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Plagued, with Guilt
What if the world were coming to an end, and it was your fault?
Dr. Ben Appelstein and his archaeological team unwittingly unleash an ancient plague on the modern world, derailing their promising lives and threatening to destroy life as we know it.
Against a backdrop of war and disease, four friends fight through transformative journies both personal and monumental: Rich, a brilliant gay athlete struggling for esteem; Wendy, a querulous coed caught between two men and an uncertain future; Halfus, a quiet hero with a tragic past; and Ernie, a fun-loving charmer with aspirations of grandeur. Bound together and pulled apart, they struggle to save all they hold dear from impending doom.
PWG is the critically-acclaimed, character-driven epic novel about the best and worst tendencies of humankind. Tackling the difficult themes of terrorism, abuse, and mental illness, and providing insight into history, science, politics, and psychology, the novel is a must-read for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the complexities of today's world.
10th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
"[A]t once a fierce academic thriller and a powerful meditation on humanity... A striking, powerful debut that heralds the start of a promising career."—Kirkus Reviews
Q&A with the Author:
Q: PWG is a long book, particularly for a debut novel. What was behind this decision?
A: I wanted to write something on the grandest scale I could think of—the existence of the human species as we know it. At the same time, I've always liked stories about regular people who rise up from their everyday trials to face extraordinary challenges.
I felt that I couldn't just jump right into "humanity is on the brink." I thought it would be more meaningful to see how individual lives would be impacted by a terrifying pandemic, which required showing those regular, everyday lives before events overtake them and turn everything upside-down.
Q: Each chapter starts with a non-narrative opener. What was the purpose of this?
A: In a way, the book tells two stories. The main one, of course, is how a new pandemic affects both the principal characters and society at large. The second is a connection between fiction and real world issues of today such as mental illness and international relations. The novel is meant to be entertaining, but also provide some insight into the world that the reader may not have thought about. So I just scratch the surface on a number of topics as they become relevant to what is happening in the narrative. I know that not every reader will love every one of these, but it is hoped that each reader will be interested enough in one or two them to look into them further.
(Partial Spoilers)
Q: The use of speech errors in dialogue is somewhat jarring for those of us who have an inner editor. What was the thought behind this, and are you concerned that the book will appear to have errors that might turn off some readers?
A: I can see how it could be confusing, but hopefully it is not overused in the book. Having difficulty with language as an early sign of the disease was used as a realistic symptom that could result from an affliction that rewires the brain and as a tip to an observant reader that a character is beginning to be affected.
Q: Those infected by the Eden virus are compared to zombies by some readers. Was that the intent?
A: No, the intent was to compare the infected to animals. More specifically, to predatory animals. In fact, there are many subtle and not-so-subtle references to human beings as animals throughout the book, even without the plague. Our limited ability to control our carnal and violent impulses is a recurring theme. The disease as a mental illness only exacerbates this condition.
Q: Will there be a sequel?
A: Who can predict the future?
Dr. Ben Appelstein and his archaeological team unwittingly unleash an ancient plague on the modern world, derailing their promising lives and threatening to destroy life as we know it.
Against a backdrop of war and disease, four friends fight through transformative journies both personal and monumental: Rich, a brilliant gay athlete struggling for esteem; Wendy, a querulous coed caught between two men and an uncertain future; Halfus, a quiet hero with a tragic past; and Ernie, a fun-loving charmer with aspirations of grandeur. Bound together and pulled apart, they struggle to save all they hold dear from impending doom.
PWG is the critically-acclaimed, character-driven epic novel about the best and worst tendencies of humankind. Tackling the difficult themes of terrorism, abuse, and mental illness, and providing insight into history, science, politics, and psychology, the novel is a must-read for anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the complexities of today's world.
10th Annual National Indie Excellence Awards Finalist
"[A]t once a fierce academic thriller and a powerful meditation on humanity... A striking, powerful debut that heralds the start of a promising career."—Kirkus Reviews
Q&A with the Author:
Q: PWG is a long book, particularly for a debut novel. What was behind this decision?
A: I wanted to write something on the grandest scale I could think of—the existence of the human species as we know it. At the same time, I've always liked stories about regular people who rise up from their everyday trials to face extraordinary challenges.
I felt that I couldn't just jump right into "humanity is on the brink." I thought it would be more meaningful to see how individual lives would be impacted by a terrifying pandemic, which required showing those regular, everyday lives before events overtake them and turn everything upside-down.
Q: Each chapter starts with a non-narrative opener. What was the purpose of this?
