Book Review: Godspeed, Cedar Key

Reviewed by Toni Woodruff

A touching end of the world story filled with hope and community

An explosion. The sky goes gray. Smokestacks fall. Death comes for so many people, but spared (at least for now) is one quiet community on an island off of the western coast of Florida. 

When you think the world is ending, don’t you usually think of an alarm blasting? Of panic? Of the sound of fear manifested, turned all the way up?

Now, I might just think about the quiet, thoughtful novel that is Godspeed, Cedar Key. Here is the story of a small community on a small island searching for what they can do to fill their remaining time and resources. It follows an array of characters doing what they need to do in order to survive and to help each other survive: Guarding the chickens, blowing up the bridge, fishing for clams or white shrimp, obtaining running water, having a community-wide prom, swimming across the channel to win a chicken. Sure we bask in the sadness of losing so many, but if we’re still alive, we’re still going to have to live. 

I love that this book steers away from so much panic. Except for some contention with neighboring towns in the mainland, Godspeed, Cedar Key tells us that the apocalypse—the one that feels so near—will arrive with mundanity too, with the need for distraction as well as food, and with togetherness.

This novel could only work with such a capable and smooth writer as this one. Bobbitt’s prose is infused with beauty and humor despite his characters living under such a bleak, gray sky. There’s plenty of style here—smooth, languorous sentences tying this community together and making the quietude of the novel enjoyable. What better way to talk about living quietly in a time when it feels like the world is dying than by enjoying the small things like artful metaphors and quality description.

Character and place backstory both play a big part in this novel. When there might not be a future, it feels like all we have is our history. But at the same time, it does feel like too much at times, asking us to let go of the narrative and character arc for pages at a time in order to maneuver through sometimes minimally-related history. This, combined with a whole lot of named characters to meet and remember, are the two aspects of this book that make it feel a little less than propulsive.

In the end, I’m really grateful to have spent time in Cedar Key. Both little moments—like the prom and the swimming race—and the big ones—like finding love and nearing war—carry importance in this life we’re still living. The book’s setting is strong. And you’re stuck on it. So you might as well find which ways to enjoy it.

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Thank you for reading Toni Woodruff’s book review of Godspeed, Cedar Key by Michael Presley Bobbitt! If you liked what you read, please spend some more time with us at the links below.