The Things That Keep Us Here

Feb 22, 2013 Craig rated it 1 of 5 stars

A couple of people recommended this one to me.

With my penchant for apocalyptic fiction, I went along.

O.k. Where to start?

First of all, for more than half of the novel, I thought that this was a young adult book as it was written down to such a level. I thought that it was o.k. as a YA novel though I had read better. I was absolutely shocked that it was intended for adult readers.

My mother always said that I should have something nice to say. So, I will say that this is a quick read.

In many way...more

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Aug 30, 2012 Kim Maya Sutton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fundamentally rocked my world this book. Decisions that you have to make because otherwise it might be your last decision ever; friendships on the line that you thought would last forever; trust that you can never repay.
Carla Buckley researched this book fantastically and drew up a frightfully realistic picture of what might happen. It does not stop to amaze me what humans might or might not do when faced with moments like a pandemic. I have never seen one and would be very happy if I never have...more

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Jul 12, 2012 Janine rated it 5 of 5 stars

What would happen if a pandemic threatened the health of humans throughout the world? What if a virus that doesn't normally affect humans or that typically isn't serious suddenly becomes lethal and quickly spreads across the population? What if the initial steps taken by countries across the globe fails to isolate it? What if cities across the country go into lock-down - schools and businesses close, and travel is banned? And finally: what if, on top of all this, your area is hit by a severe sno...more

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Jun 16, 2012 Teresa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: apocalyptic, fiction-contemporary, adventure

Possibly the best book I've read this year. If you loved "The Road", you will love this book. It's about how a family survives when there's a pandemic of bird flu. The main characters are Peter, Ann, Kate, and Maddie. The story never lulls, is always believable, and you really cannot put the book down. I have been reading it continuously since yesterday and have only taken breaks to sleep, eat, and use the loo. Now, that's a great book. You grow to feel like you know each character, and you care...more

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Mar 16, 2012 Kiersten rated it 3 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Pros:

I thought that this book had good pacing. I typically am annoyed by books that share the point of view between various characters, but I thought that Buckley, by switching between Ann and Peter as narrators, was able to make the quarantine chapters (90% of the book) quite interesting and compelling, where otherwise they could have become extremely dull (months of sitting in your living room in the dark playing cards...that could get old fast)

I thought that the premise of the book was really...more Pros:

I thought that this book had good pacing. I typically am annoyed by books that share the point of view between various characters, but I thought that Buckley, by switching between Ann and Peter as narrators, was able to make the quarantine chapters (90% of the book) quite interesting and compelling, where otherwise they could have become extremely dull (months of sitting in your living room in the dark playing cards...that could get old fast)

I thought that the premise of the book was really interesting--an avian flu pandemic that kills millions of people and shuts down society, government, etc.

It brought up some really interesting moral points--what is selfish in a situation like that? Do you put your family first at the cost of helping others survive, or do you open up to others and risk exposing yourself and your children to a highly-contagious virus with a 50% mortality rate?

Cons:

The writing wasn't terrible, but it wasn't great. It was pretty rough in spots, and there were quite a few cliches. Like the sayings that Peter's dad always used, for instance, and some other little phrases and terms that Buckley used.

There were several things that seemed highly unlikely. I didn't like the part with the little Korean girl. How would she have known that the virus was coming to Ohio? Why did the fact that her father died of the flu make her scared to leave the building when there was a fire? Why did she have that creepy "triumphant" look on her face when the school was initially closed because of the outbreak? Why did Maddie just happen to see her on a bus on the one day that the girls were allowed to leave the house. None of that made sense. It was just weird and creepy and seemed pretty unfair to a little immigrant orphan girl.

Other unlikely things--why didn't Ann get sick, after making out, etc., with Peter, when he got the virus from just a little cough? Why did Peter come in to the house as quickly as he did after being exposed? Just because a virus typically presents itself within 48 hours doesn't mean that it always will. He seriously walked back in and exposed his family after like 48 hours and 3 seconds. That was dumb to me. I'm just a stay-at-home mom, but even I know that diseases don't work as regularly as that. And even just the fact that he happened to get up and die at exactly the same time that Ann had to take the girls to the hospital.

