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3.69 AVERAGE
3.69 AVERAGE
dark
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I'll be honest, I picked this up solely because of the title and do you know what? I was not disappointed. I love stories like this, that have an element of the possible and that result in nature showing humanity that we really are not the ones in charge after all (kinda morbid and a little twisted I know but what can I say, human arrogance really annoys me). Not only did this appeal to my inner horror fan but also my outer ecologist as the science of how the virus mutated and spread was well written and plausible and something that becomes more and more likely as we rely on fewer and fewer crop varieties. Not only that, the story as a whole is well written with a good mix of action and tension as we follow John Custance, his family and the friends he picks up along the way as they try and reach the safety of his brother's farm. The tensions within the group are believable and realistic without being excessively detailed or over the top, leaving enough room for the reader to add their own spin to events as things go from bad to worse. A chilling read that I absolutely loved.
I was looking forward to this book and I enjoyed the premise but I thought overall it was only okay.
This book is very much a "keep calm and carry on" and "Stiff upper lip" apocalypse fiction. It was written in the 1950's and it's very of its time...especially at the start when the Brits seem to think that they would have a better reaction to the Chung-Li virus than the people in Asia would.
The writing is a bit on the surface and tends to shy away from details about the terrible things the group are forced to do. This is a shame but it means that you can imagine the horrors instead.
I was a bit unsure of the part where the wife and daughter are kidnapped and the implication seems to be that they were raped/sexually assaulted but it's brushed over. The wife is even seen as a bit of a hindrance while she deals with the shock.
There are a few bits that are problematic but it's a decent story overall. I wish it had been written more recently though...the fact that most of the characters had lived through WW2 meant they were experienced with rationing and killing for necessity. I'd be interested to see how grass dying out, rationing and the breakdown of society in the UK would look today...perhaps guns would be harder to get hold of, perhaps we'd struggle with a sense of direction because we rely on google maps, would we riot sooner because we aren't used to rationing?
Later, as the group expands, the issue is that everyone blends into one. I also found the children to be interchangeable.
An interesting idea to read about if you're a fan of apocalypse fiction, but it could be so much better.
This book is very much a "keep calm and carry on" and "Stiff upper lip" apocalypse fiction. It was written in the 1950's and it's very of its time...especially at the start when the Brits seem to think that they would have a better reaction to the Chung-Li virus than the people in Asia would.
The writing is a bit on the surface and tends to shy away from details about the terrible things the group are forced to do. This is a shame but it means that you can imagine the horrors instead.
I was a bit unsure of the part where the wife and daughter are kidnapped and the implication seems to be that they were raped/sexually assaulted but it's brushed over. The wife is even seen as a bit of a hindrance while she deals with the shock.
There are a few bits that are problematic but it's a decent story overall. I wish it had been written more recently though...the fact that most of the characters had lived through WW2 meant they were experienced with rationing and killing for necessity. I'd be interested to see how grass dying out, rationing and the breakdown of society in the UK would look today...perhaps guns would be harder to get hold of, perhaps we'd struggle with a sense of direction because we rely on google maps, would we riot sooner because we aren't used to rationing?
Later, as the group expands, the issue is that everyone blends into one. I also found the children to be interchangeable.
An interesting idea to read about if you're a fan of apocalypse fiction, but it could be so much better.
dark
emotional
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
A sense of dread permutates throughout The Death of Grass. The first part describes how the Chung-Li virus spreads from the East, destroying all crops in its wake, resulting in famine and rumoured cannibalism in some cases. Our main characters carry on with life., slowly realising that there is a creeping inevitability to the disease reaching Britain. When it does this sense of dread intensifies.
As the three families escape London the breakdown in society and their disappearing moral compass occurs at such a rate it can take you a little by surprise. John Christopher does not hold back and refuses to allow any sentimentality get in the way of the journey.
John Christopher did not see this as a science fiction novel and the use of the Chung-Li virus could be any catalyst that leads to this complete breakdown. It is a brilliant read as are all of his books I have read and has the harsh realities reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
As the three families escape London the breakdown in society and their disappearing moral compass occurs at such a rate it can take you a little by surprise. John Christopher does not hold back and refuses to allow any sentimentality get in the way of the journey.
John Christopher did not see this as a science fiction novel and the use of the Chung-Li virus could be any catalyst that leads to this complete breakdown. It is a brilliant read as are all of his books I have read and has the harsh realities reminiscent of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.
dark
tense
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
God damn solid book. That is an example of SF aged very nicely. Unexpectedly brutal post-apocalypse. Remind me “Lord of the flies”. How quick people can change when there is no law? Or when you can write your own law.
Listened to the BBC radio drama (on YouTube) and was very good. Maybe would have been better on paper (I'm still new to audiobooks) but it was overall a good story - 3 because I got no real connection to the characters
This must be one of the creepiest books I have ever read. The transformation of civilized people into lawless beings who do anything because they need to in order to survive is one that is too real and that made my skin crawl. I couldn't put the book down and the ending is quite... bone chilling. I enjoyed this book very much and I still haven't decided if I should reread it yet, because every time I think about it, I get nervous and twitchy.
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes