Susan Beth PfefferGenre: YA
Published: 2006
Personal Rating: 4.5/5
Yearly Count: 35
Life on Earth changes when an asteroid hits the moon. Life As We Knew It is 16-year-old Miranda's account of this devastating event via her journal entries.
The very realistic details of this plausible catastrophe had me turning off lights, looking at the trees in our yard as firewood, rationing food and water - okay, not really, but one morning I actually was very grateful for the heat and comfort I had when I woke up. Early on in the book, I wanted to run out to the store and get all the supplies that were mentioned or at the very least write them down (this was an audiobook) for possible later use. Seriously, this book caused me to think - to think about survival.
A plethera of topics were covered as well - relationships, education, spirituality, etc. It was filled with the natural questioning that one may expect to have due to the circumstances. While The Road (McCarthy) left me worn out and depleted afterwards, this book didn't wring me out, but it's powerful in its own right.
Thanks for this review, Joy. I'm going to look for this book. Sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteSusan ~ I didn't want to stop listening. Hope you like it.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad you enjoyed this, Joy! I really like it, too. And I know what you mean about "thinking"...I'm afraid my thinking led me to terrifying realizations though, like the fact that my family wouldn't have stood a chance!
ReplyDeleteDebi ~ YIKES! I don't live in an area that has required any survival gear like other states with the threat of hurricanes, tornadoes, etc., so we are not too prepared for an emergency. I'm still mulling over the idea of getting some general needed supplies. I think that's a good thing to come from a YA book. :)
ReplyDeleteWasn't it a great book - I really loved it :)
ReplyDeleteThere is another book in the series coming out soon:
The Dead and the Gone - same time and scenario - but set in New York with a different teen. Will be ordering it as soon as its released :)
Sally ~ I saw that, but I think I will wait a while being that they sound so similar. I imagine it will be a winner too.
ReplyDeleteHave you read Alas, Babylon by Pat Frank? It's not a YA book, but like The Road, it's a post-apocalyptic story that I thought was fantastic.
ReplyDeleteLes ~ Yes, I did. I rated it a 3.5/5 because I didn't think there was any umph to it. It seemed to be lacking the intense shock or fear that one may feel during an experience like that. The story was in itself good, but I didn't feel any passion. (I know - I'm on my own with those thoughts, but I'm allowed.) :)
ReplyDeletei've been wanting to read this one for a while now. i hope to get to it shortly after the first of the year. thanks for the review!
ReplyDeleteAlisonwonderland ~ I think you'll really like it. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed it.
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