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A review by judyc_elementz_mj
Wool by Hugh Howey
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
It's a pretty incredible book. I find myself considering the impact of it and the political maneuverings behind the scenes through the book that you know are happening but aren't always right in your face. That was the part of Howey's writing that kept me on the edge throughout.
The opening begins with someone being sent to "cleaning," which is a nice way to say they are being sentenced to death. I guess that is one of the biggest things about this book. The morality of it all. What would you do to keep the place you live in safe? And would that be the right choice? And is killing the people who think it should be different and/or find out what you are doing might not be in people's best interests and think it's wrong, are they evil? Ultimately, that is really what this entire book is about. It sits there and simmers under the surface. And this first "victim," which is what I refer to the people being sent outside to die as, is the Sheriff, of all things. Which raises many questions from several people, especially the new Sheriff, Juliette.
So that brings me to Juliette. A mechanic in what they call the "deep below" and she's been tagged as the new Sheriff by the Mayor and the Deputy Sheriff, who knows her from a previous investigation. She reluctantly accepts the job, and wouldn't you know, her first job is to investigate another suspicious death. And the deaths don't stop. To me, that is the only thing about the story that I felt gave things away a bit. Some things were so obviously pointing to weird goings-on, but because everyone was so programmed to go along with the status quo, nobody wanted to believe it.
Well, maybe somebody did?
Without giving too much away, the truth slowly unfolds. People die and people wake up to what is going on around them. Juliette becomes the example of someone who doesn't give up and who really suffers as she's sent to her death, but who also feels for everyone she loses along the way, even considering she can't do anything to help.
The ending was something I never saw coming, but it was quite satisfying. Even if Howey did leave us with a hell of a cliffhanger. So much was left unsaid.
Now, a little commentary on the politics and landscape of the book. Considering when this was written, over a decade ago, it still rings true in this current political climate. No matter where in the world you live, you have to admit that we are coming apart at the seams, and Covid was the catalyst that started it. Where it ends, no one knows, and this book is like having a look at a potential (and really bad) future.
Well, enough of that political talk and onto the fact that I loved this book. I'm looking forward to heading into the other two in the series. I've heard that they are possibly quite different, but after reading the synopsis, they still interest me. And, of course, I need to know where it all ends!! Good or bad!
The opening begins with someone being sent to "cleaning," which is a nice way to say they are being sentenced to death. I guess that is one of the biggest things about this book. The morality of it all. What would you do to keep the place you live in safe? And would that be the right choice? And is killing the people who think it should be different and/or find out what you are doing might not be in people's best interests and think it's wrong, are they evil? Ultimately, that is really what this entire book is about. It sits there and simmers under the surface. And this first "victim," which is what I refer to the people being sent outside to die as, is the Sheriff, of all things. Which raises many questions from several people, especially the new Sheriff, Juliette.
So that brings me to Juliette. A mechanic in what they call the "deep below" and she's been tagged as the new Sheriff by the Mayor and the Deputy Sheriff, who knows her from a previous investigation. She reluctantly accepts the job, and wouldn't you know, her first job is to investigate another suspicious death. And the deaths don't stop. To me, that is the only thing about the story that I felt gave things away a bit. Some things were so obviously pointing to weird goings-on, but because everyone was so programmed to go along with the status quo, nobody wanted to believe it.
Well, maybe somebody did?
Without giving too much away, the truth slowly unfolds. People die and people wake up to what is going on around them. Juliette becomes the example of someone who doesn't give up and who really suffers as she's sent to her death, but who also feels for everyone she loses along the way, even considering she can't do anything to help.
The ending was something I never saw coming, but it was quite satisfying. Even if Howey did leave us with a hell of a cliffhanger. So much was left unsaid.
Now, a little commentary on the politics and landscape of the book. Considering when this was written, over a decade ago, it still rings true in this current political climate. No matter where in the world you live, you have to admit that we are coming apart at the seams, and Covid was the catalyst that started it. Where it ends, no one knows, and this book is like having a look at a potential (and really bad) future.
Well, enough of that political talk and onto the fact that I loved this book. I'm looking forward to heading into the other two in the series. I've heard that they are possibly quite different, but after reading the synopsis, they still interest me. And, of course, I need to know where it all ends!! Good or bad!