Scan barcode
tookish_by_nature's review against another edition
dark
tense
medium-paced
3.0
As someone who initially had little to no actual knowledge of ebola other than memories of pictures and news reports that spread in the 2000's when I was a child, I enjoyed the book as far as entertainment value goes. As an introduction it made me interested enough to research and seek out other sources on the topic. Unfortunately that was what ultimately led me to realising it has no more value than that.
The West African ebola epidemic hit communities on every structural level, targeting family who lovingly touched the sick, caregivers who cleaned bodily fluids, and mourners who washed their dead. At one point one of the followed 'characters' a doctor on the ground calls it the 'disease of love' spreading to people who simply long to provide their loved ones with dignity in death in accordance to their traditions. This is terrifying but also, in a way, profound- especially in relation to how such people are often described by outsiders as 'ignorant'. Is it fair to label them as such? At the time, mistrust and fear was rampant, many of the natives would experience their relatives becoming ill. There were cases of doctors taking patients for treatment and when they died the families were left in the dark, some began to believe Ebola was not real- or if it was the white man was infecting them with it purposefully and kidnapping their victims. In such circumstances, can you really blame them for clinging to their traditions all the more? For hiding the ill and being hostile to medical teams attempting to help them? It's a difficult and multifaceted issue, incredibly interesting. And barley addressed, swept aside in just a few lines to focus instead on gory symptoms Preston exaggerates to the point of obscenity. And this is a reoccurring problem in this book.
With further research I found that in reality you cannot catch Ebola unless the infected are showing symptoms and even then it is difficult, requiring certain conditions often tied to extreme poverty, and a lack of education and infrastructure (Hense why it is such a problem in more rural areas and the Congo in particular which is ravaged by genocide and war that we exacerbate through the buying of electronics) that is not present in the majority of Europe, had The Hot Zone been my only source I would never had known this. Preston wrote endless pages about an infected nurse who spent 2 days mixing and coming into contact with hundreds of people- likening it to a 'species threatening event' it is written in a way that gives the impression that its almost inevitable that Ebola will spread. Again further research told me this was not so and upon rereading and searching back and forth between those endless pages I realised that Preston had said this himself too. However, he did so at the very last possible moment in an almost hand wavy manner. 'She had shared a bottle of soda pop with someone, and not even that person became ill' a single line, written plainly and in the least attention catching way possible- almost as if he wanted people to miss that fact. To make it more 'exciting', drama over accuracy.
Ultimately I can understand why this book had such a cultural impact, its stripped down writing is accessible and gives a sense of building tension that catches the imagination. Im afraid however, it simply doesn't stick the landing. I wanted to be fully immersed (even despite my irritation at the constant exaggeration of symptoms- as if Ebola isn't scary enough in its natural state) but Preston repeatedly flies off into tangents about people's family pets or detailed steps of how they boiled chickens to use later in batch cooking or ENTIRE CHAPTERS dedicated to 'main characters' family members dying and every single time all I could think was how is this relevant? why would I care about this?
Overall I'd say its a worthwhile read if you have even the smallest amount of interest in diseases and the responses to them, if only because of how entrenched its become in the public consciousness. Keep in mind however, that it is quite dramatised and maybe read this article about its reception and the myths it generated: https://gizmodo.com/how-the-hot-zone-created-the-worst-myths-about-ebola-1649384576
The West African ebola epidemic hit communities on every structural level, targeting family who lovingly touched the sick, caregivers who cleaned bodily fluids, and mourners who washed their dead. At one point one of the followed 'characters' a doctor on the ground calls it the 'disease of love' spreading to people who simply long to provide their loved ones with dignity in death in accordance to their traditions. This is terrifying but also, in a way, profound- especially in relation to how such people are often described by outsiders as 'ignorant'. Is it fair to label them as such? At the time, mistrust and fear was rampant, many of the natives would experience their relatives becoming ill. There were cases of doctors taking patients for treatment and when they died the families were left in the dark, some began to believe Ebola was not real- or if it was the white man was infecting them with it purposefully and kidnapping their victims. In such circumstances, can you really blame them for clinging to their traditions all the more? For hiding the ill and being hostile to medical teams attempting to help them? It's a difficult and multifaceted issue, incredibly interesting. And barley addressed, swept aside in just a few lines to focus instead on gory symptoms Preston exaggerates to the point of obscenity. And this is a reoccurring problem in this book.
With further research I found that in reality you cannot catch Ebola unless the infected are showing symptoms and even then it is difficult, requiring certain conditions often tied to extreme poverty, and a lack of education and infrastructure (Hense why it is such a problem in more rural areas and the Congo in particular which is ravaged by genocide and war that we exacerbate through the buying of electronics) that is not present in the majority of Europe, had The Hot Zone been my only source I would never had known this. Preston wrote endless pages about an infected nurse who spent 2 days mixing and coming into contact with hundreds of people- likening it to a 'species threatening event' it is written in a way that gives the impression that its almost inevitable that Ebola will spread. Again further research told me this was not so and upon rereading and searching back and forth between those endless pages I realised that Preston had said this himself too. However, he did so at the very last possible moment in an almost hand wavy manner. 'She had shared a bottle of soda pop with someone, and not even that person became ill' a single line, written plainly and in the least attention catching way possible- almost as if he wanted people to miss that fact. To make it more 'exciting', drama over accuracy.
