Susan’s review of Earth Abides > Likes and Comments

Hi Sabah! Thanks so much for your kind words. This novel made a great impression on me. During the week I read it, I felt like I was living in Ish's world.

Susan-- you have inspired me to read this one! Wow, sounds so compelling and fresh.

Thanks Sher! I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

I am not sure that is possible Susan! Just teasing. Thank you, and I will let you know what I think! Sher

Excelent review Susan,i have not read this book yet but by the review i think it have some points in comon with the Scarlet Plague by Jack London

Thanks Jose! I had no idea Jack London wrote sci fi. Scarlet Plague does sound similar.

Loved your review but coming from someone who teaches civilization, it is to be expected. I read this years ago and reread it a couple years ago, have recommended it to many. For those who think it is dated, I would say it speaks universal truths. Who survives would determine, by their experiences and background, how the world would probably recreate itself. If the self=centered, greedy, power hungry were those, it would probably not be a very good place in order to live. If thoughtful, altruistic, creative people survived, it could eventually recover. Those that say it is boring are reading it with a Mad Max agenda. I read it with a rebuilding of civilization point of view. It has it all. What characteristics would help you choose to be a help mate, different criteria perhaps than today. Rebuilding communities, what rules would you apply? As a retired teacher, I can see how difficult it would be to instill the want to learn when there was no need to do so as so much was there for the taking, at least for years.

Hi Joan! It’s great to meet someone who appreciates this book as much as I do. You said “For those who think it is dated, I would say it speaks universal truths.” I totally agree. Being educators, it’s probably natural for us to be interested in the process of rebuilding civilization. Mad Max-style dystopias are fine, but Earth Abides is not one of them. It is a realistic book about ordinary people responding to a believable crisis.

Excellent review.

Just reread your review and am now looking at it from today's news. It seems we are truly in #4, c and d. The present political party is being led by an unread, buffoon and his supporters who delight in his and their ignorance. I can only hope that knowledge and humanity will prevail soon without the disasters that could possibly come from war, disease, and ignorance.

Wow. This sounds like one hell of a book! I can't help but think of Atwood's MaddAddam trilogy and be reminded that I should call my brother today! (My brother has walked most of the U.S. and can forage for his food. I often remind him that if the Apocalypse comes, I need him to start walking toward my house).

Hi Julie. What a fascinating experience it must be to see the country that way.

Susan,
Cold Mountain is one of my all-time favorite books for this very reason. Inman's departure from the war and subsequent foot journey is so beautiful and heart-breaking to me. His views from the mountaintop are the perfect counterpoint to the devastation we did to our land in that war.

This is a fantastic review, worth reading all by itself. I just finished Stewart’s Storm published in 1941. Can’t find it here on Good Reads. It is a heavy, ponderous, somewhat impersonal novel about a huge storm building out in the Pacific and sweeping over the Western Hemisphere and how meteorologists, those in charge of highways, river flows, train and airplane travel react and deal. Hard to read but fascinating. This book started the naming of storms. After reading that and this review, I’m going to read this which I’d do even if I wasn’t self-isolated in my home due to covid-19 which isn’t going to empty the earth of most humans but is having a severe impact on daily life and our oh-so-fragile financial markets. I wish Stewart was here to observe and write about this. Interesting to know Earth Abides inspired The Stand. I recently read a twitter reply by King in which he quickly castigated a reader who was wailing that covid-19 is just like The Stand. Maybe King will give us a measured assessment (with an added dash of creepy gore that I don’t like) of our current situation in the next few years. Thanks for this thoughtful and detailed review. I’m off to order this book.

Wonderful review, Susan! You really convinced me! Seems the book to read in the present circumstances. Added!

Thanks Losososdiane. It’s the realism that makes Earth Abides such a compelling book. I think I would like Storm too.

Thanks Hanneke.

Incredible review, thank you for writing it! I wish I'd have been a student in your classes :)

Thanks Alexandra.

Wow what a review! I was contemplating what I should read during my upcoming extended weekend at my family's cabin and your review helped me to decide. Thank you

Thanks Natalie. I hope you have an awesome weekend!

What a fantastic review. Thank you for taking the time to write it.

Thanks Gary. I’m glad you liked it.

I want to take your course!!

Thanks Elicia. I had fun teaching that class.

Exceptionally well-written and engaging review!

Thanks Jay.

Thanks for the review, love that quote from the textbook.

Great review! I wish I could take your courses; they sound amazing!

Excellent review! I first read this in the early 90’s and have reread a few times over the years. It certainly makes a deep impression on those of us who closely watch the march of Man through Time. Civilization is a phenomenon not a certainty!

The date of this excellent review is so ironic! Literally in the days the world was closing down due to Covid.

Going down the Road Feeling Bad. My favorite Grateful Dead tune. I will read your entire review when I finish the book. I’m only 40 pages in. I think I’ll appreciate your point of view.

Joan wrote: "Just reread your review and am now looking at it from today's news. It seems we are truly in #4, c and d. The present political party is being led by an unread, buffoon and his supporters who delight in his and their ignorance. I can only hope that knowledge and humanity will prevail soon without the disasters that could possibly come from war, disease, and ignorance."

Well ...this comment certainly did not age well.

I just finished the book this morning, so your wonderful analysis gave me a greater appreciation of Stewart’s themes. If only Ish had realized that the best way to get children interested in books is to first read to them. In this and other ways, the author’s lack of experience in hands-on parenting is to the story’s detriment. Still, I enjoyed reading it in 2025 and adjusting my expectations and criticisms to account for the author’s very retro attitude toward women.

Thanks for the breakdown!