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3.53 AVERAGE
3.53 AVERAGE
Although it starts with the same slow and sinister tone that drove me through the first book, it devolves into a teenager love drama pretty rapidly. The male interest is, of course, completely an ass and creates the center-stage conflict that distracts from the apocalypse. Even the characters I loved in the first book--the mother, and brother Matt have lost quite a bit of their character power and only move along the plot. The narrator once again did a stellar job, and there were some amazing moments (near the beginning and at the end) where her emotions shows right through and brings the horrible situations alive. I realize my issue is that the writer and I wanted two different things from this book. Still, I can't call it anything other than a pretty dissapointing sequal to an excellent, excellent first novel.
I liked this, but not as much as LAWKI. It still feels incomplete, like there should be more to the story. Miranda and Alex's meeting feels so forced and their "courtship" is contrived.
LAWKI is still the best of the trilogy, this one is probably second best.
LAWKI is still the best of the trilogy, this one is probably second best.
This book was a disappointment after the first two in the series, both of which were vivid and riveting. Fortunately, I had been forewarned that this one was a bit lackluster, so I didn't go into it with expectations that were too high.
Mostly, it felt like a sequel that didn't really need to be written. I think the author (or publisher) felt compelled to tie the first two books together, but both of them are strong standalones and tying them together in this third volume felt forced. Plus, a lot of what happens in here is not very different from what happened in the earlier books -- the struggle to find enough food, the windfalls and disappointments, the highs and lows of living through an apocalypse, you know, that sort of thing.
And even though it's shorter than the other books in the series (I think), it has a lot more characters, so there was quite a bit to keep track of in the second half. The book started to feel "crowded" since several of the characters were not developed all that well. Also, I noticed some really weird gender things in this book that either were not present in the other two books or that just didn't strike me in the same way. But I think that Pfeffer might have some internalized sexism going on ... Miranda's mother was always very insistent that Miranda stay home while the boys were able to strike out and explore/adventure/etc., and Alex seemed to think that for some reason he got to decide what his sister's fate would be even though she was old enough to have some say in the matter. (Also, I think the decision the author made regarding Julia's storyline was absolutely atrocious). I liked Alex less in this book than in the book that is actually about him -- in this volume he came across as controlling and almost stereotypically pious.
For whatever reason there is yet one more book in this series, which I may or may not read. The first two books are great, but as far as I'm concerned you wouldn't be missing too much if you just stopped there.
Mostly, it felt like a sequel that didn't really need to be written. I think the author (or publisher) felt compelled to tie the first two books together, but both of them are strong standalones and tying them together in this third volume felt forced. Plus, a lot of what happens in here is not very different from what happened in the earlier books -- the struggle to find enough food, the windfalls and disappointments, the highs and lows of living through an apocalypse, you know, that sort of thing.
And even though it's shorter than the other books in the series (I think), it has a lot more characters, so there was quite a bit to keep track of in the second half. The book started to feel "crowded" since several of the characters were not developed all that well. Also, I noticed some really weird gender things in this book that either were not present in the other two books or that just didn't strike me in the same way. But I think that Pfeffer might have some internalized sexism going on ... Miranda's mother was always very insistent that Miranda stay home while the boys were able to strike out and explore/adventure/etc., and Alex seemed to think that for some reason he got to decide what his sister's fate would be even though she was old enough to have some say in the matter. (Also, I think the decision the author made regarding Julia's storyline was absolutely atrocious). I liked Alex less in this book than in the book that is actually about him -- in this volume he came across as controlling and almost stereotypically pious.
For whatever reason there is yet one more book in this series, which I may or may not read. The first two books are great, but as far as I'm concerned you wouldn't be missing too much if you just stopped there.
I'm just gonna say it: Miranda Evans and Alex Morales are really annoying characters. Not Bella Swan annoying, but annoying. In fact, I find all the characters in Pfeffer's series pretty grating, with a few exceptions. The baby, for one, but maybe that's just because he can't talk.
In his story, [b:The Dead and the Gone|2169506|The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors, #2)|Susan Beth Pfeffer|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1266309782s/2169506.jpg|1785549], Alex talks about not being a martyr, but really, that's all he wants to be. "I've done everything wrong! I'm going to hell! I deserve damnation!" All that translates to, "Tell me I'm worthy. Tell me I'm doing a good job. Tell me you'll worship me when I'm dead." He doesn't want to die, but he wants to be a martyr nonetheless.
Miranda should have grown up in the wake of this dystopia-causing disaster, but she's still a petulant teenager. Rather than doing anything constructive, she lets her mother continue to boss her around. Yes, my mother will always be my mother, but in a situation like this, I'd like to think we'd be on somewhat equal footing. "Oh, we're fighting for survival? Okay, then, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do anymore." All I wanted to do was to slap Miranda, multiple times. And really, really hard.
Speaking of the mother, I hated that she and I share the same name. I did not and do not want to be associated with her. She doesn't take charge when the world falls apart, she becomes a recluse, and expects her children to do the same. I just don't buy it.
