44 pages 1 hour read

Tom Perrotta

The Leftovers

Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011

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Before You Read

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Super Short Summary

The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta follows the Garvey family in a small northeastern US town as they navigate life after a mysterious rapture-like event causes the sudden disappearance of millions of people worldwide. Wife Laurie joins a cult, while son Tom follows the Healing Hug Movement. Husband Kevin attempts to restore normalcy as the town's mayor, while daughter Jill struggles with teenage existential crises. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.

Reviews & Readership

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Review Roundup

Tom Perrotta's The Leftovers offers compelling storytelling with deep emotional and psychological layers, praised for its originality and character development. Some critics found the pacing sluggish and the ending ambiguous. Overall, it's a thought-provoking narrative that explores grief and human resilience effectively.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Leftovers?

Fans of dystopian dramas and explorations of human resilience will appreciate Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers. Readers who enjoyed the philosophical depth of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or the sociocultural commentary in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale will find Perrotta’s blend of emotional complexity and suspense compelling.

RecommendedReading Age

18+years

Book Details

Genre

Fantasy

Science-Fiction / Dystopian Fiction

Modern Classic Fiction

Themes

Values/Ideas: Science & Technology

Values/Ideas: Religion & Spirituality

Values/Ideas: Truth & Lies