Mullin, Mike - Ashfall - Informal Buddy Read; Starts January 4, 2015

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This topic is open for discussion of Ashfall by Mike Mullin





Book Synopsis:
Under the bubbling hot springs and geysers of Yellowstone National Park is a supervolcano. Most people don't know it's there. The caldera is so large that it can only be seen from a plane or satellite. It just could be overdue for an eruption, which would change the landscape and climate of our planet.

For Alex, being left alone for the weekend means having the freedom to play computer games and hang out with his friends without hassle from his mother. Then the Yellowstone supervolcano erupts, plunging his hometown into a nightmare of darkness, ash, and violence. Alex begins a harrowing trek to seach for his family and finds help in Darla, a travel partner he meets along the way. Together they must find the strength and skills to survive and outlast an epic disaster.

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[Kim]

excited about this one! ive been wanting to read this book forever

[Saphirablue]

I've only discovered it a short time ago and it really looks interesting. :)

[Kim]

Loli think it's been a couple of weeks for me, feels like forever though

[It’s.Annie]

man really I already started reading it and im almost done

[Cynthia]

I read half of it last night, and I don't know why I went that far with it. It's the most boring PA book I've ever read. Alex's own parents think he's the most boring kid ever, or they wouldn't have left a 15 year old alone for the weekend. I have a few questions.
(view spoiler)[
When Joe was explaining to Darren and Alex (in great detail) what was happening, did he mention why he didn't say anything when everyone was outside Alex's house watching it burn?

How did nobody at the Fire Dept know about this impending eruption and Joe did? He isn't a scientist. He's just a guy listening to the radio.

Did Darren have a mental problem? Was that what all the turning red and shaking was about? I thought he was having a stroke.

We're supposed to believe that Alex is an average sized geek, with martial arts training but no real life fighting experience. So how does he manage to not only defeat but KILL a huge escaped prisoner with and axe, who may or may not also be a cannibal? I've read books about ghosts and vampires and werewolves and fairies that are more believable than this.

(hide spoiler)]
There are more problems with the book than just those I mentioned, but it takes more time and effort than I want to spend to go into detail.

The book was just flat. I think surviving in a PA world without your parents or any friends would be emotional, but somehow it isn't. (Not whiny emotional, like girl in The 5th Wave, but feel something!)

[V_Nerdbooks]

I have this one to read?, I'll get to I in the next week or so

[Cynthia]

I may finish it off, since I'm over halfway through it. I have it for another 12 days.

[Cynthia]

I finished it today. I couldn't stand sending it back half read.

I still think it's very unbelievable, and overly long. It tries to do too much. I tend to prefer the kind of PA fiction that focuses on social and psychological issues, ethical dilemma stuff. On the other hand, I'll read good practical survival oriented PA fiction. This book tries to be both of those things, and as a result doesn't do either as well as it could.

(view spoiler)[
I'm not at all surprised his parents went back for him. Why would they not? They were in a safe place to leave Rebecca, and their son was in an area that was more dangerous. Why would Alex not think of this? Why would he assume it was his responsibility to leave out alone to find his parents? Doesn't make sense.

I'm glad they didn't make it to the uncle's house earlier in the book. I don't care much for the aunt. She doesn't seem to have a good grasp of reality. Driving the minivan? To where, exactly? And when, and how, and why? Hello North America is a hot mess. Stay home.

I also find it hard to believe that they were growing kale and had no idea it's a superfood. Or that the town had an almost limitless supply of pork. Have they been hiding in the house since the eruption?
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