In the real world, we don't read books like this to hear the stories of the weak. We read them for the stories about the strong. The ones we would hope to be in the same situation. The ones who fight and survive and triumph over what life has given them. I don't want to read about a guy like Alex, who decides that rather than staying with people who are willing to protect him and his sister, he's going to try and traipse her around the country because his big brother told him to. Despite the fact that said brother is in the armed forces and not struggling to survive from day to day.
And there is one thing that really, really gets me. Faith plays a big part in Alex's story. Nothing wrong with that; I admire it. But he keeps trying to get his sister to a convent so God can protect her. What no one seems to realize, and what he really needs to be told, is that the nuns in the convent are HUMAN. God can protect his sister anywhere; she doesn't have to be in a convent. Why does no one else see this?! Why does no one say, "Hey, you idiot! It makes no sense to drag your sister hundreds of miles to a place where you know no one and where she may or may not be safe, when you could both stay right here, with what you know, and what we're offering and be just as safe as she MIGHT be in a convent."
Someone once said that fiction is harder than truth because fiction has to make sense. And this story, this whole arc, makes no sense to me.
Visit my blog at Bums & Bellybuttons .
In his story, [b:The Dead and the Gone|2169506|The Dead and the Gone (Last Survivors, #2)|Susan Beth Pfeffer|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1266309782s/2169506.jpg|1785549], Alex talks about not being a martyr, but really, that's all he wants to be. "I've done everything wrong! I'm going to hell! I deserve damnation!" All that translates to, "Tell me I'm worthy. Tell me I'm doing a good job. Tell me you'll worship me when I'm dead." He doesn't want to die, but he wants to be a martyr nonetheless.
Miranda should have grown up in the wake of this dystopia-causing disaster, but she's still a petulant teenager. Rather than doing anything constructive, she lets her mother continue to boss her around. Yes, my mother will always be my mother, but in a situation like this, I'd like to think we'd be on somewhat equal footing. "Oh, we're fighting for survival? Okay, then, you can't tell me what I can and cannot do anymore." All I wanted to do was to slap Miranda, multiple times. And really, really hard.
Speaking of the mother, I hated that she and I share the same name. I did not and do not want to be associated with her. She doesn't take charge when the world falls apart, she becomes a recluse, and expects her children to do the same. I just don't buy it.
In the real world, we don't read books like this to hear the stories of the weak. We read them for the stories about the strong. The ones we would hope to be in the same situation. The ones who fight and survive and triumph over what life has given them. I don't want to read about a guy like Alex, who decides that rather than staying with people who are willing to protect him and his sister, he's going to try and traipse her around the country because his big brother told him to. Despite the fact that said brother is in the armed forces and not struggling to survive from day to day.
And there is one thing that really, really gets me. Faith plays a big part in Alex's story. Nothing wrong with that; I admire it. But he keeps trying to get his sister to a convent so God can protect her. What no one seems to realize, and what he really needs to be told, is that the nuns in the convent are HUMAN. God can protect his sister anywhere; she doesn't have to be in a convent. Why does no one else see this?! Why does no one say, "Hey, you idiot! It makes no sense to drag your sister hundreds of miles to a place where you know no one and where she may or may not be safe, when you could both stay right here, with what you know, and what we're offering and be just as safe as she MIGHT be in a convent."
Someone once said that fiction is harder than truth because fiction has to make sense. And this story, this whole arc, makes no sense to me.
Visit my blog at Bums & Bellybuttons .
I am utterly and completely blown away by Susan Beth Pfeffer's talent. She crafts such an unbelievably excellent story. I don't want to give anything away, but this book moved me to tears on several occasions. You do need to read books one and two before this one though. The others were stand alones, but all of the story lines from books one and two converge in this one.
I partly continued reading the book just to see how the series would end. There were some engaging parts, but some of the story felt unbelievable to me and a little fake. However I do appreciate the realism in the fact that it wasn't meant to be a super happy book and the author didn't try to make it that way. That would have felt even more forced and fake. It was an okay read that definitely makes you think.
I thought this was better than the second one. Not everyone died this time.
Why did you choose this book? I’ve read the first book of the series for my book club last year, and liked it. I liked the second book even more, so the logical thing to do was to complete the series.
When did you read this book? September 2011
Who should read this book? middle grade readers and above, fans of dystopian novels
My Review
This is a continuation of the Last Survivor series that started with Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. In book 1, we meet Miranda, a normal sixteen year old in small town Pennsylvania. In book 2 we meet Alex, a smart hard-working teen in New York City. Both stories take place simultaneous and follow them as their lives are drastically changed by one event. A large meteorite smashes into the moon and moves it from it’s orbit to a new orbit closer to earth. This triggers multiple natural disasters, including tidal waves, volcanoes, and nearly permanent winter. The result is food shortages, energy shortages and the disintegration of modern civilization!
