Book Review: Future Home of the Living God by Louise Edrich

Let's see how fast I can compose this! I only have 10 minutes left of work. LOL  Oh and I got this from my library!

Someone called this a "A Handmaid's Tale" lite, and I can see that. It's early dystopian, the world is just starting to go sideways. Evolution seems to be going backwards, or something. Babies are either dying, or they are something unrecognizable.

In a panic to save the human race, pregnant women are being taken into custody. When that doesn't fix things, all women of childbearing age are taken.

It had it's moments where it seemed to drag, and honestly I'm not impressed with how it ended. But I did enjoy the story and the main character. Her faith was important to her, and it kept her going throughout the story.

So yeah, good end the world story...but not sure how far I'd recommend after that ending...yeah, I guess it was still a good ride.

Book Reviews: The Last Policeman books 2 & 3

Countdown City

by: Ben Winters

Henry Palace is back! He is no longer officially a policeman, but he hasn't given up his detective ways. His old babysitter's husband is a missing person, in a world full of missing people and little infrastructure to find anyone. Henry knows it isn't likely he'll find the guy, and even if he does, he has no authority to force him to come back.

Everyone thinks Henry has lost it. Why is he even bothering? The end is drawing ever closer and chances are the guy just went "bucket list."

But something just feels off about this. And I think that if Henry doesn't keep busy, he knows he'll slowly go mad. I'm glad he gets to visit with his sister in this one. It really was as well paced and well written as the first book.

World of Trouble

by: Ben Winters

I read this immediately after Countdown City. The end of the world is getting even closer. There is no electricity, the water is now gone as well. People are having a hard time finding food, clean water, and anything else they might need. Henry has left the safety of his old coworkers compound and is traveling to find his sister. This really broke my heart. Henry was driving himself psychically and emotionally to the edge. You wonder if he'll even survive.

I loved the point that Henry makes, that as the end draws closer, people become frustrated with sleep. Death is literally at your doorstep, wouldn't you be frustrated at the wasted time of sleep? This book really deals with the end and how different people deal. Henry and his traveling companion mark the towns they go through. Some are deserted, some have people holed up in their homes fully bearing arms, and some people decide to just work together and enjoy the company.

I feel Henry's loneliness. Even though he's traveling with someone, it isn't someone he fully trusts. They are using each other, but to what ends?

Will Henry solve his final mystery before the asteroid hits?

Book Review: The Finisher

by: David Baldacci

This is one of those dystopian type fantasy novels. I stumbled upon this at the Scholastic Book Fair. It was on sale for $9.99 and it was hidden in a corner looking so sad and lonely. Never let it be said I never gave a book a home - lol.

It is about a 14 year old girl named Vega Jane. She is basically on her own. Her parents are in a place called The Care, basically a nursing home and are both unconscious. She has a little brother whom she looks after and a best friend, Delph. She works full-time as a finisher, where she literally finishes projects made of metal, wood or ceramic. She lives in a tiny village that is cut off from anything. They are told there is nothing else and to exit the boundaries is certain death.

But things aren't what they seem. The poor girl is naturally curious, but rarely has her questions answered. They know the founder of their village, but she asks where did he come from if there is nothing else out there? No answer. Her grandfather suffered an "event", but what happened? No answer. What dangers do the "Outliers" present? No answer.

As a reader, you are left with unanswered questions as well. What happened to her parents? How did they end up that way in the Care? Where did the founder come from and what is beyond the village? Is this dystopian or pure fantasy? I'm unsure if this is a series or a stand alone book.

I enjoyed the story, it was engaging to say the least. But the every exciting part left me with more questions than answers, and as I read the last page I was left with a bit of satisfaction at a book well read, but also frustration at what was left unaddressed.

**upadate** I see a rumor there is another book coming in 2015. Maybe some answers!

Book Review: The Giver by Lois Lowry

The Giver was brought to my attention by one of those "books you must read before..." lists. My library had it as an ebook. That really fulfilled my instant gratification. lol It caught me from the beginning. I couldn't put it down and read it this weekend.

Jonas starts out as an 11 year old boy in a seemingly utopian society. No one is unhappy, no one is hungry and no one experiences loss. Jonas doesn't think anything is wrong with this life, but you get from the writing how very dull and boring it is as well. The boy is selected to be the keeper of memories. The giver is the current holder of memory. He gives Jonas happy memories and painful memories. Memories of hunger, war, death, pain along with memories of snow, joy, love. It is with love and color that Jonas realized what is wrong. He is angered by the lack of choice. They are told what their job will be, who they can marry if they even can, and assigns them children to raise until they are old enough to leave. People stay as long as they are useful, they are cared for into old age and then they are released.

Sure, we have problems, but we also have joy. Maybe we need to find balance and to not let our sorrow overcome our best times in this life. I think this is what draws me to dystopian novels, the hope that things can change for the better.