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stephxsu's review against another edition
4.0
THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE answers the apocalyptic “what if?” with terrifying realism. Carla Buckley’s debut novel draws us into Ann and Peter’s minds and will keep you awake long into the night.
If Jodi Picoult wrote apocalyptic fiction, the result would probably be something like THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE. Carla Buckley draws her characters with remarkable attention and care: Kate and Maddie in particular sound like kids their ages do. It’s hard to imagine what people would do in such a scenario, but they would probably act something like Ann and Peter do: uncertainly straddling the border between the person they always were and the person they are forced to be, bad parts and all.
The story revolves pretty much solely around Ann and Peter’s Midwestern home, and yet we catch a glimpse of a large number of secondary characters and smaller episodes that are the result of the pandemic. These episodes have Kate acting out against her family, unable (or unwilling) to understand the seriousness of the situation; Ann prioritizing the lives she can save and the limited risks she’s willing to take for the sake of her family. The wide variety of characters in this novel make so that anyone can relate to or empathize with at least one person, thus making this book enthralling for everyone.
THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE is a remarkable story about the complexities of human nature in the face of an international disaster. If you’re a fan of apocalyptic fiction, or if you appreciate well-written and interesting character-driven books, considering reading this one. It’s worth your time and attention!
If Jodi Picoult wrote apocalyptic fiction, the result would probably be something like THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE. Carla Buckley draws her characters with remarkable attention and care: Kate and Maddie in particular sound like kids their ages do. It’s hard to imagine what people would do in such a scenario, but they would probably act something like Ann and Peter do: uncertainly straddling the border between the person they always were and the person they are forced to be, bad parts and all.
The story revolves pretty much solely around Ann and Peter’s Midwestern home, and yet we catch a glimpse of a large number of secondary characters and smaller episodes that are the result of the pandemic. These episodes have Kate acting out against her family, unable (or unwilling) to understand the seriousness of the situation; Ann prioritizing the lives she can save and the limited risks she’s willing to take for the sake of her family. The wide variety of characters in this novel make so that anyone can relate to or empathize with at least one person, thus making this book enthralling for everyone.
THE THINGS THAT KEEP US HERE is a remarkable story about the complexities of human nature in the face of an international disaster. If you’re a fan of apocalyptic fiction, or if you appreciate well-written and interesting character-driven books, considering reading this one. It’s worth your time and attention!
positivewoman2013's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed the book, but now we are living in a pandemic and I'm glad it is not like the book. We have not abandoned the sick, nor have we turned on each other. Texas is suffering from a major power outage. The epilogue was about 20 years after the last chapter and it cleared up a few details, including what really happened to William.
lisaortiz1221's review against another edition
4.0
relevant and painful, The Things That Keep Us Here is one book that definitely plagued me for a while after reading it. i can’t say that i loved it, but i’m definitely glad i read it.
Ann and Peter are trying to raise their two girls through their failing marriage. when Peter, a research scientist and professor, discovers a particularly lethal strain of bird flu, their lives are dumped upside down.
what begins as the imaginable – the rationing, isolation, and trivial family bickering – quickly becomes much, much worse. when it becomes clear that the outbreak is the real thing and 50% who contract the disease die, the family is forced to do everything they can to survive.
the thing that makes this book so powerful is that it is so tangible, so believable. it is currently science fiction, but the possibility, the fact that it could nearly be reality makes it haunting in a way that so many books aren’t. for now, we are safe in our routines, but this book challenges that and makes us realize that we are vulnerable. i can honestly say that for a while after reading this book, i looked sideways at everyone that coughed.
since this is a book review and i have to mention it, i wasn’t blown away by the writing style. the dialogue was written with some quirks and i stumbled a few times, confused. and since the book really centers on the family and the shifts that take place in their dynamic, the up and down of the family didn’t flow as well as it could have for me. but, all of that aside, this was an excellent book and it brings to light a very important possibility. i definitely recommend it for anyone with even the slightest bit of interest.
Ann and Peter are trying to raise their two girls through their failing marriage. when Peter, a research scientist and professor, discovers a particularly lethal strain of bird flu, their lives are dumped upside down.
