Rated of 5
by Margaret M. (Chicago, IL) the things that keep us here
Timing is everything! I could not or did want to finish this book. it was too close to home and scary with the H1N1 pandemic we are now facing. I made a gallant effort but found myself sleepless over it.
the plot is captivating but character delineation is weak. The writing style is very plain and reminiscent of simplistic easy to read books.
Perhaps someone with more fortitude might really enjoy the subject matter but I did not at this particular time.
Rated of 5
by Karen L. (Troy, IL) The Things That Keep Us Here
Great story line with true to life characters. Fast paced read. The events that pull this family together and the survival skills necessary to make it through keep you wanting to read on. It had me reflecting on how I would react in the same situations. Terrific first novel and I will be looking for more from Carla Buckley in the future.
Rated of 5
by MaryEllen Kavanaugh (Albany, NY) Extremely Thought-Provoking
Carla Buckley's first novel takes on some very timely subject matter, and it is clearly well-researched. I was impressed with the detailed and vivid portrayals of the many unexpected obstacles that arose as the days of the quarantine turned into weeks. This novel raises so many survival instinct issues (like family before all else) that I connected with at a very personal level. The novel's protagonist, Ann, was a very fully drawn, sympathetic, and fascinating character. I was completely engrossed in the plot and the interactions amongst Ann and her family members from the first chapter on.
Rated of 5
by Ruth O. (Downingtown, PA) Good read but with questions............... The Things That Keep Us Here was a very enjoyable novel that kept me engrossed cover to cover. This is an apocalyptic book where life-as-we-know-it is turned upside down during a flu pandemic, and one family’s experiences are developed. The information in it is very timely and the science is accurate, unlike other books I’ve read of this genre. That said, there are several functional questions I had as I was reading that almost took me out of the context; for instance, why didn’t the water pipes freeze? Additionally, the epilogue seemed rushed without complete answers to all of the questions. However, I still enjoyed the book and recommend it!
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of 5
by Margaret M. (Chicago, IL) 
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by Karen L. (Troy, IL) 
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by Ruth O. (Downingtown, PA) 
