Reviews tagging 'Terminal illness'

The Hot Zone by Richard Preston

9 reviews

arabellafleetwood's review against another edition

dark informative reflective tense slow-paced

3.0

Interesting story depicted. Chilling to think how it's real.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood and Vomit

Moderate: Animal death, Terminal illness, and Pandemic/Epidemic

paulken's review against another edition

dark informative tense medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Terminal illness, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, and Pandemic/Epidemic

Moderate: Forced institutionalization

sonygaystation's review

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

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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

ekcd_'s review against another edition

informative tense fast-paced

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Forced institutionalization, Blood, Excrement, Vomit, Medical content, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic

grimmauxillatrix's review

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An outdated book in the post-Covid world.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. 

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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

calimie's review against another edition

informative tense medium-paced

4.25

A must-read on virology on the early decades of ebola and on how to defend yourself against an outbreak. 
It is a bit too dramatic at times (which ebola doesn't need!) and I could have done without so much family life of some of those involved. 
Extremely excellent final part and thoughts. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death, Terminal illness, Blood, and Vomit

Minor: War

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.

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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.

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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

lilymouse's review against another edition

dark emotional informative mysterious tense fast-paced

5.0

Loved the narrative style of giving information.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Animal death, Body horror, Death, Gore, Terminal illness, Blood, Vomit, Medical content, and Medical trauma