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3.58 AVERAGE
3.58 AVERAGE
I was hesitant to read this book because I thought it seemed silly but I was pleasantly surprised. A simple concept but executed nicely.
There's a nugget of a good story in "The Compound", but boy, does it go off the rails. The initial premise is intriguing: billionaire-tech-genius dad locks his family in a super-plush underground compound to save them from nuclear war and keep them safe for the fifteen years it will take for the world to become habitable for humans again. Teenage son starts to realize that all is not as it seems... six years into the family's confinement. Really? It took you that long to get a clue? There are some huge holes in the plot, and for me, the whole suspension of disbelief was completely destroyed once the concept of the "Supplements" was introduced. Simply not plausible, either in terms of the concept itself or the various family member's reactions. The idea of the powerful, controlling father was chilling, but ultimately the plot became mired in its own ridiculousness, and it didn't help that the protagonist was not particularly likeable or well-defined. Not recommended.
If your dad was one of the richest men in the world, do you think he'd be forward-thinking enough to build a giant bunker to protect you and your family from a nuclear holocaust? Eli's Dad did, and when the unthinkable happens, they end up living the next six years underground. Soon, though, little problems arise that could turn into big problems - and Eli's not thrilled with his dad's proposed solutions, enough to wonder if maybe it's time to take their chances in the outside world.
What a page turner! Eli is a character that's hard to come to love (typical teenage angst plus rich boy attitude plus living underground for six years...), but somehow by the end we care about him and his family. Parts of this book FREAKED me out, other parts disgusted me - but always I was interested. It's an intriguing idea and puts a teenager in a role that really allows him to grow, with some good plot twists along the way. I want to go pick up something else by this author now.
What a page turner! Eli is a character that's hard to come to love (typical teenage angst plus rich boy attitude plus living underground for six years...), but somehow by the end we care about him and his family. Parts of this book FREAKED me out, other parts disgusted me - but always I was interested. It's an intriguing idea and puts a teenager in a role that really allows him to grow, with some good plot twists along the way. I want to go pick up something else by this author now.
I read this book back in sixth grade in my English class and really hated reading then but enjoyed the story. I recently thought about this book again a few months ago but could not remember the title for the life of me. I tried looking up the story to see if the title would pop up, but it never did so I went months without remembering what this book was called.
I was so upset because I wanted to re-read it BUT THEN, a few days ago I was reading a description of a house, and the word "compound" came up and it hit me so fast! I knew instantly that was the title of the book I couldn't remember for the past few months.
I bought the book and finished it within two days. I really enjoyed the nostalgic feeling I got while re-reading this book so that might be why I liked it so much, but it was a decent book reading it as an adult. It is definitely at a middle school level to read because I remember me thinking this was a huge book back then and that it took two weeks for my class to finish it. Now looking at it, it's such an easy quick read!
I was so upset because I wanted to re-read it BUT THEN, a few days ago I was reading a description of a house, and the word "compound" came up and it hit me so fast! I knew instantly that was the title of the book I couldn't remember for the past few months.
I bought the book and finished it within two days. I really enjoyed the nostalgic feeling I got while re-reading this book so that might be why I liked it so much, but it was a decent book reading it as an adult. It is definitely at a middle school level to read because I remember me thinking this was a huge book back then and that it took two weeks for my class to finish it. Now looking at it, it's such an easy quick read!
There was no magic or fantasy! Yay! This is about a family who is in a nuclear bomb shelter for 6 years. It was a very quick read and could have explored the concept much more deeply but it was, after all, a teen book. There's probably a sequel but it could end here. A few very improbable things were occuring, which made me roll my eyes. Oh well.
I found this book intriguing. I love the psychological aspects of the father building the compound and enclosing his family in it. I have to admit that I assumed there would not actually be a nuclear war involved before I even read the book...I knew there had to be a twist involved. I just didn't know how twisted the father was going to be. I think the supplements was were I really started second guessing the success of the plot. I was behind the book up until that point. After that I started questioning the characters wondering how they could live like they did for as long as they did. And I wondered how the father could be that crazy. There was a fairly satisfying conclusion to the book, but it's impact was diminished by the earlier craziness.
3.5 stars really. I did enjoy this. Very suspenseful. I am wondering if there will be a sequel... it could happen but this book "ends" too.
Would you be willing to do whatever it takes to survive a catastrophe, to do unimaginable things and endure temporary misery based on the hope that things will be better in the long run?
Would you be willing to put your full faith and trust into someone who answers, “Yes,” to that first question, who promises to make sure you survive so long as you do everything he says without question?
Eli and his family have answered, “Yes,” to both. Six years ago they went (literally) underground to survive a nuclear holocaust, and they have nine years to go before the radiation will have faded enough for them to safely emerge from their compound. They survived when nearly everyone else died, thanks to their father, a hugely rich, eccentric genius. They have life. And they have culture and comfort, since their father planned ahead and built them a well-stocked, underground mansion.
But they also have boredom, isolation, and terrible grief. Eli’s twin brother and grandmother didn’t make it to the compound in time, and the door had to be locked without them. He and his siblings have grown up since without a world to grow in, with only a wasted shell of one to eventually look forward to. And problems have been surfacing with the food supply and planning their father did, problems that have them considering horrific solutions as the only way to make the full fifteen years.
And problems are beginning to surface with their father’s story. Does he really deserve the trust they’ve placed in him? Has he really told them everything? Has he really saved their lives or merely stolen them?
A quick-paced, suspenseful read full of shocking revelations and taut, dramatic action.
Would you be willing to put your full faith and trust into someone who answers, “Yes,” to that first question, who promises to make sure you survive so long as you do everything he says without question?
Eli and his family have answered, “Yes,” to both. Six years ago they went (literally) underground to survive a nuclear holocaust, and they have nine years to go before the radiation will have faded enough for them to safely emerge from their compound. They survived when nearly everyone else died, thanks to their father, a hugely rich, eccentric genius. They have life. And they have culture and comfort, since their father planned ahead and built them a well-stocked, underground mansion.
But they also have boredom, isolation, and terrible grief. Eli’s twin brother and grandmother didn’t make it to the compound in time, and the door had to be locked without them. He and his siblings have grown up since without a world to grow in, with only a wasted shell of one to eventually look forward to. And problems have been surfacing with the food supply and planning their father did, problems that have them considering horrific solutions as the only way to make the full fifteen years.
And problems are beginning to surface with their father’s story. Does he really deserve the trust they’ve placed in him? Has he really told them everything? Has he really saved their lives or merely stolen them?
A quick-paced, suspenseful read full of shocking revelations and taut, dramatic action.
Rich father has built a compound to survive nuclear war. Eli has withdrawn into himself, his grandmother and twin didn't make it to the shelter. After 6 years Eli finally begins to notice some discrepancies. Has his father saved them or imprisoned them?
Not really my type of book. However, it is my son's favorite and I read it on the plane. Really, well done and a short read - under 250 pages. Will see when I can gear myself up for the sequel[b:The Fallout|17166165|The Fallout (The Compound, #2)|S.A. Bodeen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377579841s/17166165.jpg|23592959]
Not really my type of book. However, it is my son's favorite and I read it on the plane. Really, well done and a short read - under 250 pages. Will see when I can gear myself up for the sequel[b:The Fallout|17166165|The Fallout (The Compound, #2)|S.A. Bodeen|https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1377579841s/17166165.jpg|23592959]
It has a thrilling storyline and while some things were predictable, there were many other story arcs that drew me in. I had some issues with character development and details in the story. It seemed rushed, feels like this book alone could have been twice as long and still been thrilling.