Monday, March 9, 2015

Life As We Knew It.

Title/Author: Life as we Knew It (Last Survivors #1) by Susan Beth Pfeffer.

Genre: Post Apocalyptic, YA.

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers. 


Source: Purchased.

Synopsis: Miranda's disbelief turns to fear in a split second when a meteor knocks the moon closer to the earth.  How should her family prepare for the future when worldwide tsunamis wipe out the coasts, earthquakes rock the continents, and volcanic ash blocks out the sun?  As summer turns to Arctic winter, Mirander, her two brothers, and their mother retreat to the unexpected safe haven of their sunroom, where they subsist on stockpiled food and limited water in the warmth of a wood burning stove.

Told in journal entries, this is the heart pounding story of Miranda's struggle to hold on to the most important resource of all -- hope -- in an increasingly desperate and unfamiliar world. ~Goodreads.com.

Midnyte Musings:  I have to admit a guilty pleasure of mine is "disaster porn."  All those bad movies with tidal waves and asteroids and polar ice caps melting...there is something very appealing about them to me.  I guess I like seeing how people people behave and how they survive, not to mention all the geological changes that happen. 

In Life as We Knew It, the disaster is when an asteroid crashes into the moon and moves it much closer to earth.  Eeek!  Told by teenager Miranda in a series of journal entries, we learn how the world changes and how she and her family cope. 

I don't know if you'd call it overly exciting, but I found it very interesting and compelling.  Even when they are simply trying to figure out how to do laundry I found it interesting. 

I liked Miranda, but wasn't totally drawn to her.  However, I did enjoy how she wasn't a Mary Sue.  She is, at times, selfish, sullen and jealous - which is in keeping with a teenage girl, but she matures and grows throughout the book.  A lot of the writing seems to be the same, repetitive thoughts, which I guess is what a teenage girl has as well, but this didn't deter from my enjoyment of the story and what she was going through.  What I did admire was her attitude.  She knew there was a good chance she might die and if it were me, I would be freaking out.  Miranda, did sometimes get morose, but she had a good attitude.  She basically just wanted to live as long as she could and that's what she strove for; not only for herself but for her family as well.  The other revolving characters added to the story as well, her mother and her two brothers.  She talks about her relationship with each of them and how they change throughout the book and become stronger. 

Some parts of the book were tragic and heartbreaking and I don't know much about science to understand if everything that could happen, would happen, but this was an easy to read book.  I already looked up the sequels and will be reading them as well. 


An interesting look at the survival of one girl and how she and her family cope with a post-apocalyptic setting that is suddenly thrust upon them. 


Other Editions:




8 comments:

Kimberly @ Midnight Book Girl said...

I love disaster porn. I don't care how cheesy/bad/whatever a natural disaster movie/book is I will want to watch/read it. It might sound morbid, but I like watching the destruction of natural disasters and the rebuilding or bonding that takes place.

I read this one a few years ago and enjoyed it. I also read the other three books in the series. Second and third were ok, but I raged at the fourth one. I don't even remember what set me off so bad but I ended up not even wanting to keep the book and telling my cousin who also read the other three books to stay far far away.

Melissas Eclectic Bookshelf said...

LOL I love "disaster porn" as well and I've seen a few other reviews of this nbook that in addition to yours lead me to think I'd enjoy it!

Kate @Midnight Book Girl said...

I like disaster porn, and love apocalyptic disaster in particular. This book is on my tbr shelves and I will get to it... someday.

Maybe Seamus just has a similar taste for disaster porn? ;)

Kim Griffin said...

Sounds like a good book! Great review! I think I'll add this one to my TBR list. Thanks!

Karen said...

Disaster Porn…Ha! I love that term.

I don't like disaster iron movies because I think I've seen all the major cities get destroyed dozens of time snow but a book that takes the time to look at the survivors is more appealing to me.

Karen @For What It's Worth

Tracy said...

I've seen this book around a lot, but I've never picked it up. It sounds like it was pretty well done and you seemed to like it enough. Great review! :)

I just wanted to let you know that today is the first quarter update for the Horror Reading Challenge! You can find the update post HERE!

Tracy @ Cornerfolds

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