On the clear water, surrounded by golden reeds, bobbed a legion of blue-winged teal, hundreds of them, mottled brown and cream, every one of them silent and turned the wrong way up.
what begins as the imaginable – the rationing, isolation, and trivial family bickering – quickly becomes much, much worse. when it becomes clear that the outbreak is the real thing and 50% who contract the disease die, the family is forced to do everything they can to survive.
the thing that makes this book so powerful is that it is so tangible, so believable. it is currently science fiction, but the possibility, the fact that it could nearly be reality makes it haunting in a way that so many books aren’t. for now, we are safe in our routines, but this book challenges that and makes us realize that we are vulnerable. i can honestly say that for a while after reading this book, i looked sideways at everyone that coughed.
since this is a book review and i have to mention it, i wasn’t blown away by the writing style. the dialogue was written with some quirks and i stumbled a few times, confused. and since the book really centers on the family and the shifts that take place in their dynamic, the up and down of the family didn’t flow as well as it could have for me. but, all of that aside, this was an excellent book and it brings to light a very important possibility. i definitely recommend it for anyone with even the slightest bit of interest.
cleah's review against another edition
4.0
Peter and Ann Brooks are married but separated when H5N1 Avian Flu hits the global human race. The virus travels and mutates so quickly that is kills 1 out of every 2 people it touches and causes communities all over the world to take drastic matters in order to survive. When their own sleepy town goes into quarantine, their two girls, Kate and Maddie, have a hard time dealing with the isolation and many deaths around them.
This is a gripping story- very sad, and all too close to home, thanks to the recent H1N1 news. The story quickly builds to the pace of a feverish thriller and keeps you on edge until the very end. The Things That Keep Us Here deals with a distinctly scary issue that makes you think about your own family and how you would react if someday this shocking situation was a reality.
Buckley will make you believe in the triumph of the human spirit through the worst of times.
This is a gripping story- very sad, and all too close to home, thanks to the recent H1N1 news. The story quickly builds to the pace of a feverish thriller and keeps you on edge until the very end. The Things That Keep Us Here deals with a distinctly scary issue that makes you think about your own family and how you would react if someday this shocking situation was a reality.
Buckley will make you believe in the triumph of the human spirit through the worst of times.
lunaseassecondaccount's review against another edition
5.0
A fantastic debut novel! This is achingly realistic, and wrought with emotion that lingers, especially since it was written during the Avian/Swine flu scare last year (which it was no doubt inspired by).
The characters are all fairly realistic. Some are likable, some aren't, but they all have their strong points and weaknesses. Buckley also carefully developed them and fleshed them out, so the audience got to know them and feel for them. I could feel the characters ups and downs, and felt their hurt and hope.
This is an excellent book, and should definitely be read.
The characters are all fairly realistic. Some are likable, some aren't, but they all have their strong points and weaknesses. Buckley also carefully developed them and fleshed them out, so the audience got to know them and feel for them. I could feel the characters ups and downs, and felt their hurt and hope.
This is an excellent book, and should definitely be read.
pjvana's review against another edition
4.0
I'm not sure how I stumbled across this boos or why I haven't read it earlier? A very well thought novel about a Pandemic and a Columbus, OH family trying to survive it. The pace of this book is beautiful... it just keeps building. And the conflicts are gut wrenching on many levels. Most of all, it's not too sentimental - there isn't a great, good, happy ending for all. The only thing I really don't like about this book is the title- I get it at the end, it comes full circle. But it really just doesn't work for me as the title.
gracethruchaos's review against another edition
1.0
Horrible. Just horrible. I skimmed this and was just left completely disappointed.
jellokites's review against another edition
5.0
What a great read! I was really questioning in the beginning if I was going to get into the book. I thought that the catastrophe that Ann, Peter, Kate and Maddie were about to face was not going to keep my attention, but boy was I WRONG!
I liked how we did not find out till the end about their child William and how they lost him at a very young age.
I probably would have had this book read in 2 days, but life's craziness got in the way! LOL
I liked how we did not find out till the end about their child William and how they lost him at a very young age.
I probably would have had this book read in 2 days, but life's craziness got in the way! LOL