I also felt that there was too much going on. Honestly, Shazia was a completely unnecessary character, in my opinion. The back story with Peter's dad maybe committing suicide (which never really made sense to me) and his mom's Alzheimer's', I felt that all of that just got in the way. Even the story about William--I don't think it was necessary to use that story as a sort of apology of why Ann was so protective of her daughters. I think that any mom might be like that in such a situation, whether or not she'd already lost a child. I do think that it was necessary to explain the estrangement between Ann and Peter, so I don't think it should have been left out altogether, but I felt like Buckley was trying to excuse some of Ann's decision during the pandemic, which I don't think was necessary. And the whole "surprise" about William's death and Kate's involvement at the end--I thought that was totally unnecessary and, to be quite frank, a little melodramatic as well.

Finally, I really disliked the ending of the story. Why did Kate burn all of her dad's papers? That really bugged me. Even if, as a daughter, she somehow memorized all of the information there, why would she want to preserve it? And as a scientist supposedly taking up her father's work, there is no way she would have destroyed the draft of the book he was working on. And then at the end, the way she Buckley inserted the title of the book into Kate's little soliloquy--that was too much. It didn't seem to fit into the context of what Kate was saying or thinking about, and it just was so contrived. I felt Buckly just really liked that phrase and wanted to use it as her title, but couldn't find any other way to get it into the book. Really, it doesn't seem to make sense as a title to the book in the first place, and while I think that it's a great title in general, it kind of bugs me now because of that.

Maybe I shouldn't have started with the pros--I feel like all the positive was completely overshadowed in my review by the negative. It really was a fairly decent book, and one that is in my head now. (less)

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Dec 10, 2011 Kim Miller-Davis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't know what to expect with this book because the back cover only alludes to "life-or-death decisions." So, when I found out (within the first few pages) that the characters were facing a possible health scare similar to the 1918 flu pandemic, I was a little put-off. If this doesn't seem interesting, don't let it scare you away!

This was a fascinating book with descriptions of a normal family in a Columbus, Ohio-area neighborhood in the suburbs that could be any family in any neighborhood,...more

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Mar 16, 2011 Kathy rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Feb 13, 2011 Louise rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: literature-fiction

*****PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THERE ARE ***SPOILERS*** IN THIS REVIEW!!!

Ann and Peter Brooks have two daughters: twelve-year-old Kate and seven-year-old Maddie who live in the comfortable suburb of Columbus, Ohio. Their baby, William, had died causing unspeakable grief for Ann and Peter which has affected their relationship irreparably. One night while driving home from a family get together, Peter announces that they should separate and spend some time alone. He tells Anne that he “still loves her”...more

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Feb 03, 2011 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: chick-lit

Masterfully written, frighteningly real, this novel drew me in quickly and kept me up past midnight.

A fairly straightforward plot: avian flu shifts to infect humans, with a 50% mortality rate. One family provides the lens through which the readers view the pandemic. Their physical struggle to survive a crisis for which they are not prepared frames a deeply moving, emotional story.

Carla Buckley's skill in this debut novel demonstrates an real understanding of human emotion and dynamics, without...more

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Jul 07, 2010 Alisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: drama, dystopian-apocalyptic, tearjerkers

What is it about apocalyptic/dystopian novels that make most people love them so much? I mean, they can't be good for the soul. Great books have the uncanny ability to make you feel as you're not merely observing what's happening, but rather you are right there experiencing everything that's happening. That happened with me and The Things That Keep Us Here (and a big chunk of other dystopian/apocalyptic novels I've read).

I was extremely distressed while reading The Things That Keep Us Here. It's...more What is it about apocalyptic/dystopian novels that make most people love them so much? I mean, they can't be good for the soul. Great books have the uncanny ability to make you feel as you're not merely observing what's happening, but rather you are right there experiencing everything that's happening. That happened with me and The Things That Keep Us Here (and a big chunk of other dystopian/apocalyptic novels I've read).

