City. It's hard to know if we're seeing a dystopian future or the past. But as a reader, you can feel the melancholy, the abandonment, the loneliness.

This story covers various topics: climate change, immigration, and refugees, displacement, struggle. However, while this story has sad moments and heavier topics, it never felt heavy or depressing. Instead, we see the magic of small moments and little luxuries.

One interesting juxtaposition we see is Ena, Silvia's aunt, who is already established in Island City. She's upbeat and looks back fondly on memories, even the painful ones. Then we have Silvia's mother, who is reserved, and rarely wants to remember the past. In fact, as the story continues, we see how sheltered Silvia's life has been, and she has no real memories of where her life started, or where they have come from anymore. Which is heartbreaking, when you're looking from the outside in, but for Silvia, she doesn't know any different. When she meets Ena and begins spending time with her, we finally see her imagination and sense of wonder sneak in.

This story is definitely one that you would take your time reading. Unlike some books where you devour them in one sitting, this was a story that I had to sit with for a bit. The author conveys serious topics in ways that I had never considered; for example, with being displaced. When you zoom out, that's terrible and it would be awful to experience firsthand. But for Silvia and her mother, it's just something that happens and they continue on. I never considered it at the base level before.

While this story has sadness and real issues, there is also imagination and magic. We forget that Silvia is still young, and has an imagination and mind that can wander and create storylines. The beauty is that she still possesses this, even with everything she and her family have experienced.

This story is beautifully written and if you're looking for a book to savor, this is one I would highly recommend.

The Morningside by Téa Obhret. Thanks to @netgalley for a digital ARC of this one. 🏨🐾🐾
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Obreht's debut novel The Tiger's Wife is one of my all-time favourites, so I was thrilled to get to read her third book. The Morningside is a curious take on a near-future post-apocalyptic world following some kind of ecological collapse, where 11 year old Silvia lives with her mother in a crumbling luxury tower. Her mother is secretive about their past and their ancestral homeland, and Silvia becomes fascinated by a mysterious older woman residing in the tower who only leaves at night to walk her three enormous dogs and attempts to investigate. This is a coming of age story about reconciling two worlds: the fantasy world of folktales and magical realism and the real world with very real dangers and conflicts.
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#teaobreht #themorningside #recommendedread #reading #2024reads #bookreview #bookstagram

I enjoyed this book set in a post-apocolyptic, reimagined Manhattan. Silvia is an engaging, believable character in a strange world of floods, Eastern European folklore and witches. The secrets in Silvia's past are dangerous and threatening. Many questions remain unanswered, both in Silvia's life and in the story itself. I'm not usually a fan of climate dystopia, but much about this novel, including Obrecht's lovely writing, raised it above the typical books in the genre.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

📚Book review📚 :: The Morningside by Téa Obreht

Story premise: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Character development: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Writing style: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ending: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

If you were to ask me what kind of books I love to read, Téa Obreht's The Morningside would land squarely at the top of that list. It has everything I love in a novel: dystopian, climate disaster setting; complicated mother, daughter relationship; a flurry of folkloric magical realism; an heir of revolution; painful, familial love.

I felt the pulse of this book like it lived under my skin.

Eleven year old Silvia and her mother have fled their ancestral homeland and, after many years on the move, they have found themselves the caretakers of a crumbling luxury building in a city all but destroyed by rising sea levels. Silvia becomes enamored with her spirited Aunt Ena who spins for her the old folktales from a home she no longer remembers. These stories capture Silvia's imagination and lead her into a world not everyone can see or feel. And it's in this world that Silvia learns some ugly truths about the world the rest of us really inhabit.

The power of this book lies in the truth between Silvia and her mother. While it's Silvia we follow through the halls of The Morningside, it's her mother who stirred the most emotion in me. As a mother raising a daughter in what feels like the end times, my connection to Silvia's mother felt deep and tragic. She spends much of her life trying to stamp the magic out of Silvia for fear of reality (I have chosen the exact opposite approach, but I understand her choices in my bones). Climate change, war and fear of the future presides over every move both Silvia and her mother make but it influences them completely differently.

"I wanted to tell you: here is how I grew up, how baba kept me safe, and how I'll keep you safe but by the time you were born, it was gone. And I thought, 'well then, we'll just head someplace else and find it.' But it was gone everywhere, everywhere, everywhere."

Creative and wildly original, Obreht has created a modern folktale for those of us who have ever felt uprooted and at the edge something profoundly world-altering. I was moved and inspired and delighted on every page.

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Random House for a free copy of this ebook in exchange for an honest review.


This was an intriguing fantasy/sci fi and apocalyptic story which took place across several different character stories throughout , all from the same POV but slowly revealed secrets with each character.
I enjoyed this story though at times found it a bit slow while waiting for more to be revealed. A different story about a girl who is living in a crumbling luxury tower on an island that she eventually is a caretaker for. Over the pages in the book we learn about how she came to be in this tower and all of the interesting characters met along the way.

A solid story , not quite 5 stars but pretty close.

Thanks to Random House and Netgalley for this advanced copy!

I found the prose and story telling of this book to be great, but at times I struggled with the world building and trying to figure out what was actually happening in the story. But throughout, even as I struggled, I appreciated how Obreht brought us back to the Morningside, this building, and the characters making up the residents. Overall, I enjoyed this and look forward to reading future books.