9 - The Things That Keep Us Here

Finished The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley. This is a review copy; the book comes out February 9.

This is about a pandemic (avian flu, in case you particulary care what kills off 40% of the population) that devastates the country and, probably, the world.

We live it through the eyes of Peter and Ann Brooks, a separated (and soon to be divorced) couple. Peter's a university researcher in this field and realizes early what's about to happen. He and a colleague move in with Ann and their daughters (Kate and Maddy).

This is a really scary book. Not The Shining-scary, but it's another case of how completely unprepared most of us are for any sort of catastrophic event. What would happen if we didn't have access to food, clean water, electricity, medicine? We'd be so screwed, even before you throw in the fact that there's a deadly flu.

And part of what makes it even scarier is that it doesn't even focus on the flu; this book is more about the day-to-day business of surviving and what happens to a family when it's quarantined in one house.

Another interesting thing this book does is raise the point about what kind of people we are. Are we someone who would risk everything to help a neighbor? Or are we more likely to do what we can to make sure we (and our families) stay alive?

Really good, really thought-provoking book.