I was extremely distressed while reading The Things That Keep Us Here. It's just that when I'm reading a apocalyptic/dystopian novel, I can't help but think "What would I do in that situation? Would I help my more unfortunate neighbors? Or would it be every man (or woman) for himself (or herself)?" And that just gets me all sorts of depressed. However, I felt like this novel really took those issues and dealt with them in a realistic way. Not once did I think "No one would ever act that way" because as depressing as it may seem, in a situation like this most people would be looking out for themselves primarily. And humankind would also disintergrate in an unfortunate way.

Now when it comes to the characters, most of the time I found them likeable. However, there were times were they where I really couldn't stand them. But I think that was kind of the point. In an end-of-the-world type of situation, most people are going to be unlikeable. You're going to be worrying about survival and not about keeping up pretenses. Part of my distress came from caring about these characters. I felt for Ann, Peter, Kate, Maddie, Shazia, and even Barney (I'm a huge dog person). I suffered when they suffered. I was scared when they were scared (and boy were they scared a lot). There were lots of tears for me while reading The Things That Keep Us Here.

I've read a few reviews (including one in Publishers Weekly) that state that the book didn't make much of an impact because it was written in the third person. I didn't feel that way. In fact in dystopian and apocalytic novels, I would rather them not be written in the first person because that just makes it worse for me. One that I can recall that was written in first person and had a huge impact on me was Life as We Knew It. I felt absolutely terrible when I finished the book and to this day cannot recall a book or a movie that has made me cry that much (wait, I stand corrected, the last three Harry Potter books are exceptions). Seriously, I was a wreck. When I finished reading it, I cried for ten minutes straight. So, I don't think that the third person view made the book any less enjoyable (I think that's the wrong word. How about interesing?) than had it been written in the first person.

Anyway, I have to say that I completely recommend The Things That Keep Us Here. It was riveting (My God, was it riveting! I finished it in one sitting) and so completely real. Sure, it didn't make me feel all fluttery inside, but I don't think that's the point of apocalyptic/dystopian novels. I think we read them to experience what would happen, yet maintain a completely safe distance (unless of course you're reading Life As We Knew It and then realize there is no "safe" distance) from the depravity of the world.(less)

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Jun 08, 2010 Denise rated it 4 of 5 stars

A good pandemic novel..., February 8, 2010
I love an apocalyptic novel! Whether it be meteor strike, nuclear event, or medical meltdown - I'm your reader. For some reason, the stark portrayals of humans trying to survive against insurmountable odds always draws me in. This one did too!

The H5N1 virus (avian flu) strikes and the entire world is held hostage against the scourges of the disease. Of course it's winter (flu season IS in winter) and it's cold and the weather is bad -- which makes eve...more

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Feb 23, 2010 Nancy marked it as to-read

How far would you go to protect your family?

Ann Brooks never thought she’d have to answer that question. Then she found her limits tested by a crisis no one could prevent. Now, as her neighborhood descends into panic, she must make tough choices to protect everyone she loves from a threat she cannot even see. In this chillingly urgent novel, Carla Buckley confronts us with the terrifying decisions we are forced to make when ordinary life changes overnight.

A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were ju...more

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Feb 17, 2010 Sherry D'ambrosio rated it 4 of 5 stars

The world as we know it, devastated by an influenza virus carried by birds? Don't say it can't happen. It can; it has. No, let me correct that. There has been no bird flu pandemic of yet, but there have been outbreaks of bird flu that caused deaths and left lingering disability in victims. It might have been about seven years ago, here in the Tidewater region of Virginia where I live, that there were reported cases of avian borne influenza that hospitalized a number of people. Some died; some re...more The world as we know it, devastated by an influenza virus carried by birds? Don't say it can't happen. It can; it has. No, let me correct that. There has been no bird flu pandemic of yet, but there have been outbreaks of bird flu that caused deaths and left lingering disability in victims. It might have been about seven years ago, here in the Tidewater region of Virginia where I live, that there were reported cases of avian borne influenza that hospitalized a number of people. Some died; some remained in hospital for a long time then had to go through physical therapy to regain strength. I know because one such gentleman was in an aqua therapy class with me. He had been in the hospital almost a year!

