This is really one part blog, two parts book review. Or maybe it's two parts blog, one part book review....regardless...it's the product of a late night up reading and way too much coffee the next morning.
After this very mild and practically snowless winter, the news report finally came in...we're about to get some snow. They project 4-6 inches for this area, which is an area been made snow-pro by 2' snowfalls each of the last couple years. No worries, we got this. It's old hat. This is the upper Midwest, muthaf*ckas!!
But amazingly, so many people really don't got this. We all know how everyone just forgets how to drive when it snows a couple inches. Right now I'm (supposed to be) getting ready to head to the grocery store to stock up on whatever so I don't have to go out tomorrow or the next day, I guess, and I have no doubt that everyone and their mother's uncle is going to be at the store doing the same. It's not that the roads won't be plowed tomorrow or the next day, not that even if they weren't we couldn't hop on one of our 3 snowmobiles in an emergency, not that 4-6 inches of snow is cause for alarm, or we could probably get there just find if the roads weren't plowed at all. It's just a completely natural, even if it is unwarranted, reaction in people. People freak out. Whatevs. Carry on. *shrug*
Ever heard of the book Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer? My son got it in his stocking this Christmas, and as it goes I just happened to read the description and thought it sounded very interesting. So the other night I started reading. Now, this is a young-adult level book, an easy read for me. I cracked it open at about 10pm and I swear I couldn't put the damn thing down until 3am when I closed the book on the last page.
I. Was. Riveted.
I've read some of my 10-year old son's books before, and some of them have been f-reak-ing awesome (hello, Hunger Games!), but this...this stuck with me in the most disturbing way. Basically, the premise of the story is that an asteroid hits the moon and pushes it closer to Earth, causing absolute chaos, destruction, and loss of life. There's no power, no food, no running water. The survivors have to live on their wits and what little food they get. The innovation of people having never experienced a survival situation is another aspect that just fascinated me. It really gets you thinking. What the f*ck would we do if shit hit the fan?
The story is told in a diary format, and the writer is a 16-year old girl, so everything that happens is from her point of view. It would certainly be interesting enough in an adult-narrated version, but told from the perspective of someone with practically no experience in the real world is really a huge part of what makes this book as amazing as it is. Kind of like Room by Emma Donoghue...the story would be great otherwise, but the fact that it is told from the perspective of a 5 year old child makes it amazing.
The morning after I read Life As We Knew It, the moon was very apparent in the sky. Like some kind of freak, I couldn't take my eyes off it. The wheels started turning... I start thinking about stockpiling food, water and vitamins, and what would we have to do in case there was no electricity or water, and OMG do we need to arm ourselves?! I was having bonafied anxiety about how unprepared we are in case TheEndOfTheWorld happens! We are so dependent on all our creature comforts...what would happen if we were suddenly without? How would we all cope?!
I'm better now, really I am, and I don't really think the world is going to end or that the Mayan calendar is truly a prediction of any kind. I'm not paranoid or a conspiracy theorist or a survivalist or any other kind of weirdo. Well...not much anyway, and I sure do like their books and movies! Though I suppose it might not hurt to stock up on some canned goods, and maybe some liquor for bartering...
But seriously I do have to recommend this book to everyone, even chose it for my local book club selection even though it's a little below our reading levels. I mean, who cares? A good story is a good story, and when you find one that leaves such an impression on you, you have to share it!
If you want to check out any of the books I've mentioned, I was so thoughtful as to put them in the cute little Amazon box down at the bottom. Handy!
After this very mild and practically snowless winter, the news report finally came in...we're about to get some snow. They project 4-6 inches for this area, which is an area been made snow-pro by 2' snowfalls each of the last couple years. No worries, we got this. It's old hat. This is the upper Midwest, muthaf*ckas!!
But amazingly, so many people really don't got this. We all know how everyone just forgets how to drive when it snows a couple inches. Right now I'm (supposed to be) getting ready to head to the grocery store to stock up on whatever so I don't have to go out tomorrow or the next day, I guess, and I have no doubt that everyone and their mother's uncle is going to be at the store doing the same. It's not that the roads won't be plowed tomorrow or the next day, not that even if they weren't we couldn't hop on one of our 3 snowmobiles in an emergency, not that 4-6 inches of snow is cause for alarm, or we could probably get there just find if the roads weren't plowed at all. It's just a completely natural, even if it is unwarranted, reaction in people. People freak out. Whatevs. Carry on. *shrug*
Ever heard of the book Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer? My son got it in his stocking this Christmas, and as it goes I just happened to read the description and thought it sounded very interesting. So the other night I started reading. Now, this is a young-adult level book, an easy read for me. I cracked it open at about 10pm and I swear I couldn't put the damn thing down until 3am when I closed the book on the last page.I. Was. Riveted.
I've read some of my 10-year old son's books before, and some of them have been f-reak-ing awesome (hello, Hunger Games!), but this...this stuck with me in the most disturbing way. Basically, the premise of the story is that an asteroid hits the moon and pushes it closer to Earth, causing absolute chaos, destruction, and loss of life. There's no power, no food, no running water. The survivors have to live on their wits and what little food they get. The innovation of people having never experienced a survival situation is another aspect that just fascinated me. It really gets you thinking. What the f*ck would we do if shit hit the fan?
The story is told in a diary format, and the writer is a 16-year old girl, so everything that happens is from her point of view. It would certainly be interesting enough in an adult-narrated version, but told from the perspective of someone with practically no experience in the real world is really a huge part of what makes this book as amazing as it is. Kind of like Room by Emma Donoghue...the story would be great otherwise, but the fact that it is told from the perspective of a 5 year old child makes it amazing.
The morning after I read Life As We Knew It, the moon was very apparent in the sky. Like some kind of freak, I couldn't take my eyes off it. The wheels started turning... I start thinking about stockpiling food, water and vitamins, and what would we have to do in case there was no electricity or water, and OMG do we need to arm ourselves?! I was having bonafied anxiety about how unprepared we are in case TheEndOfTheWorld happens! We are so dependent on all our creature comforts...what would happen if we were suddenly without? How would we all cope?!
I'm better now, really I am, and I don't really think the world is going to end or that the Mayan calendar is truly a prediction of any kind. I'm not paranoid or a conspiracy theorist or a survivalist or any other kind of weirdo. Well...not much anyway, and I sure do like their books and movies! Though I suppose it might not hurt to stock up on some canned goods, and maybe some liquor for bartering...
But seriously I do have to recommend this book to everyone, even chose it for my local book club selection even though it's a little below our reading levels. I mean, who cares? A good story is a good story, and when you find one that leaves such an impression on you, you have to share it!
If you want to check out any of the books I've mentioned, I was so thoughtful as to put them in the cute little Amazon box down at the bottom. Handy!
This blog has been brought to you by solar power and rainwater.
And BPA-free canned food, I guess.
Geez, my blog sucks.... :( Show me Obie Wan You're my only hope...it took my 3 frickin hours to install pictures in the right order, and you have links and cute cartoons...
ReplyDeleteI have also got on this kick, of how you say stockpiling...my winter reading is how to turn a portion of your crawl space into a root cellar. Into canning my own or Farmers Market produce. Did I mention if we have a power failure there will be a bbq @ my house...3 freezers, and a Costco card I'm not afraid to use.