A: In a way, the book tells two stories. The main one, of course, is how a new pandemic affects both the principal characters and society at large. The second is a connection between fiction and real world issues of today such as mental illness and international relations. The novel is meant to be entertaining, but also provide some insight into the world that the reader may not have thought about. So I just scratch the surface on a number of topics as they become relevant to what is happening in the narrative. I know that not every reader will love every one of these, but it is hoped that each reader will be interested enough in one or two them to look into them further.
(Partial Spoilers)
Q: The use of speech errors in dialogue is somewhat jarring for those of us who have an inner editor. What was the thought behind this, and are you concerned that the book will appear to have errors that might turn off some readers?
A: I can see how it could be confusing, but hopefully it is not overused in the book. Having difficulty with language as an early sign of the disease was used as a realistic symptom that could result from an affliction that rewires the brain and as a tip to an observant reader that a character is beginning to be affected.
Q: Those infected by the Eden virus are compared to zombies by some readers. Was that the intent?
A: No, the intent was to compare the infected to animals. More specifically, to predatory animals. In fact, there are many subtle and not-so-subtle references to human beings as animals throughout the book, even without the plague. Our limited ability to control our carnal and violent impulses is a recurring theme. The disease as a mental illness only exacerbates this condition.
Q: Will there be a sequel?
A: Who can predict the future?
570 pages, Paperback
First published June 17, 2015
95 people are currently reading
500 people want to read
About the author
Michael Jason Brandt
6 books27 followersMichael Jason Brandt is a specialist in history and geopolitics. Born in Washington, DC, he has lived, worked, and studied in the US, England, and Spain. He received his first degree in business from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. After a decade in the corporate IT world, Michael returned to education and received degrees in International Relations from George Washington University and The London School of Economics and Political Science.
Now dedicated to research and writing, Michael is a co-founder of Casus Belli Books. He currently lives in Maryland.
His first novel, PLAGUED, WITH GUILT, is the story of five friends confronted by war, disease, and the end of humanity. The EMPIRE ASUNDER series is his second writing adventure and first sojourn into fantasy.
Now dedicated to research and writing, Michael is a co-founder of Casus Belli Books. He currently lives in Maryland.
His first novel, PLAGUED, WITH GUILT, is the story of five friends confronted by war, disease, and the end of humanity. The EMPIRE ASUNDER series is his second writing adventure and first sojourn into fantasy.
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Displaying 1 - 26 of 26 reviews
June 8, 2016
Review Plagued with Guilt
The product description (which I found awkward and unfocussed) does not do justice to this book.
After a well-paced and engaging chapter one, which gave a rather misleading impression of what was to come, the next third of the book lost its way a little. Meeting lots of characters and learning their back stories was disappointing. What I wanted was the continuation of a teen disaster in a caving adventure gone wrong that had begun in the first chapter.
I soon found out that the book is much bigger than this.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of ‘Plagued with Guilt’ (I don’t like the title much, as it seems to rely on a pun which undermines the importance of the subject matter) is the introductory ‘lecture’ at the beginning of each chapter, covering such subjects as the science of a virus, the intricacies of a super-volcano eruption, or the effects of a meteor hitting Earth. Against these factual and fascinating summaries, the characters find themselves involved in a particularly devastating catastrophe of their own making that will affect the future of the human race.
On a more personal level, we find out about the individual inadequacies and obsessions of a group of people who come together to combat a terrifying and unpredictable enemy. Some of the characters left me cold. Especially the rather underwhelming heroine of the piece, Wendy. In contrast, I really enjoyed the tussles between Ernie and Halphus, both of whom faced important emotional and philosophical dilemmas involving life or death situations.
The settings were nicely detailed, with a strong sense of place. The archaeological site in Iraq, and Halphus’ experiences in a local Iraqi family’s home environment were highlights for me.
The author has chosen to write a novel of epic proportions and there is much to congratulate him on. What this book lacks in consistency, it makes up for in its probing of human behaviour in the face of disaster – a rather more philosophical approach than something like ‘Lord of the Flies’, although that is not to say there is no violence in this book.
The writing is fluid and the pace picks up substantially as the plot develops. I’d recommend this book to readers who are interested in the human condition in extreme situations, and who enjoy a good epic disaster.
I was given a free copy of ‘Plagued with Guilt’ in exchange for an honest review.
The product description (which I found awkward and unfocussed) does not do justice to this book.
After a well-paced and engaging chapter one, which gave a rather misleading impression of what was to come, the next third of the book lost its way a little. Meeting lots of characters and learning their back stories was disappointing. What I wanted was the continuation of a teen disaster in a caving adventure gone wrong that had begun in the first chapter.
I soon found out that the book is much bigger than this.