Carla Buckley takes the notion that an avian borne influenza might be the next pandemic and explores how we would handle it in her debut novel, The Things That Keep Us Here. Buckley takes us inside the life of one family in middle America, the family of veterinary medicine researcher, Peter Brooks, his wife, Ann, and their two young daughters and lets us observe what happens when they are faced with the pandemic.

In a sense, the Brooks family is luckier than most. Peter Brooks is one of the first to be aware of the threat of the flu and is able to advise his estranged wife of precautions to take to help her and their children avoid exposure. However, things move faster than anyone anticipates and the Brooks family is just one more competing for increasingly scare resources like food, water and medicine.

To complicate matters, there is a mysterious tragedy in the past that has caused Peter and Ann to grow apart so that when conditions force Peter and his beautiful research assistant to seek shelter in the Brooks home, there is added tension. Crowd three tense adults and two bored and restless children into one house to isolate them from the risk of infection, and it's amazing that life continues as smoothly as it does.

Buckley does a great job of realistically describing the mad scramble for scarce resources, the sort of precautionary tactics that might be used to keep the risk of infection down and the make-do attitude families would need to adopt under such conditions. Once the realism of such details is firmly in place and the reader is fixed in a world where the electricity might never again come on, and a meal might be mustard on crackers, she hits hard asking what we would do to protect our family. Would we forsake a dear friend, a neighbor, because we are afraid that helping them might open the door to the risk of infection? Would we remain isolated or reach out and band together? Hard questions. Would we give up all notions of civility for reasons of safety and expediency?

It's a bleak scene that Buckley paints, to be sure. As a reader, I felt it keenly. What I had trouble with, or was unhappy with, was the ending. After the slow and steady buildup of the world of the pandemic, the post pandemic world seems to come rushing at us. Poof! It feels like a chunk of the novel is missing. The transition following a death in the family and the remainder of the family's retreat to a rural location lacks something. Suddenly, it seems, the remaining members of the Brooks family are again gathered at their old home but years have passed. Ann's earlier worries about the effects of the pandemic on her daughters' development are inadequately touched on. The old tragedy in the family has been revealed in an unsatisfactory way.

And what are the things that keep us/them here? Does Buckley refer to that which will allow us to survive in such situations? Or does this refer to Ann's return to the old house, the old neighborhood which has seen so much devastation? What would make her want to return? Loyalty to the family member who did not survive? A testimony to family, friends, and neighbors who died in the pandemic that life goes on? Decide for yourself when you read The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley. (less)

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Feb 12, 2010 Suspense Magazine rated it 5 of 5 stars

It isn’t often that a book has a very profound impact on my life and until now, it has never occurred when reading an authors debut. “The Things That Keep Us Here” is without a doubt one of the most powerful and realistically frightening books I have ever read. At each unexpected turn, I found myself praying for the best and wondering what I would do in such a situation. Would I be brave enough to make the hard decisions to save my family?

Ann and Peter Brooks—an average American couple—are not...more

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Nov 17, 2009 Marian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2009, readit

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. The Things That Keep Us Here is an exceptionally painful book at times. Not because it's awful but because awful things happen. There's just enough room left between the lines to imagine what would happen "if." If the pandemic we've been panicking about for the last year really did happen (although in this case it's H5N1) and if it was so much worse than we ever expected.

If you're looking for one of those epidemic books where you can't go three words without hitting a very long, very garbled sc...more The Things That Keep Us Here is an exceptionally painful book at times. Not because it's awful but because awful things happen. There's just enough room left between the lines to imagine what would happen "if." If the pandemic we've been panicking about for the last year really did happen (although in this case it's H5N1) and if it was so much worse than we ever expected.

If you're looking for one of those epidemic books where you can't go three words without hitting a very long, very garbled scientific explanation, this is not the book for you. There's enough science to keep things rolling at the beginning of the book, but for the most part Things expects that you already know that a pandemic is the worst nightmare you've never given quite enough thought to before.

