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wordsandtrainers's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book, full stop. Surprising, emotional, intelligent, insightful, with a cast of characters that were really well thought out! I only wish Harvey could have stayed on till the end. Definitely will recommend it and read it again! Actually I'm kinda hoping they'll make it a movie, too :o)
kateinoz's review against another edition
4.0
Thank you to NetGalley for giving me this copy in return for an honest review.
Actually 4.5 stars.
I loved this book. I am not a runner and never will be, but this isn't a book about running so much as it is about the will to survive the end of the world. I really liked the main character Ed. He is not someone who is transformed into a hero by the end of the world, he still has all the same character flaws and it isn't until he loses his family that he finds the will to make changes. He actually reminds me of Ed, the sidekick from Shaun of the Dead - lovable, but a bit useless. There are some great passages in this book. One of my favourites is "the living would run through the dust of the dead, just as they always had done". It really sums up the feelings of hopelessness and hopefulness that pervade the whole novel. This will be one of those books whose characters are going to be with me for a while.
Highly recommended.
Actually 4.5 stars.
I loved this book. I am not a runner and never will be, but this isn't a book about running so much as it is about the will to survive the end of the world. I really liked the main character Ed. He is not someone who is transformed into a hero by the end of the world, he still has all the same character flaws and it isn't until he loses his family that he finds the will to make changes. He actually reminds me of Ed, the sidekick from Shaun of the Dead - lovable, but a bit useless. There are some great passages in this book. One of my favourites is "the living would run through the dust of the dead, just as they always had done". It really sums up the feelings of hopelessness and hopefulness that pervade the whole novel. This will be one of those books whose characters are going to be with me for a while.
Highly recommended.
taniplea's review against another edition
3.0
Some parts of it were boring, others kept me reading, but even though it has only been a few days I can't even remember the ending
halfcentreader's review against another edition
4.0
When an apocalyptic event beyond mankind's control takes place in the northern hemisphere, Ed and his family are put through an ordeal of survival that takes the reader from Scotland all the way to Land's End. I very readily went along for the adventure and suspense of the journey. Good Read!
renbooks's review against another edition
1.0
Now that 2021 is coming to a close, I can say that this is the worst book that I read this year that I actually finished (a couple of my DNF books were possibly worse but I had the good sense to call it quits on those). I think I "hate-finished" this book, only finishing because I hated it so much I had to live in rage for a while as I consumed it. This book is the epitome of the question "Can you like a book if the main character is incredibly unlikable?" Well, I think at least for this book, the answer is no. I think it's an odd choice to pick as your protagonist a fat, lazy, bad husband and nearly absentee father who thinks he has it tough and nonstop whines. However, I could see that being an okay choice if he actually grows as the story goes, and I think that's what the author was trying to do, but he still managed to make the character unlikable throughout and somehow portray the wife as a nagging harpy (the writing of the few female characters was atrocious throughout). I typically like post-apocalyptic fiction and I was intrigued by the title of this one, but it ended up being very boring. Can't tell you how much I hated this book. My favorite "hated" part? When the author has a sex scene where the wife and main character fought over him wanting to go out on dangerous missions while his wife and two young children stay at the base - she wants him to stay alive and he wants to go have an adventure so he can feel manly. Anyway, for some reason after this blowout, they're sleeping apart and the wife decides to come in and angry-fuck him without a word. Then, the author says something along the lines of "she always hates when I touch her butthole, but I did it anyway and we both came explosively together. She left without a word". Um ok, the wife hates when the character does this, he know this and does it anyway, and for some reason the wife orgasms explosively from this thing she dislikes? Lol. Has this author ever met a woman? This book was bad and I can't believe how many times I've seen it recommended on Reddit. Possibly by men who resemble the protagonist?
mhekjy's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
bundy23's review against another edition
3.0
Interesting, believable premise with some really good idea's thrown in along the way BUT every character is annoying AF, with the lead being a particularly pathetic whiney man-child. The writing is a bit clunky as well. I'm probably going to read the follow-up though, so it can't have been too bad ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
I'm assuming the author is a runner as the lead goes from fat loser to total winner once he gets fit
I'm assuming the author is a runner as the lead goes from fat loser to total winner once he gets fit
kayeness's review against another edition
4.0
Walker manages to write post-apocalyptic stories that are desolate, but still full of hope. Not as great as Last Dog on Earth, but I can already tell it will stay with me.
jakewjerrard's review against another edition
challenging
dark
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
jeannelovesbooks's review against another edition
3.0
Good concept and well-drawn characters. It's an easy-enough read although as a runner I felt it lacked insight into what it really feels like to run 20 miles a day.