One Second After - May 2016

[Nicole]

This thread is for discussing May's book.

[Rudolph]

After reading this, I had to think of some what ifs. Scary thoughts, especially since my son is about to start college that is over three hours away, which if what happens in the book takes place would be like the other side of the country. I'm traveling to Montreat in a couple of weeks; hope power stays on.

[Bryan]

Well, I'm freaked out a little now. Interesting story, but I could've done without the author using characters monolouging throughout the book, though. It felt like him just preaching to the reader, but in his defense, he pretty much said in the forward that was the point of the book.
I almost stopped reading this several times early on because of the clear 'tilt' of the story and the little sermons every few pages. But I stuck with it, and was surprisingly moved by the various tragic and often poignant events throughout.

[Nicole]

Finished the book last night and for me it was very predictable when it came to some of the things that happened. It could've been a good book but the writing was horrible.

[Wendy]

I thought so too. In fact I didn't finish. I barely started partly because it bugged me so much!

[Rodney]

A few questions. Sorry these are late.

1. Do you share your supplies with others?
2. Do you help the sick, what if they are contagious?
3. How would you balance the desire to feed and protect your family with the need to help an entire community?
4. How do you keep law and order when there is chaos all around?
4. What type of punishments are acceptable and who doles them out?
6. How do you start to organize a structure of government or community?
7. Would you know how to replenish food supplies on an ongoing basis? (crops and animals)
8, What do you think will be the new currency?
9. Who would be responsible for re-establishing the nation? The transit systems? Communications? Electric? Would we be left on our own to re-invent the wheel? Or do you think outside help would come and get things moving again?
10. Most of us take for granted how utterly reliant we are on electrical power, especially the more technologically advanced our societies are. In a situation like that with which One Second After begins—all power shutting down, car and truck engines dying suddenly, generators failing to kick in, phones useless, a broad and ominous silence falling—what would be your first instinct? Where would you want to go? Whom would you first want to contact, or protect? How prepared would you, your family, or your home be for such a scenario?