Instead, the book works because it focuses on how one family's world implodes during the aftermath of the avian flu. Simple things like grocery shopping or stopping to talk to a neighbor become far more dangerous than one would imagine and therein lies the hook. You're forced to stop and wonder what you would do in each circumstance. Would you continue to go to work at a job that would constantly expose you to the deadliest disease in decades? Would you pay nine dollars for a can of tuna or would you be the person who feels justified in price gouging to such an extreme? Would you let an infected friend in when they came begging for help or would you lock the door?

There are a couple of issues I have a bit of a hard time with in Things. When trying to explain this awesome (but horrible for my ability to sleep and then go to work at a job where people seem to delight in sneezing right in your face) book, I realized the shopping trip that made me so angry I was shaking (on behalf of the characters) happened... Day One. And I'm not really sure that people would degenerate quite that quickly on the first day of an announced pandemic. Day two, sure. But day one seems a bit premature, particularly when the general population hits the mall on days two and three. The scene is a good one but I fear it happens a little too early.

Also, when looking back on the book, there seems to be an overabundance of back story drama. On the one hand, it doesn't seem to be quite so much while actually reading the story. On the other, after it's all said and done, I can't help but think... that's an awful lot of crap thrown at them before the book even started. Was it just to push Ann and Peter's marriage to the breaking point? The way it comes across in the book, they seem to have just never really recovered from losing their son, William. Do they really need Alzheimer's, a probable suicide, and cancer all thrown in the mix as well? This isn't to say it's not realistic but looking back it does seem a bit like overkill.

Even with these small flaws that may apply only to me, I couldn't put the book down. I originally planned on reading maybe a chapter or two every morning after work but that first day I managed to read halfway through before I even realized what I was doing. The story haunts even as it races along.(less)

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Nov 04, 2011 Carolyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

After reading the jacket of the book, I expected this to be a post-appocalyptic/distopian book. I expect a book in that category to be set some time in the distant future which circumstances much different from today. That is not the case with this book. It is set in the present day and is very plausible and realistic. It deals with a pandemic of bird flu. The schools all get closed, there's a run on the stores and the ATMs, there's a huge snow storm and power goes out for a long time. The famil...more

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Jun 06, 2010 Rachel Penso rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. I was reading some of the other reviews about this book and it seemed like a lot of people who gave it a lower rating felt like the family couldn't catch a break. I guess they thought it seemed unrealistic. I disagree though. Everyone has family problems; that was completely separate from the pandemic. Also, the stuff about the empty grocery stores, gas stations and looting seemed realistic to me. We once had a power outage that lasted eight days and every grocery store's shelves were completely...more

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Oct 16, 2011 Alesa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Thanks to Rachel for recommending this book. Well, sort of thanks, because IT SCARED THE HECK OUT OF ME! What would happen if a pandemic occurred? And you were in nice, suburban America, otherwise concerned with typical domestic issues.

This is Buckley's first novel, and there are some places where it's a little clumsy. But after a while, you don't even care because the topic is so expertly addressed. I couldn't put the book down, and when I did (for necessities like fixing a meal), I just kept t...more

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Jun 20, 2010 Michelle rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Mar 21, 2010 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Ann Brooks is a newly single mom taking care of two little girls while her estranged husband is busy doing scientific research surrounding an H5N1 virus (avian flu) that has struck their community. It starts in the bird population and quickly jumps species and becomes a level 5 pandemic among the human population. Now this estranged family must come together to survive the worst scenario of their life- being quarantined together while they must rely on the government and medical system to find a...more Ann Brooks is a newly single mom taking care of two little girls while her estranged husband is busy doing scientific research surrounding an H5N1 virus (avian flu) that has struck their community. It starts in the bird population and quickly jumps species and becomes a level 5 pandemic among the human population. Now this estranged family must come together to survive the worst scenario of their life- being quarantined together while they must rely on the government and medical system to find a vaccination to stop the virus before it kills them.

The portrait of what life would be like if this situation would happen is terrifying. It begins with Ann rushing to the grocery store to stock up on food, where people are hurting and even killing each other fighting over bottled water and food. They lock themselves in their home where the electricity is out for over a month, garbage is no longer being picked up, hospitals are not operating, and everyone must be scared of their neighbor and friends to prevent being struck with the H5N1 themselves.

