. Not sure how to classify this—I guess it would be sort of speculative, post-apocalyptic fiction of sorts. It’s the story, mainly, of two people—Margaret and Franklin—and seems to be set in the future, a future in which America as we know it has disappeared. We’re back to wood and bone implements, handmade homespun clothing, horse-drawn transportation (if we’re lucky!), no electricity and a rather bleak landscape in which people are leaving the country in droves—by ship. However, human seem to have changed little, and our age-old cruelty to one another, greediness, hunger for power and self-preservation instinct seems to have survived whatever catastrophe took place. And as always, small pockets of goodness and unselfishness will be found, too, if you look hard enough.

Franklin and his brother Jackson, young men in their twenties, set out eastward for the sea after their father’s death and the family farm fails, leaving their mother to hold down the fort and knowing they probably won’t see her again. Margaret, a single woman in her 30’s who developed a flux of some sort, is quarantined in a hut on the edge of town—Ferrytown—with her head and body hair shaved off, basically left to either die or survive by her family, in hopes that they aren’t already afflicted. Through a set of bizarre circumstances, Franklin and Margaret end up traveling together eastward, then become separated, and end up together again towards the end of the book.

Initially I found the book mesmerizing and couldn’t put it down, but later wanted more information about what had happened to land America in such a state, and that information really wasn’t forthcoming—just a lot of ‘teaser’ kind of clues. Franklin and Margaret’s stories became a bit stale after awhile, though it was a good book overall and I did come away with some things to think about and ponder. The ending was quite satisfying if a little predictable, and had the book been a bit less bogged down in the middle, my overall opinion would have been higher. ( )

In a post-apocalyptic America, two people set out for the coast in search of salvation...I always like to read at least two books like that every year!

In Crace's world, the apocalyptic event seemingly happened centuries ago. The earth is not destroyed, but human civilization, at least in America, has reverted to something older than medieval. There is no technology, no literacy, no rule of law, let alone a central government. Franklin, a tall, gentle man, sets out on a dangerous journey to the coast in hope of setting sail for Europe, where life is reportedly better. He meets a woman, Margaret who is recovering from a deadly plague, and they decide to travel together.

Crace's novel has much more action and much more color than The Road, if not the same depth. Crace does a superb job of creating his world. I really got immersed in the book, and I developed a great affection for Franklin and Margaret. ( )

Imagine "The Road"

several decades later.

Moving book of loss.

An extremely engaging novel of a national disaster that has reduced the United States to a level of barbarism, with strong characterization and Crace's usual masterful style. Indomitable human spirit. ( )

I was really disappointed by this book. Don't get me wrong, it was certainly readable, it just felt very lacking in substance. The premise was interesting enough to pique my interest - a journey across America now reduced to a new dark ages after some Apocalyptic event. But what this event happened to be was never explained, and that really bugged me; war was hinted at, but there was no real history, no real backstory as to why all of a sudden all technology was abandoned and everyone was fleeing their miserable, peasant-like existence for Europe, and that made it all the less credible.

Also, the characters, people and places seemed very empty. I found it very hard to care about or get to know the two main protagonists, and all the other characters seemed terribly grey and ineffectual. I didn't feel as if learnt anything about the people, places or society in this new America, and everything felt very glossed over or convenient. The language was occasionally pretentious, as if trying to be profound or dramatic with long, often confusing, run on sentences that detracted rather than added to the prose and the plot felt like it kind of just "happened" rather than taking me on a journey. Essentially, this was boy-meets-girl, they lose each other, they find each other, the end. Shame what happened in between was so bland.

But this is sounding too much like a hatchet job; if you're looking for what is essentially a love story in a different setting, maybe this one's for you. For me, I like my post-apocalyptic literature a little more meatier. ( )