Perhaps one of the most interesting aspects of ‘Plagued with Guilt’ (I don’t like the title much, as it seems to rely on a pun which undermines the importance of the subject matter) is the introductory ‘lecture’ at the beginning of each chapter, covering such subjects as the science of a virus, the intricacies of a super-volcano eruption, or the effects of a meteor hitting Earth. Against these factual and fascinating summaries, the characters find themselves involved in a particularly devastating catastrophe of their own making that will affect the future of the human race.
On a more personal level, we find out about the individual inadequacies and obsessions of a group of people who come together to combat a terrifying and unpredictable enemy. Some of the characters left me cold. Especially the rather underwhelming heroine of the piece, Wendy. In contrast, I really enjoyed the tussles between Ernie and Halphus, both of whom faced important emotional and philosophical dilemmas involving life or death situations.
The settings were nicely detailed, with a strong sense of place. The archaeological site in Iraq, and Halphus’ experiences in a local Iraqi family’s home environment were highlights for me.
The author has chosen to write a novel of epic proportions and there is much to congratulate him on. What this book lacks in consistency, it makes up for in its probing of human behaviour in the face of disaster – a rather more philosophical approach than something like ‘Lord of the Flies’, although that is not to say there is no violence in this book.
The writing is fluid and the pace picks up substantially as the plot develops. I’d recommend this book to readers who are interested in the human condition in extreme situations, and who enjoy a good epic disaster.
I was given a free copy of ‘Plagued with Guilt’ in exchange for an honest review.
May 14, 2016
This novel is slow to start and the story begins with a group of students entering a cave. Many of the characters at this point in the story disappear and the reader is left wondering whether they would reappear – they don’t. There were pages and pages of medical and historical information that often seemed to have very little relevance to the rest of the chapter. Although the author did occasionally attempt to link this information to the general plotline it felt too much like padding to me. I even found much of the information interesting enough to read but the book could have lost most of it as it slowed things down too much and parts of it did drag sometimes. It may have been better to have the characters introduce bits of this medicine or history through their conversations but 80 to 90% could be lost without affecting the tale that Brandt wished to tell. And that tale was both intriguing and exciting once the archaeological dig in Iraq gets going. That is not to say that the back story for each character is un-interesting because I found each of them likeable and real, particularly Halfus, Rich and Wendy.
There is suspense and surprise aplenty, with the required twists and turns in a story involving a dangerous virus, in the second half of the book. At one point the author states that “the deadliest pandemic of today is HIV/AIDS…” but then contradicts this with “terrible as HIV/AIDS is, however, it is not the deadliest pandemic of the modern era…” in the next paragraph! There is a section later when Wendy finds her mother’s curtains closed to be surprising, when on a previous page she finds those same curtains open or closed to be predictive of her mother’s mood. Maybe it was the way it was written but it came across as another contradiction.
I found the inner personal conflicts for several of the characters and much of the dialogue real and believable; though many of the sections where the speaker’s brain has been affected by the virus, illustrated through errors in their speech, could be confusing if the reader has missed the earlier explanation. This is a well-written novel that was slowed down too much for me, as a thriller, by too much information. Fortunately, I still ended up liking Plagued With Guilt. It is an exciting, informative, even portentous, book with characters you root for to the end but with the typically breathless thriller element somewhat diminished. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest and objective review
There is suspense and surprise aplenty, with the required twists and turns in a story involving a dangerous virus, in the second half of the book. At one point the author states that “the deadliest pandemic of today is HIV/AIDS…” but then contradicts this with “terrible as HIV/AIDS is, however, it is not the deadliest pandemic of the modern era…” in the next paragraph! There is a section later when Wendy finds her mother’s curtains closed to be surprising, when on a previous page she finds those same curtains open or closed to be predictive of her mother’s mood. Maybe it was the way it was written but it came across as another contradiction.
I found the inner personal conflicts for several of the characters and much of the dialogue real and believable; though many of the sections where the speaker’s brain has been affected by the virus, illustrated through errors in their speech, could be confusing if the reader has missed the earlier explanation. This is a well-written novel that was slowed down too much for me, as a thriller, by too much information. Fortunately, I still ended up liking Plagued With Guilt. It is an exciting, informative, even portentous, book with characters you root for to the end but with the typically breathless thriller element somewhat diminished. I was given a copy of the book in return for an honest and objective review
April 7, 2016
Michael Jason Brandt is a newcomer to the literary world but he has made it clear that his talent is undeniable. I was skeptical upon first cracking open this behemoth of a novel as we all know that debut novel's that are over 400 pages can end up very bad for readers. Luckily, this was not a big problem with Brandt's novel, albeit slow to start. The story truly starts with following a group of college students into a cave for a brief tour. We meet a host of characters, some not really pertinent to the story at all and sort of just fall away (enter Christine and Tempest, Donny and James). I found myself wondering if they'd show up again since they were in the beginning but no, they just disappear.