Ultimately I can understand why this book had such a cultural impact, its stripped down writing is accessible and gives a sense of building tension that catches the imagination. Im afraid however, it simply doesn't stick the landing. I wanted to be fully immersed (even despite my irritation at the constant exaggeration of symptoms- as if Ebola isn't scary enough in its natural state) but Preston repeatedly flies off into tangents about people's family pets or detailed steps of how they boiled chickens to use later in batch cooking or ENTIRE CHAPTERS dedicated to 'main characters' family members dying and every single time all I could think was how is this relevant? why would I care about this?
Overall I'd say its a worthwhile read if you have even the smallest amount of interest in diseases and the responses to them, if only because of how entrenched its become in the public consciousness. Keep in mind however, that it is quite dramatised and maybe read this article about its reception and the myths it generated: https://gizmodo.com/how-the-hot-zone-created-the-worst-myths-about-ebola-1649384576
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Miscarriage, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Dementia, Medical trauma, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Confinement, Gore, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, and Excrement
Minor: Animal cruelty, Violence, and War
sonygaystation's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
3.5
I have a longer review writing itself in my brain but for now what I have to say is this: as an epidemiologist, this book felt much more sensational and trying to use ebola to generate attention via scare tactics. Preston is a very sensationalist and exaggerated writer, plus his viewpoints, word choices, and assumptions of character feel pretty Old-Ass White Man even for the early 90s
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Child death, Misogyny, Sexism, and Excrement
Minor: Confinement, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
grimmauxillatrix's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
fast-paced
2.5
An outdated book in the post-Covid world. This book should be considered a relic, not a classic, and forgotten by the average reader. It is colonialist, sexist, and fear-mongering, and the only value it retains is it's window into the perspective of the world towards epidemiology in the early 90s.
The good: the writing is still dramatic and interesting. It's a gripping, well-paced book that compelled me to finish it even though a lot of the information contained within is at best exaggerated, and at worst completely incorrect thanks to continuing advances in medical science.
The bad: this book did for epidemiology what Jaws did for sharks; that is, incited panic and fear about disease that has done far more harm than good to society. The 2014 Ebola outbreak surprised many of us who'd grown up in terror of the supernatural powers of the disease: it turns out that the disease didn't turn people into exploding blood zombies. The outbreak wasn't the end of the world. Ebola is a virulent and deadly disease, but understanding it is key to fighting it, and understanding, rather than treating it as a mysterious unknown, reduces fear and allows for action.
The ugly: this book singlehandedly turned Africa into a disease ridden dark continent for an entire generation. The colonialist tones are unmistakable, with the various African peoples treated more like part of the backdrop than people with agency. Disease is around every corner, and so dangerous to the civilized white man that they can only journey there in a "level four space suit". Calling the Kinshasa highway the AIDS highway and blaming the spread of the disease on the people who live and travel there is disingenuous and counterproductive to both helping the people of Africa rise up, and to continuing disease research.
The portions taking place in America are steeped in 90s typical sexism, even though it primarily discusses Army personnel. Though not nearly as egregious as the white man's burden colonial mindset in the African portions, it still rubs the wrong way.
Overall, this is a well written but bad book that should be forgotten.
The good: the writing is still dramatic and interesting. It's a gripping, well-paced book that compelled me to finish it even though a lot of the information contained within is at best exaggerated, and at worst completely incorrect thanks to continuing advances in medical science.
The bad: this book did for epidemiology what Jaws did for sharks; that is, incited panic and fear about disease that has done far more harm than good to society. The 2014 Ebola outbreak surprised many of us who'd grown up in terror of the supernatural powers of the disease: it turns out that the disease didn't turn people into exploding blood zombies. The outbreak wasn't the end of the world. Ebola is a virulent and deadly disease, but understanding it is key to fighting it, and understanding, rather than treating it as a mysterious unknown, reduces fear and allows for action.
The ugly: this book singlehandedly turned Africa into a disease ridden dark continent for an entire generation. The colonialist tones are unmistakable, with the various African peoples treated more like part of the backdrop than people with agency. Disease is around every corner, and so dangerous to the civilized white man that they can only journey there in a "level four space suit". Calling the Kinshasa highway the AIDS highway and blaming the spread of the disease on the people who live and travel there is disingenuous and counterproductive to both helping the people of Africa rise up, and to continuing disease research.
The portions taking place in America are steeped in 90s typical sexism, even though it primarily discusses Army personnel. Though not nearly as egregious as the white man's burden colonial mindset in the African portions, it still rubs the wrong way.
Overall, this is a well written but bad book that should be forgotten.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Colonisation, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Cursing, Sexism, Violence, Excrement, and Murder
kelsyalexandra's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Moderate: Excrement and Vomit
Minor: Violence and Death of parent
mousey's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
tense
fast-paced
5.0
This book is disgusting in the best way possible. The gory details of illness and death is nauseating, but the storyline and the information is so captivating that you can’t put it down.
This book is also devastatingly sad. You will cry, you will mourn for the people and animals who’s stories are told. The Hot Zone makes a really human connection with the reader, and it ensures that you stay interested in the fast paced novel.
This book is also devastatingly sad. You will cry, you will mourn for the people and animals who’s stories are told. The Hot Zone makes a really human connection with the reader, and it ensures that you stay interested in the fast paced novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Sexism, Terminal illness, Violence, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Grief, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
m0usey's review against another edition
dark
emotional
informative
sad
tense
fast-paced
5.0
Wow. A great read in the most painful way possible. This book is going to have you on the edge of your seat, it’s going to have you crying, it’s going to have you gagging. Honestly amazing.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Grief
Moderate: Sexism and Xenophobia
Minor: War
More...