The family is forced to make tough decisions that they never thought they would face and learn to live without the luxuries in life of clean water, how to protect those you love while still caring for others in your community, and how precious life really is.

As the situation escalates, the character development builds and you began to root for this family to pull together and to survive this ordeal.

This book was amazing, thought-provoking, and made me question what I would do in such a scenario. Could I still stick to my virtues when I have to protect my family or would I become as many of the people become, fighting and stealing to protect what is mine?

The book slowed down a little in the middle and I did not really like the narration switching in the last chapter over to the daughter, but overall, it was an excellent book that will make you hold your children a little tighter and make you aware of all of the precious blessings we all take for granted.
(less)

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Feb 21, 2010 Miss Remmers rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Things That Keep You Here" is a surprisingly riveting novel; I couldn't put it down. Not only that, but this book genuinely had me thinking and analyzing my own life. While it could be read for purely enjoyment, it can also be read in depth and be analyzed.

Even while reading this book I was talking about it to my family, friends, and residents, anyone who would listen really. I would ask them, "How far would you go for the ones you love? Would you steal? Would you lie? Would you become sava...more

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Nov 02, 2009 Julie Compton rated it 5 of 5 stars

This book succeeds on so many levels. The writing is assured. From the very first scene, the author nails a certain type of husband/wife relationship. With an economy of words that evidences Buckley's skill, she captures the nuances of a marriage and all the things that go unspoken between a man and a woman. Going wider, she does the same with the dynamics in a family, in a neighborhood, even in the community at large. Every character, no matter how minor, is brought to life.

The concept is huge,...more

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Jan 12, 2013 Courtney rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-favorites

This book is a must-read. It has a little bit of everything- non-smarmy romance, family drama, small town chaos, and, of course, a major pandemic flu providing a terrifying backdrop to the story.

I think the reason I liked this book best was because I found the premise completely plausible. A pandemic flu hits the United States (well, the world) similar to that of 1918, except with an avian-flu-like twist.

I thought the writing was decent and the overall story enjoyable. It was a fast read. It was...more

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Aug 10, 2011 Sheilak added it

As a debut writer, Carla did her job and did it well. I was thoroughly hooked from the beginning. Yes, it is a bit scary, but it is relevant, timely and has so much information, how could you put the book down? This is one of the few books that I have found myself talking to my husband/friends about after reading each day. I could of easily read this book in 1 day if I had the time.

This book is making me think about things that I didn't think I needed to. But we seriously don't know what is goi...more

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Feb 08, 2010 April rated it 5 of 5 stars

Amazing. Absolutely amazing, engrossing and thought provoking. These are words that quickly and simply come to mind when I think of The Things That Keep Us Here. It, quite frankly, blows my mind that this is a debut novel by Carla Buckley. It is incredibly well written, tight, emotional, well-researched and so true-to-life (or what could easily happen in life, right now) that I would expect such work to be written by a veteran author. No, The Things That Keep Us Here is not a laid back, fun, kic...more Amazing. Absolutely amazing, engrossing and thought provoking. These are words that quickly and simply come to mind when I think of The Things That Keep Us Here. It, quite frankly, blows my mind that this is a debut novel by Carla Buckley. It is incredibly well written, tight, emotional, well-researched and so true-to-life (or what could easily happen in life, right now) that I would expect such work to be written by a veteran author. No, The Things That Keep Us Here is not a laid back, fun, kick-off-your-shoes and read your cares away sort of book. Rather, it is a very intense, serious book who's topic is filled with the "what-ifs" of the future of our world, in the aspect of possible pandemics and how such matters would be handled. That's not to say that The Things That Keep Us Here is not a book to leisurely enjoy, just keep in mind that you will not be brought to tears with laughter or light-hearted banter.