A quick warning, as a reader, you will get loads of history and medical facts in this book. It comes across as disjointed and "know-it-all-ish" at first, but then you start to see why it fits into the running narrative. It was actually quite clever to do it that way, now that I've completed the book and could fully grasp the intelligence in the choice. The book continues on as we follow the real main characters, Halfus/Wendy/Ernie/Ben/Rich on a trip to Iraq to complete a dig in search of ancient material. On this dig is when things get interesting in the story.
I found myself wading through the first half of the book, wondering why I was filling my head with facts and history and people that I didn't know where to place then WAM! The story takes off at a break neck speed! I enjoyed getting to know the real characters in the book and felt that the rise and fall of their emotions gave them all an edge of likability. My favorite character was Halfus, even though he didn't have as in depth of a background as every other character, the way he was written made him endearing, mysterious and one to root for. I disliked Wendy (which is unfortunate because I'm a love of strong, independent women) because she came across as pompous unless she wanted something from someone. She was a typical user. I also didn't like the way Brandt killed off a character in the story. It seemed very odd and sudden and...convenient.
All in all, the story dazzles after the halfway mark and made the read worth it. I'd recommend it for patient readers that enjoy history, sci-fi and action.
Raging Book Reviews Recommended
A quick warning, as a reader, you will get loads of history and medical facts in this book. It comes across as disjointed and "know-it-all-ish" at first, but then you start to see why it fits into the running narrative. It was actually quite clever to do it that way, now that I've completed the book and could fully grasp the intelligence in the choice. The book continues on as we follow the real main characters, Halfus/Wendy/Ernie/Ben/Rich on a trip to Iraq to complete a dig in search of ancient material. On this dig is when things get interesting in the story.
I found myself wading through the first half of the book, wondering why I was filling my head with facts and history and people that I didn't know where to place then WAM! The story takes off at a break neck speed! I enjoyed getting to know the real characters in the book and felt that the rise and fall of their emotions gave them all an edge of likability. My favorite character was Halfus, even though he didn't have as in depth of a background as every other character, the way he was written made him endearing, mysterious and one to root for. I disliked Wendy (which is unfortunate because I'm a love of strong, independent women) because she came across as pompous unless she wanted something from someone. She was a typical user. I also didn't like the way Brandt killed off a character in the story. It seemed very odd and sudden and...convenient.
All in all, the story dazzles after the halfway mark and made the read worth it. I'd recommend it for patient readers that enjoy history, sci-fi and action.
Raging Book Reviews Recommended
December 29, 2015
A college professor and four of his gifted students are thrilled when they get the opportunity to go to Iraq on an archaeological expedition. Engrossing story about what happens to these very believable characters when tragedy strikes and a mysterious plague changes their lives forever. I really enjoyed reading the book and found it hard to put down. I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. Definitely one of my favorite books.
February 5, 2016
From zero to one-twenty in 500 pages flat. The first quarter of the book was entirely blah blah blah.
Then, holy moses, Brandt shoved it on down into overdrive. Suspenseful, surprising and plenty creepy pretty much sums up the last 300 pages. If King's 'Captain Tripps' from The Stand still makes you reach for the anti-germicidal product when someone coughs, you're going to go for a hazmat suit when you catch a whiff of the Eden virus.
Then, holy moses, Brandt shoved it on down into overdrive. Suspenseful, surprising and plenty creepy pretty much sums up the last 300 pages. If King's 'Captain Tripps' from The Stand still makes you reach for the anti-germicidal product when someone coughs, you're going to go for a hazmat suit when you catch a whiff of the Eden virus.
February 19, 2020
This was a tough one to get through. I'll give it an A for effort, but a C- for presentation. It has moments of brilliance that reel you in, but those are overshadowed by pages of ancient history, medical history, war history, natural history... you get the idea.
A better title would have been "Plagued, by Pedantics". I understand the author was trying to give us historical background, but the way it was presented made me want to throw my Kindle across the room. This could have been related in bits and pieces throughout, as it pertains to this or that particular scene, but instead we get massive info dumps.
Once I got through the Preface, then the lengthy prologue, I was like... Great! Now we're cooking! Nope. We get introduced to several characters who are angsty college kids, only to never hear about them again, though we DO follow along with the secondary characters who were introduced by the original main character, who becomes a non-entity, while the secondary characters become the main characters. Confused? Me too. But I'm along for the ride.
Unfortunately, that ride is interrupted by numerous pit stops of various historical lectures. I felt like I was back in college sitting a history class and struggling to figure out why I needed to take it. The many pit stops really broke up the storyline and, by the time I got back to the plot, I had to repeatedly figure out whose POV was being presented. There are several, and they bounce all over as we hit pothole after pothole on this journey.