You do not need to read the first two books in order; you may read either of them first. But I do recommend you read them both before book 3. All of the main characters are introduced in the first 2 books, and the circumstances are explained in detail. You will probably feel a little lost if you start in on book 3.
This is a bit of a spoiler if you’ve not read the first two books. In book 3, Alex joins Miranda and her family in Pennsylvania. It is one year after the catastrophe and supplies are running low. Miranda is realizing she will never see ‘normal’ again, and in fact, has forgotten what ‘normal’ looks like. I really didn’t enjoy this book as much as the others, as there was really nothing ‘new’ in it. Conditions haven’t really changed and this story just tells more of the challenges of surviving. Even worse, there is really no resolution. The story ends with us no knowing if things will get better or even if Alex and Miranda continue to survive. The only reason I am not completely let down by this book is that I learned just now, literally, that the author has book 4 in progress to be released next year! I definitely plan to read this one, too!
My Rating: ★★★ 3 Stars
When did you read this book? September 2011
Who should read this book? middle grade readers and above, fans of dystopian novels
My Review
This is a continuation of the Last Survivor series that started with Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. In book 1, we meet Miranda, a normal sixteen year old in small town Pennsylvania. In book 2 we meet Alex, a smart hard-working teen in New York City. Both stories take place simultaneous and follow them as their lives are drastically changed by one event. A large meteorite smashes into the moon and moves it from it’s orbit to a new orbit closer to earth. This triggers multiple natural disasters, including tidal waves, volcanoes, and nearly permanent winter. The result is food shortages, energy shortages and the disintegration of modern civilization!
You do not need to read the first two books in order; you may read either of them first. But I do recommend you read them both before book 3. All of the main characters are introduced in the first 2 books, and the circumstances are explained in detail. You will probably feel a little lost if you start in on book 3.
This is a bit of a spoiler if you’ve not read the first two books. In book 3, Alex joins Miranda and her family in Pennsylvania. It is one year after the catastrophe and supplies are running low. Miranda is realizing she will never see ‘normal’ again, and in fact, has forgotten what ‘normal’ looks like. I really didn’t enjoy this book as much as the others, as there was really nothing ‘new’ in it. Conditions haven’t really changed and this story just tells more of the challenges of surviving. Even worse, there is really no resolution. The story ends with us no knowing if things will get better or even if Alex and Miranda continue to survive. The only reason I am not completely let down by this book is that I learned just now, literally, that the author has book 4 in progress to be released next year! I definitely plan to read this one, too!
My Rating: ★★★ 3 Stars
OK-four stars is honestly generous for this book, the last in a trilogy.
I like the premise, and I was always interested in the book while listening to it. However, I do have sort of a lot of complaints.
I don't really like Miranda, the narrator. Moreover, I like Alex and his family's story more, and kept wishing for him back. The author seems to have a loyalty to Miranda and her family. In fact, they seem a bit untouchable. But everyone else in the world can certainly be tortured-and that pisses me off. I hate some of the decisions the author chose to make with this story, and I think they were just plain wrong. I didn't feel that with the first two books. Also, this isn't an ending or a conclusion. Far from it-it's more like a prelude to another series, and the author must have ended it because she was sick of the story, but it's not finished and it doesn't feel finished. I'm very interested in the life of traveling and being on the move in this new world, and she ignores all these fascinating possibilities. I really think Alex would've been a better narrator. Or actually, I want Sil's story to be told. I want to know more about the world outside of scraping by by living in a town. I think that's all I've got for now, but overall, this story didn't seem to have near as much purpose or appropriate devastation, or much new to add to the story. And in my opinion, the narrator's family has it way too easy, and everything works out a little too well for Miranda.
I like the premise, and I was always interested in the book while listening to it. However, I do have sort of a lot of complaints.
I don't really like Miranda, the narrator. Moreover, I like Alex and his family's story more, and kept wishing for him back. The author seems to have a loyalty to Miranda and her family. In fact, they seem a bit untouchable. But everyone else in the world can certainly be tortured-and that pisses me off. I hate some of the decisions the author chose to make with this story, and I think they were just plain wrong. I didn't feel that with the first two books. Also, this isn't an ending or a conclusion. Far from it-it's more like a prelude to another series, and the author must have ended it because she was sick of the story, but it's not finished and it doesn't feel finished. I'm very interested in the life of traveling and being on the move in this new world, and she ignores all these fascinating possibilities. I really think Alex would've been a better narrator. Or actually, I want Sil's story to be told. I want to know more about the world outside of scraping by by living in a town. I think that's all I've got for now, but overall, this story didn't seem to have near as much purpose or appropriate devastation, or much new to add to the story. And in my opinion, the narrator's family has it way too easy, and everything works out a little too well for Miranda.
Not exactly thrilled with this last book of the trilogy. The writing felt a bit rushed and the ending didn't do a whole lot to wrap things up, such as what is to become of the Earth??? It focused more on relationships and I was hoping for a bit more illumination on the state of the world.