I knew from the beginning of this book, that is was going to be a story to absorb me within its pages and the lives of the characters within. Just to simply gaze upon the beautiful innocence of the cover grips the heart, then to become part of this little girl and her family's story and life within, is mind-blowing. Written in a heart-wrenchingly realistic way, readers will feel themselves captured within the struggles of the Brooks' family, as they fight to survive a horrific pandemic caused by H5N1, the avian flu. No where is safe, no one can be trusted. Locked and sealed away within the walls of their home, no electricity, no heat but the fireplace, food rations becoming increasingly low, the threat of a simple sneeze a death sentence. The Things That Keep Us Here is a story of a mother's love for her children and the lengths that she will go to to protect them and keep them from harm's way.

Separated for a year, Ann Brooks and her estranged husband, Peter, are brought together by the onset of H5N1. Peter, a university researcher has been conducting tests on the resent increase in dying birds. Realization quickly dawns that this is a deadly situation that will affect the world. Alerting Ann and the children of what is to come, their lives are once again bound together, as they struggle to keep their children and themselves safe and healthy. As neighbors, best friends, adults and children lose their fight for their lives around them, Ann and Peter remain vigilant, something not easy under the circumstances and with two young daughters and the sudden arrival of a six-month baby boy. They know they must stay strong or face the end.

The Things That Keep Us Here is a story that will tightly hold the reader from first page until the last. Just when you think the end would be near, a new twist occurs sending more pages flying to find out the results. I truly enjoyed the characters of Peter and Ann, though I have to admit there where a few times I would have liked to smack Ann upside the head. However, as a mother, myself, one can never tell exactly how one would react, if in the same circumstances. I highly admired Peter and his perseverance to his family. The dialog and characterization within The Things That Keep Us Here were excellently executed and the horrifying fact that life, as we know it, could change at any moment, is eye-opening.

I highly recommend The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley to everyone. This is not a genre based novel, but a life based novel. It is intense, engrossing and I promise that you will never look at life the same way again. I cannot wait to read more by this wonderfully talented author and can honestly say that this is one of my favorite books of 2010!(less)

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Dec 07, 2012 Cindy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I could not put this book down.

I also think it was a bad idea for a worrier who just might have a touch of hypochondria, read this, but oh my gosh - this was a compelling story.

The story reminded me a bit of the movie Outbreak & Contagion. I wanted to judge the choices made in the story... I wanted to dislike them for stupid choices, but it made me think. what would I do? Would I turn my back on a friend? A child? Would my friends or neighbor turn their back on me?

I liked how the book read...more

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Feb 04, 2012 Angela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I didn't really pay attention to the blurb on the back when I first picked this book up. I was at a book fest and had about 10 more tables to visit to add to my ever growing collection of books. I thought this was a murder mystery book, and just took a gamble on it hoping that at least it would be an interesting read. Am I glad I chose this book the way I did. If I had known that it was a book based on a family trying to survive a bird flu outbreak in America I would have put it back. This is su...more

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Mar 02, 2011 Alisa rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: readers-choice

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Feb 23, 2011 Alexa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: goodreads-2011-total-books-read-cha

Probably the most disturbing book I've read in a very long time. It kept me up two nights in a row, and I finally had to take a break and read something really fluffy as a palate-cleanser - which was tough because I couldn't put it down. I finally had to for my own sanity. It sparked a very nihilistic conversation with my husband the atheist scientist who basically said, well the earth is going to blow up some time anyway (not in a End of Days kind of way, I should add). Just a depressing scienc...more

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Mar 09, 2011 Shellie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: random-sampling, topic-interests-me

I don’t want to discourage anyone from reading this book, I enjoyed it and it’s a pretty good page-turner, but I am going to tell you what I didn’t like about it. The time-line was difficult to follow and seldom seemed accurate for what was talking place. I’m certain the time-line of the baby Jacob from pregnancy to current was really off. And there were other instances as well. Minutes turned into hours, hours turned into days and days into weeks frequently in a confusing page or two that was d...more

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title link	preview: The Things That Keep Us Here
avg rating	preview: The Things That Keep Us Here Goodreads rating: 3.91 (1526 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6670514-the-things-that-keep-us-here?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320412866l/6670514.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6670514-the-things-that-keep-us-here?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]The Things That Keep Us Here by Carla Buckley[/url]

The Things That Keep Us Here

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