There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue, again with characters we'll never hear from again, but there a good bit story that made me smile or sigh in frustration with the characters. My advice would be to narrow the character field, crop out the extraneous stuff, and focus on characters development of ONLY those pertinent to the storyline.
This story is also left-leaning so, if you're a liberal, you'll probably love the numerous mentions of how "guns are bad" (insert eyeroll). I happen to support America's 2nd Amendment, so I didn't care for this view, especially as there are raging crazies roaming the landscape in this book. What were the characters hoping to achieve? Were they going to nicely ask the crazies to move along?
It was an okay read, but I'll be honest and tell you I skimmed, A LOT.
A better title would have been "Plagued, by Pedantics". I understand the author was trying to give us historical background, but the way it was presented made me want to throw my Kindle across the room. This could have been related in bits and pieces throughout, as it pertains to this or that particular scene, but instead we get massive info dumps.
Once I got through the Preface, then the lengthy prologue, I was like... Great! Now we're cooking! Nope. We get introduced to several characters who are angsty college kids, only to never hear about them again, though we DO follow along with the secondary characters who were introduced by the original main character, who becomes a non-entity, while the secondary characters become the main characters. Confused? Me too. But I'm along for the ride.
Unfortunately, that ride is interrupted by numerous pit stops of various historical lectures. I felt like I was back in college sitting a history class and struggling to figure out why I needed to take it. The many pit stops really broke up the storyline and, by the time I got back to the plot, I had to repeatedly figure out whose POV was being presented. There are several, and they bounce all over as we hit pothole after pothole on this journey.
There was a lot of unnecessary dialogue, again with characters we'll never hear from again, but there a good bit story that made me smile or sigh in frustration with the characters. My advice would be to narrow the character field, crop out the extraneous stuff, and focus on characters development of ONLY those pertinent to the storyline.
This story is also left-leaning so, if you're a liberal, you'll probably love the numerous mentions of how "guns are bad" (insert eyeroll). I happen to support America's 2nd Amendment, so I didn't care for this view, especially as there are raging crazies roaming the landscape in this book. What were the characters hoping to achieve? Were they going to nicely ask the crazies to move along?
It was an okay read, but I'll be honest and tell you I skimmed, A LOT.
July 8, 2019
The book drew me in with the interspersing of historical events and fictional events. At first, the switching back and forth from past to present was a little distracting, but I stuck with it and then really enjoyed continuing to read to find out the next part of the story. A historical dig for archaeological students brings back more than they bargained for. The book follows what might potentially happen during a pandemic and became a page-turner as I was eager to find out what happens next.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 3, 2019
A clever plot and winning characters make this a solid thriller
Plagued, With Guilt is an apocalyptic thriller (before, and during), but one with somewhat of a difference. The author put as much focus on fleshing out the characters as he did on developing the story. The contagion in this tale is unique in several respects (to say more would be a spoiler)—an interesting idea that makes the plot even more intriguing. The book dragged just a bit in the middle section, but the final chapters were certainly exciting.
Plagued, With Guilt is an apocalyptic thriller (before, and during), but one with somewhat of a difference. The author put as much focus on fleshing out the characters as he did on developing the story. The contagion in this tale is unique in several respects (to say more would be a spoiler)—an interesting idea that makes the plot even more intriguing. The book dragged just a bit in the middle section, but the final chapters were certainly exciting.
July 19, 2020
Riveting!
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. A lot of times, I get tired of books before they end, but this one kept my interest from beginning to end. I liked the introductions to each chapter, giving me insight on topics I didn’t know a lot about but in an interesting way. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Also, surprisingly and appreciatively, I did not notice one typo. That seems unusual nowadays, especially for an author’s first book. Really great writer.
This is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. A lot of times, I get tired of books before they end, but this one kept my interest from beginning to end. I liked the introductions to each chapter, giving me insight on topics I didn’t know a lot about but in an interesting way. I will definitely be reading more by this author. Also, surprisingly and appreciatively, I did not notice one typo. That seems unusual nowadays, especially for an author’s first book. Really great writer.
July 27, 2020
It was okay
The story was okay. It didn’t really pick up until around the 60% point. It was really slow, and I didn’t like the way it jumped from character to character. It ended on a good note, although it was a little depressing. The characters at the beginning drove me nuts, and I had to skim through the story because it just didn’t grab my attention.
The story was okay. It didn’t really pick up until around the 60% point. It was really slow, and I didn’t like the way it jumped from character to character. It ended on a good note, although it was a little depressing. The characters at the beginning drove me nuts, and I had to skim through the story because it just didn’t grab my attention.
