The Things That Keep Us Here
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Review
The psychological drama here is intense and personal ... a moving and gripping debut. (MATERIAL WITNESS )
Review
'The psychological drama here is intense and personal ... a moving and gripping debut.' MATERIAL WITNESS
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Carla Buckley's compelling debut novel tells the story of an ordinary American family caught up in extraordinary events. Ann Brooks and her husband Peter have recently separated and Ann is living in the family home with their two daughters, 13 year old Kate and Maddie, eight. Peter is a vet who specialises in migratory birds, so when he comes across hundreds of dead teals floating on the surface of a lake, he realises that the deadly strain of human avian flu which started in Asia has now spread to the US.
Panic spreads like wildfire, fuelled by doom-laden news reports and announcements from the World Health Organisation, and America effectively shuts down with shops running out of goods and highways and emergency services grinding to a halt. Law and order becomes a thing of the past, as Ann and her friend realise when they try to stock up on essential supplies at the supermarket and shoppers are fighting in the isles and stealing items from each other's trolleys.
With Peter unable to return to his home he moves back in with his family, bringing his young, pretty research assistant with him - much to Ann`s consternation. The family becomes more and more isolated as their power supply is cut off and they heed government advice not to allow their children to mix with others, for fear of spreading the virus.
It's a scarily realistic scenario. The tagline on the front cover reads "How far would you go to protect your family?" and Ann in particular is neurotic and ruthless in her determination to ensure that her daughters don't succumb to the virus. The atmosphere of suspicion and fear is very convincingly portrayed, with neighbours and friends turning against each other and the authorities keen to 'remove' anyone who they perceive as a risk to public health. It's quite a bleak read at times, with `every man for himself' being the overriding theme, but it's compelling and frighteningly plausible and there are just enough rays of hope and acts of compassion to renew one's faith in the human spirit.
Panic spreads like wildfire, fuelled by doom-laden news reports and announcements from the World Health Organisation, and America effectively shuts down with shops running out of goods and highways and emergency services grinding to a halt. Law and order becomes a thing of the past, as Ann and her friend realise when they try to stock up on essential supplies at the supermarket and shoppers are fighting in the isles and stealing items from each other's trolleys.
With Peter unable to return to his home he moves back in with his family, bringing his young, pretty research assistant with him - much to Ann`s consternation. The family becomes more and more isolated as their power supply is cut off and they heed government advice not to allow their children to mix with others, for fear of spreading the virus.
It's a scarily realistic scenario. The tagline on the front cover reads "How far would you go to protect your family?" and Ann in particular is neurotic and ruthless in her determination to ensure that her daughters don't succumb to the virus. The atmosphere of suspicion and fear is very convincingly portrayed, with neighbours and friends turning against each other and the authorities keen to 'remove' anyone who they perceive as a risk to public health. It's quite a bleak read at times, with `every man for himself' being the overriding theme, but it's compelling and frighteningly plausible and there are just enough rays of hope and acts of compassion to renew one's faith in the human spirit.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
When I first saw the synopsis of this book, which was about bird flu, I thought to myself, I don't know if this is really my subject matter but I'll give it a go. I'm always prepared to try new authors and new genre's.
Well I was pleasantly surprised. Although it seemed a bit slow to start, I persevered and then couldn't put the book down. I wont put any spoilers here for those that haven't read the book, but it really makes you think, "what if this happens, or what if that happens?". It left me thinking about the book for days after I'd finished reading it.
I really would give it a go, and persevere passed the first few pages. I thoroughly recommend it.
Well I was pleasantly surprised. Although it seemed a bit slow to start, I persevered and then couldn't put the book down. I wont put any spoilers here for those that haven't read the book, but it really makes you think, "what if this happens, or what if that happens?". It left me thinking about the book for days after I'd finished reading it.
I really would give it a go, and persevere passed the first few pages. I thoroughly recommend it.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Carla Buckley has taken the subject of an Avian Flu epidemic for her first novel. Set in America it is compelling and also frightening because it could happen.
Ann Brooks has recently separated from her husband Peter, a research scientist working on Avian Flu. She is bringing up her two daughters alone when the silent killer starts to spread across the country. It asks questions we would prefer to avoid - what would you do to survive if a flu epidemic was killing 50% of the people it infected? To what lengths would you go to obtain food, water, a source of warmth during an extremely cold winter? Who would you trust? Sometimes Ann's actions appear cold and heartless, but given the same circumstances I have to admit that I would do the same after all when the alternatives are life or death the luxury of choice is taken away and this made it quite a disturbing read. The rule of law has completely broken down and it has become a case of 'everyman for himself'. Short press announcements from the government appear at intervals which add to the element of realism.
Not a cheerful read particularly as I made the mistake of reading it during the cold snowy spell earlier this year. However, it does have an element of hope mixed in with the tragedy, it explores the strength of the human spirit and how we can step up a gear when times seem really dark and hopeless. The characters are well drawn and believable and I really did care about what happened to them.
Not aimed specifically at men or women, just at anyone who enjoys a good book that can make you think.
Ann Brooks has recently separated from her husband Peter, a research scientist working on Avian Flu. She is bringing up her two daughters alone when the silent killer starts to spread across the country. It asks questions we would prefer to avoid - what would you do to survive if a flu epidemic was killing 50% of the people it infected? To what lengths would you go to obtain food, water, a source of warmth during an extremely cold winter? Who would you trust? Sometimes Ann's actions appear cold and heartless, but given the same circumstances I have to admit that I would do the same after all when the alternatives are life or death the luxury of choice is taken away and this made it quite a disturbing read. The rule of law has completely broken down and it has become a case of 'everyman for himself'. Short press announcements from the government appear at intervals which add to the element of realism.
Not a cheerful read particularly as I made the mistake of reading it during the cold snowy spell earlier this year. However, it does have an element of hope mixed in with the tragedy, it explores the strength of the human spirit and how we can step up a gear when times seem really dark and hopeless. The characters are well drawn and believable and I really did care about what happened to them.
Not aimed specifically at men or women, just at anyone who enjoys a good book that can make you think.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
Interesting and kind of riveting
This was the first time I have read a book by this author. I found the book very interesting and actually I couldn't put it down. I call this a follow me from room to room book. Read more
Published 10 months ago by Linda Ito
A Very Good Read
I found the novel gripping and well written. I couldn't put it down, a real page turner. I highly recommend this book
Published 13 months ago by Georgia girl
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