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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Crime violence and the threat of death are central; a shooting occurs
Language
Some
Some strong language in street dialogue
Sexual Content
Some
Brief sexual references; non-graphic
Substance Use
Some
Drug dealing is a core plot element; substance use depicted
Emotional Intensity
Some
Explores powerlessness, contingency, and psychological survival in a dangerous city
What this book is about
Set in the sweltering chaos of Manila, Alex Garland's second novel weaves together three stories: a British drug dealer, a Filipino doctor, and two street children. As their lives converge at a single moment of violence, Garland explores randomness, fate, and the thin line between safety and catastrophe in a city where poverty and crime intermingle.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Violent crime in urban setting
Drug trade and trafficking
Depictions of extreme poverty
Reader Verification
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