December 30, 2025
I enjoyed this book. Loved the way it was set up to provide factual background at the beginning of every chapter that tied into the story line. I liked the way each character was introduced and woven in with the others & their backstories. Just disappointed at where the book ended. Maybe there was a thought of doing a second book?
January 23, 2019
Interesting take on a end of world pandemic story from before the beginning following six characters on their downfall. Great character Development. It did get a bit cumbersome in the middle waiting for something to actually happen. I would read a sequel.
February 19, 2019
An amazing connection between friends and their struggles. With a wonderful set of characters and intriguing interactions, this book kept me reading throughout the night. I highly recommend this book.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 13, 2019
Gave it 4 stars because the plot was well done. The ending leaves you hanging which is OK for the most part, we do not get to use our imaginations enough anyway. :-) The females were a bit whiny for my taste. Overall, a good story line. It felt a bit rushed to get to the end though.
May 21, 2019
Interesting Read
Plagued, With Guilt is a different approach to the
End of Times genre. I enjoyed the mix of cultures, and
information in the book. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys drama, suspense, and old time history.
Plagued, With Guilt is a different approach to the
End of Times genre. I enjoyed the mix of cultures, and
information in the book. I would recommend this to anyone who enjoys drama, suspense, and old time history.
March 12, 2020
Plagued, with guilt is intense
From the beginning, there was an air of mystery. Through the story, a lot of scenes changed and personalities were noted. Not at all what I expected, but an intense read.
From the beginning, there was an air of mystery. Through the story, a lot of scenes changed and personalities were noted. Not at all what I expected, but an intense read.
June 22, 2016
This has to be the best book I’ve read in a few years, if I could give it more than five stars I would. I loved the way Mr. Brandt captures you with his characters, they aren’t one dimensional, they have a richness to them as the story envelopes you. I especially loved Ernie, Halfus, Rich, and Ammar and paying attention to their nuances made the book an even better read. I felt like I knew these guys my whole life, and really cared about them by the outcome. That to me is the sign of great writing.
I did like too, how some of the secondary characters were just referred to by a particular physical characteristic (ie “neckbeard”), it made me laugh, but it also helped me keep a better focus on the main characters and helped me from being confused.
I wasn’t sure about the direction of the story at first, but Mr Brandt has a wonderful may of making every word count, that helps you envision the story and feel it, and not just read it. More than a dozen times during the reading I got tingles because he nailed an emotion, an experience, or a scene so well, I felt I was watching it with every detail in my head.
Each chapter starts with a lesson, sometimes in history, science, social commentary or religion. At the start of the book I really enjoyed them, but did feel they were a bit longer then they could have been, and my the middle of the book, found them a bit distracting. I think had they been a bit shorter it would have been a non-issue.
Some of the dialogue though I did seem to feel was out of place, when the characters got really angry or really scared they didn’t seem REALLY ANGRY or REALLY SCARED, they seemed PG-13 angry or scared. Just seemed to me that grittier language was called for in a few scenes to drive the emotion home, but instead a more sedate version was used. Also when I saw the words “not non-lethal” , those double negative drive me nuts.
To me Doc was at the narrative voice of the book, the guiding force, and again Mr Brandt delivered in spades on a marvelous character. He had fear, angst, anxiety, despair, gratitude, happiness, trust, shock and remorse, and love for his fellow man.
The setting for the book was masterful. The middle East and especially Iraq gave it a mystery to start, and Mr Brandt used that as a great foundation for the characters growth, and then I felt he balanced it well with the stateside locales as well.
If you like a great Action Adventure story, please read this. It’s entertaining, it’s enlightening, and it has heart and soul. My hats off to Mr Brandt, it’s a stellar piece of work
I did like too, how some of the secondary characters were just referred to by a particular physical characteristic (ie “neckbeard”), it made me laugh, but it also helped me keep a better focus on the main characters and helped me from being confused.
I wasn’t sure about the direction of the story at first, but Mr Brandt has a wonderful may of making every word count, that helps you envision the story and feel it, and not just read it. More than a dozen times during the reading I got tingles because he nailed an emotion, an experience, or a scene so well, I felt I was watching it with every detail in my head.
Each chapter starts with a lesson, sometimes in history, science, social commentary or religion. At the start of the book I really enjoyed them, but did feel they were a bit longer then they could have been, and my the middle of the book, found them a bit distracting. I think had they been a bit shorter it would have been a non-issue.
Some of the dialogue though I did seem to feel was out of place, when the characters got really angry or really scared they didn’t seem REALLY ANGRY or REALLY SCARED, they seemed PG-13 angry or scared. Just seemed to me that grittier language was called for in a few scenes to drive the emotion home, but instead a more sedate version was used. Also when I saw the words “not non-lethal” , those double negative drive me nuts.
