spicypb's review
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Graphic: Death of parent, Death, Gun violence, Fire/Fire injury, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, War, Racism, Murder, Blood, Abandonment, Violence, Medical trauma, Medical content, Child death, Gore, Car accident, Animal death, Cursing, Cancer, and Chronic illness
elliez's review
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
I am a huge fan of apocalyptic/post-apocalyptic fiction and this did not disappoint! Any fans of these genres should definitely read it. This came highly recommended by my husband who says it's his favorite book. He has overlapping taste in books with me, so I trusted his enthusiasm about this book.
The only thing that tripped me up with this book was the 1950's military lingo. There were times where there was a lot of it and I had trouble comprehending it. My husband was a military brat growing up, so it probably didn't bother him.
The book was brilliant as far as how realistic it felt, which of course made it scary to imagine. It would surreal to witness a nuclear bomb going off miles away knowing millions of people died just from that blast. Then having the economy fall apart and life as you know it change drastically. It truly becomes survival of the fittest and keeping your wits. So frightening.
The only thing that tripped me up with this book was the 1950's military lingo. There were times where there was a lot of it and I had trouble comprehending it. My husband was a military brat growing up, so it probably didn't bother him.
The book was brilliant as far as how realistic it felt, which of course made it scary to imagine. It would surreal to witness a nuclear bomb going off miles away knowing millions of people died just from that blast. Then having the economy fall apart and life as you know it change drastically. It truly becomes survival of the fittest and keeping your wits. So frightening.
Graphic: Animal death, Blood, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Terminal illness, Violence, and War
Moderate: Alcoholism, Alcohol, Car accident, Death, Death of parent, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Murder, and Pregnancy
theneverendingtbr's review
tense
fast-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
“You see, all their lives, ever since they’ve known anything, they’ve lived under the shadow of war - atomic war. For them the abnormal has become normal. All their lives they have heard nothing else, and they expect it.”
Okay, this is my last read of 2020.
As it was one of the first apocalyptic novels ever written (1959) I wasn't expecting it to be brutal such as the likes of The Road by Cormac McCarthy but it was still a good story regardless.
I will say though that I think it was very unrealistic, like the rest of America is devastated with nuclear weaponry and the survivors in Florida are upbeat about it and very well prepared with dealing with everything. Like surviving, rebuilding and organising their resources is something they've been practicing, there doesn't seen to be much struggle; apart from those spectacles.
Having said all of this, I did like it, it was a quick read and it was a good story and I can appreciate the fact that this book influenced a lot of great books in the Apocalyptic/Post-Apocalyptic genre.
I give it 4/5》
Graphic: Gun violence, Racism, and Sexism
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