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kkomo's review against another edition
2.0
SO many characters
I typically really enjoy pandemic-type survival books, even if they do scare the daylights out of me. However, the character development here left much to be desired. I understand that the neighborhood encompassed many families, but I️ couldn’t tell you anything about any of the people. In fact, other than the main family, I couldn’t hardly tell you anything about any of the characters. Part of the reason I love reading is getting lost in the characters, but that didn’t even come close to happening with this one.
I typically really enjoy pandemic-type survival books, even if they do scare the daylights out of me. However, the character development here left much to be desired. I understand that the neighborhood encompassed many families, but I️ couldn’t tell you anything about any of the people. In fact, other than the main family, I couldn’t hardly tell you anything about any of the characters. Part of the reason I love reading is getting lost in the characters, but that didn’t even come close to happening with this one.
kandi_of_the_future's review against another edition
3.0
This is an okay book. Not great, not bad, just ok. It deserves a 2.5, maybe. I gave it a 3 because the first half deserved at least a 3.
***I don't think this has spoilers, but it does contain broad brushstroke references to events of the book.***
I liked the premise, and I thought the first half of the book was pretty good. I wasn't crazy about the main character, Alex, because he came across like an arrogant know-it-all so it was difficult to cheer for him. In part his arrogant know-it-allness is justified -- but still annoying. The ending was a bit of a letdown, too abrupt and convenient, without closure on too many dangling threads. Because the book is from a single point of view, many of the side stories get lost when Alex ceases to be directly involved in them, so we are left wondering what happened to most of the other characters in the book. I will say, though, that the author did a nice job in detailing how Alex and his family were minimally impacted for the pandemic because they had planned for such an event, and how those in the neighborhood lived like most Americans do with only a few days supply of food etc were quickly pulled into a downward spiral. However I did find it a little perplexing that as preppers they didn't have a better plan for defending their home.....considering the amount of planning Alex and his wife did it just surprised me they wouldn't realize they would need to plan to protect it.
***I don't think this has spoilers, but it does contain broad brushstroke references to events of the book.***
I liked the premise, and I thought the first half of the book was pretty good. I wasn't crazy about the main character, Alex, because he came across like an arrogant know-it-all so it was difficult to cheer for him. In part his arrogant know-it-allness is justified -- but still annoying. The ending was a bit of a letdown, too abrupt and convenient, without closure on too many dangling threads. Because the book is from a single point of view, many of the side stories get lost when Alex ceases to be directly involved in them, so we are left wondering what happened to most of the other characters in the book. I will say, though, that the author did a nice job in detailing how Alex and his family were minimally impacted for the pandemic because they had planned for such an event, and how those in the neighborhood lived like most Americans do with only a few days supply of food etc were quickly pulled into a downward spiral. However I did find it a little perplexing that as preppers they didn't have a better plan for defending their home.....considering the amount of planning Alex and his wife did it just surprised me they wouldn't realize they would need to plan to protect it.
slovene1's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.75
birdloveranne's review against another edition
4.0
I liked this story, overall. I had some issues, with the unnecessary prologue, the unnecessary flashback scene at the end, and the somewhat abrupt ending. There were some editorial errors, too. But it was definitely a riveting story.
rickiebeth's review against another edition
2.0
An entertaining plot, but the stilted dialogue leaves me wondering if the author has ever heard two people have a conversation before. The unlikable characters, underwhelming ending, and the shoddy copy editing job add up to make this one not worth the read for all but the most die-hard fans of the post-apocalyptic genre.
skylerae's review
5.0
I found this book very captivating and addicting. After living through 2020, I also found myself thinking about how to be better prepared. The main characters (Alex and Kate) have a sustainable way to prepare and keep your stock fresh, which I found really interesting, especially as the pandemic progressed. I would recommend anyone read this book, but if you are currently struggling and/or stressed out about the current events, maybe wait until you're in a better headspace.
astrilde's review
3.0
3.5 Stars
Not a high octane page turner, with 98% of the book takes place on one 30 home street; but still an interesting read on the dangers of global pandemic flu wrought on a local scale.
We follow one family with a disaster preparedness plan as everything falls apart as a novel strain of the flu spreads the globe. Quarantining themselves in their home as the local community, a few prepared and most not; come to terms with the developing crisis. Early attempts to create community resources splits residents and creates tension, worsening as refugees from the devolving cities trawl for a place to shelter out the storm. One group of these refugees will stop at nothing to find food.
Coming to this book straight after something fairly similar; a small town in the mountains of the Carolinas; here the impact is seen on an even smaller scale. The problems faced are the same though, residents fighting to find a balance between keeping everything they have for themselves versus giving it all to those less prepared and leaving yourself stranded, making alliances and working on schemes to help without putting your own family at risk. There are some more specific risks here, where in the last book it made good sense to gather together, in this book some of the suggestions regards disease vectors (AKA children) are just asking for trouble and our family is seen as not team players when they don't want others around their children.
As I said, not high octane but I didn't put in down from 10% to finish. Will continue the series.
Not a high octane page turner, with 98% of the book takes place on one 30 home street; but still an interesting read on the dangers of global pandemic flu wrought on a local scale.
We follow one family with a disaster preparedness plan as everything falls apart as a novel strain of the flu spreads the globe. Quarantining themselves in their home as the local community, a few prepared and most not; come to terms with the developing crisis. Early attempts to create community resources splits residents and creates tension, worsening as refugees from the devolving cities trawl for a place to shelter out the storm. One group of these refugees will stop at nothing to find food.
Coming to this book straight after something fairly similar; a small town in the mountains of the Carolinas; here the impact is seen on an even smaller scale. The problems faced are the same though, residents fighting to find a balance between keeping everything they have for themselves versus giving it all to those less prepared and leaving yourself stranded, making alliances and working on schemes to help without putting your own family at risk. There are some more specific risks here, where in the last book it made good sense to gather together, in this book some of the suggestions regards disease vectors (AKA children) are just asking for trouble and our family is seen as not team players when they don't want others around their children.
As I said, not high octane but I didn't put in down from 10% to finish. Will continue the series.
fictionlux's review
adventurous
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Alex Fletcher is an ex-Marine and is now a pharmaceutical rep with a bit of paranoia about flu pandemics. The year is 2013, and he has a vivid memory of the Swine Flu outbreak. Alex's paranoia has led him to stockpile food, water, power supplies, and plenty of guns and ammo. His plan is a simple one: isolate himself and his family from everyone throughout the flu outbreak, even as the world they know crumbles around them. And despite his warnings to his neighbours things go rather bad for them.
This is a book I've read once and thought a flu like that would never hit. Then COVID came along and coupled with my review blog, I decided to give it another go around. It's scarier now.
I quickly got bored of the sappy dialogue between Alex and his wife. I found myself skipping over it.
Overall, it wasn't a bad read, but I think the plot was rather slo
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