To me Doc was at the narrative voice of the book, the guiding force, and again Mr Brandt delivered in spades on a marvelous character. He had fear, angst, anxiety, despair, gratitude, happiness, trust, shock and remorse, and love for his fellow man.
The setting for the book was masterful. The middle East and especially Iraq gave it a mystery to start, and Mr Brandt used that as a great foundation for the characters growth, and then I felt he balanced it well with the stateside locales as well.
If you like a great Action Adventure story, please read this. It’s entertaining, it’s enlightening, and it has heart and soul. My hats off to Mr Brandt, it’s a stellar piece of work
March 14, 2016
Terrific Book!
Why I liked it
This interesting story is told in a unique style. It's not often that a work of fiction leaves me thinking "I'm actually a little smarter for having read this." That's what happened when I read Plagued, with Guilt. Each chapter of the book begins with a short description of an historic event, scientific principle, social topic, etc. that is somehow connected to the upcoming section of the story. The connections between these educational vignettes and the story are sometimes obvious, and sometimes subtle, but always interesting and improve the depth of the story. The characters are believable, not recognizable as typical book characters, but recognizable as people you might know, your neighbor, sister, co-worker. The author is equally effective in developing characters of different ages, occupations, and genders. This is a story about people, people caught up in extraordinary events to be sure, but it is the people that make the story and not the other way around.
This book isn't formulaic and the storyline develops gradually. Since I read when time permits, this could have been a recipe for a protracted read. However, when I realized I was planning time around the opportunity to get back to the story, I was surprised to realize the people in the book had insidiously crept into my head. I finished the 580 pages in three sittings.
What it isn't
This is not bubblegum fiction. If your idea of a good story requires mile a minute action, this book might not be for you. It's not that there isn't plenty of action here, it is just bogged down by pesky character development and actual relationships among the people in the book. If you enjoyed Justin Cronin's 'The Passage' you may enjoy this book also.
Why I liked it
This interesting story is told in a unique style. It's not often that a work of fiction leaves me thinking "I'm actually a little smarter for having read this." That's what happened when I read Plagued, with Guilt. Each chapter of the book begins with a short description of an historic event, scientific principle, social topic, etc. that is somehow connected to the upcoming section of the story. The connections between these educational vignettes and the story are sometimes obvious, and sometimes subtle, but always interesting and improve the depth of the story. The characters are believable, not recognizable as typical book characters, but recognizable as people you might know, your neighbor, sister, co-worker. The author is equally effective in developing characters of different ages, occupations, and genders. This is a story about people, people caught up in extraordinary events to be sure, but it is the people that make the story and not the other way around.
This book isn't formulaic and the storyline develops gradually. Since I read when time permits, this could have been a recipe for a protracted read. However, when I realized I was planning time around the opportunity to get back to the story, I was surprised to realize the people in the book had insidiously crept into my head. I finished the 580 pages in three sittings.
What it isn't
This is not bubblegum fiction. If your idea of a good story requires mile a minute action, this book might not be for you. It's not that there isn't plenty of action here, it is just bogged down by pesky character development and actual relationships among the people in the book. If you enjoyed Justin Cronin's 'The Passage' you may enjoy this book also.
July 13, 2016
I'd like to give this a 3.5 out of 5!
Michael Jason Brandt’s Plagued, With Guilt tells the story of a group of students who are given the chance of a life-time to travel to Iraq to work on an archaeological site. Just as they stumble onto something significant, they are forced to abandon their trip due to conflict in the region. Before leaving however, one team member’s decision to explore the area after dark unleashes a virus that not only affects the group but also has disastrous consequences for mankind.
The book starts off with a great story about a man who transforms himself from a slave to a leader then sacrifices himself and his men after realising the monsters they have become. It then switches to a group of college students who join in on a caving trip. Originally I thought the rest of the book would be about them as the reader gets to know one of the students, Christine quiet well, however she nor her friends have any relevance to the actual story.
While I found the premise to be very good and the characters’ actions and motives to be interesting (especially Ernie) the first half was a little too slow for me. As a result it took me a few goes to get through it. The second half however is action-packed. (For a short while it had me thinking the virus might even be a good thing – Improved performance, increased confidence etc.) There is also a mix of fact and fiction which might not be to everyone’s liking. It wasn’t bad, however I did find myself skimming over some parts so I could get back to the main storyline.
Michael Jason Brandt’s Plagued, With Guilt tells the story of a group of students who are given the chance of a life-time to travel to Iraq to work on an archaeological site. Just as they stumble onto something significant, they are forced to abandon their trip due to conflict in the region. Before leaving however, one team member’s decision to explore the area after dark unleashes a virus that not only affects the group but also has disastrous consequences for mankind.
