Review: just ok
Rating: 3 out of 5
Date: 07 22, 2013
I am very ambivalent overall about this book. On the one hand, I liked that the main character was just an ordinary guy caught in an impossible and heartbreaking situation. Not the plague, per se, but his own personal losses. He was mostly a likeable guy - he had his flaws, his strengths and weaknesses. But I felt that his goal was completely unbelieveable. Not just that. It was....stupid. There was no motivation from his character development that would support his quest. It just flew in the face of everything this logical person would undertake.Add to that there was so little action up until you got to about 60-70% of the book. You basically get alot pages of back story while this guy walks. And walks. And walks. Once the action started, I got a little more invested. The character uses alot of McGyver-like tactics gained from his knowledge as a librarian. The secondary characters introduced add some flavor, but they are very stereotypical. The grizzled old reporter looking for any story. The hippie motherly figure looking for peace and pot and to share that with those she deems worthy. The military commander willing to sacrifice anything and anyone in his attempt to carry out his orders. The gangsta-style looters flying in the face of it all to score big.What really killed it for me was the ending. And I admit this is a pet peeve of mine. The author just stopped writing, leaving what happens next up to your imagination, though he does give some context to what probably will happen via introspection from the main character. I HATE THAT!!! If I wanted to use my imagination on what happens next, I wouldn't invest my time or money in a book. To me, it's just laziness or lack of talent on the part of the author.