Jeanette A's Reviews > Crash

This book is incredibly brutal, I can't stress that enough. If this were a movie it would be rated R and on the edge of NC-17 for violence, language and gore. So if you're into gore and seeing the absolute worst in humanity from both the protagonists and the antagonists, then you'll enjoy it. If you're even slightly squeamish, then I'd recommend giving this book a pass.

I will say that this is a very well written book. And I guarantee it will make an impression on you, for better or worse. This view of an apocalypse makes you actually hope for zombies or plague. The reality of humanity's readiness and competence for violence is absolutely horrifying. At least with zombies and virus's it isn't necessarily someone's choice to brutalize you.That is one of the things this book did so incredibly well. It shows you the hideousness of each character. All of their flaws are laid out in front of you and are vivisected for a closer look. However, despite the ugliness, Robertson finds ways to show the underlying glimmers of humanity that somehow redeems the flaws. It's a pretty masterful manipulation of the reader's emotions. When you first meet Chris, the ex-banker, you just hate him. I was incredibly frustrated with his inability to act and his fetid personality. But somehow, I actually came to understand and almost like him by the end of the book. Also, how this book wraps up was the perfect lead-in to the sequel. I'm not sure how else you could have ended it and still manage to get people to want to read the next blood soaked tale.