The book starts off with a great story about a man who transforms himself from a slave to a leader then sacrifices himself and his men after realising the monsters they have become. It then switches to a group of college students who join in on a caving trip. Originally I thought the rest of the book would be about them as the reader gets to know one of the students, Christine quiet well, however she nor her friends have any relevance to the actual story.
While I found the premise to be very good and the characters’ actions and motives to be interesting (especially Ernie) the first half was a little too slow for me. As a result it took me a few goes to get through it. The second half however is action-packed. (For a short while it had me thinking the virus might even be a good thing – Improved performance, increased confidence etc.) There is also a mix of fact and fiction which might not be to everyone’s liking. It wasn’t bad, however I did find myself skimming over some parts so I could get back to the main storyline.
August 20, 2017
This book will have broad appeal as it has something for everyone. The characters are refreshingly real and easy to relate to. The well-developed male and female characters will draw in both male and female readers alike. This story highlights all of the fun and all of the uncertainties of being 20-something (or for that matter, any age). This is a smart cast of believable characters, each with their own vulnerabilities, insecurities, strengths, and aspirations. From the outside each of these characters has everything going their way. But the author gives you more than just a glimpse of the inner workings and background of these characters. You will care about these characters and be eager to learn of each one's fate as the story progresses. With a strong plot, anticipation builds throughout the book.
This book brings a good mix of history, knowledge, and fiction throughout. Each chapter begins with insightful details that may pique an interest you didn't even know you had. This author drew me in with his perceptiveness.
Overall, this book is well written, well researched and moreover, simply a good read. Pick it up and be ready to enjoy.
This book brings a good mix of history, knowledge, and fiction throughout. Each chapter begins with insightful details that may pique an interest you didn't even know you had. This author drew me in with his perceptiveness.
Overall, this book is well written, well researched and moreover, simply a good read. Pick it up and be ready to enjoy.
February 19, 2016
This book will make you think.
This book, a debut novel, is different from other books I have e read. Each chapter starts with a fairly lengthy discussion of an on-topic subject that ties into the story. Most were interesting and somewhat teachable.
The story is about a few students and their trip to Syria where they do some archeological work. Something happens that causes a global health problem. The story is about the relationships and how the tragic events unfold.
This is a lengthy read that will challenge your willingness to continue reading. More than once I considered packing it in. That was before I saw the value of the chapter lead-ins and learned to appreciate the characters. I urge you to read this book with the promise to finish it. I look forward to his next novel. Promising brilliant writer.
This book, a debut novel, is different from other books I have e read. Each chapter starts with a fairly lengthy discussion of an on-topic subject that ties into the story. Most were interesting and somewhat teachable.
The story is about a few students and their trip to Syria where they do some archeological work. Something happens that causes a global health problem. The story is about the relationships and how the tragic events unfold.
This is a lengthy read that will challenge your willingness to continue reading. More than once I considered packing it in. That was before I saw the value of the chapter lead-ins and learned to appreciate the characters. I urge you to read this book with the promise to finish it. I look forward to his next novel. Promising brilliant writer.
April 20, 2016
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was difficult to put down and even though it looked long, it ended way too soon for me. The kindle version could do with some editing and paragraph breaks as it was occasionally difficult to follow where the story changed perspective, but overall, the characters were well developed and the storyline fascinating. Each chapter has a lengthy history/fact lesson that served to introduce disease concepts/ideas which I found fascinating (some Amazon reviewers weren't so enamoured). I actually felt like I learned something after reading this book. I look forward to the next novel from this new author.
June 21, 2016
Plagued with Guilt is a great story interrupted by a lot of history. Brandt gets credit for knowing his stuff and teaching the audience the information, but it gets in the way of the meat of book. I liked the characters and I enjoyed the plot around them but my immersion kept being broken by the spans of past information. It felt like when you're playing an RPG game and you stop to read a history book you found in that. I hope the author trims this part out of future novels and they'll flow much better. THen again, maybe others really enjoy the lesson at the same time.
August 20, 2016
Their lives were ordinary as students but their adventure is anything but ordinary. Professor Applestein leads a group of students on an expedition but an insurgency quickly disrupts their plans. The first half was a bit slow and I could do without many of the education snippets but it picks up steam soon after. The characters were described well and their motivations. Ernie was my favorite character and I think he was the highlight of the novel. Overall, it was a solid read and the author only needs to adjust the pace.
July 15, 2015
Each character became very real as I got to know their private thoughts and feelings. Following the professor and his students on their expedition to Iraq kept me in suspense. I hated for the story to end.
Read
August 12, 2017Abandoned this one...just couldn't get into it.
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