CyberStorm, by Matthew Mather - Starting August 18th 2018

[Felicia]

Sometimes the worst storms aren't caused by Mother Nature, and sometimes the worst nightmares aren't in the ones in our heads...

Mike Mitchell, an average New Yorker already struggling to keep his family together, suddenly finds himself fighting just to keep them alive when an increasingly bizarre string of disasters start appearing on the world’s news networks. As the world and cyberworlds come crashing down, bending perception and reality, a monster snowstorm cuts New York off from the world, becoming a wintry tomb where no one can be trusted, and nothing is what it seems...

CyberStorm is a techno-thriller set in present-day New York City that will appeal to fans of Michael Chichton and Tom Clancy as well as devotees of William Gibson and Neal Stephenson. It is an exploration of the human condition as the cyberworld collides with our own, a compelling portrait of a possible future that is all too terrifyingly real.

[Jennifer]

End of 12/24 (25%) - (view spoiler)[ Ya know it's funny that I would pick this book. Just a couple of days ago I gave my kids a long lecture about how cars were just plain mechanical and didn't use to have computer chips running everything (ours was in the shop b/c of a chip issue), and I was asking them what they thought would happen if the internet/computers went down. They lamented that they would have less Fortnite to play. I guess after reading this book, I'll have more examples to share in my next lecture. LOL. BTW, I really don't like Lauren, but I want a BFF like Chuck. (hide spoiler)]

[Jennifer]

Day 10 (50%) - (view spoiler)[ Who is this Paul guy and why does he seem to have a gang of guys out to get Chuck and friends? Also, is it just me or has Mike done a complete 180 w/regard to Lauren. He thought the baby wasn't even his, but now he is all lovey dovey again? (hide spoiler)]
Day 26 (75%) - (view spoiler)[ So Richard was the bad guy. I can't say I'm sorry that his wife finally got her revenge. I'm also glad that they are planning on getting out of NYC....but is the rest of the nation really going to be any better? (hide spoiler)]
Finished - (view spoiler)[ That ending was just off, like - oh and he woke up and it was all a dream. So many people dead in a such a short amount of time and mostly from people just being greedy and awful and scared.

This book was just "meh" for me. In a way, it makes me want to stock up on canned goods and just leave it at that. Sorry I picked a dud here. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

20%
(view spoiler)[I like all of the characters so far. I also like the writing style. I sometimes have issues reading books that would otherwise be interesting if the writing was different. Also, I think the concept of the book, although not entirely unique, is interesting. I love post-apocalyptic and dystopian novels. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

40%
(view spoiler)[I am enjoying the slow escalation to the end of the world. cyberterrorism has become a new possibility, and no one understands how much it would interrupt our lives. Parts of life would come to a complete standstill. I like how the book demonstrates ways this could affect everyday life that you wouldn’t think about. (hide spoiler)]

[Marissa]

60%
(view spoiler)[It would be pretty scary not having law enforcement there to keep people in line, as well as protect you. With the food shortage I can imagine that there would be more looting and fighting than ever. Starvation and worrying about your family could lead people to do things that they wouldn’t normally do. However, there are also just bad people like Stan and Paul who tried to steal right after the cyber attack. (hide spoiler)]