Thursday, April 5, 2012

BOOK: White Horse by Alex Adams

White Horse by Alex Adams, 292 pages

published April 17, 2012 (review book from Simon and Schuster)

 For people who are worried about genetic mutations, and corporations playing around with DNA and letting it into the population: I wouldn't recommend this book! If, however, you like apocalyptic books (like The Stand, or The Road) White Horse is a book to add to your collection. Be warned however: it is the first in a proposed trilogy, and when this one ends, you will be wanting the next book. Great last sentence! (but I'm not telling). Also warning, it's pretty gruesome in parts, but I read a little fast over those parts, sort of with my fingers covering my view.

Thirty year old Zoe narrates the book in first person, so we only see the story from her perspective, as an urn appears in her apartment and people are starting to get sick around her. She begins seeing a shrink, but the world is changing with all the sickness and death. The time line goes back and forth; then, when Zoe worked at Pope Pharmaceuticals and people begin getting sick, and now, as she makes her way across a devastated Europe. There is intrigue (the company she worked for), danger (navigating the new landscape as a lone female), and romance, as she tries to meet up with her boyfriend, hoping he is still alive.

Human beings may no longer be a viable life form, but Zoe is determined to keep her human characteristics and morals. This is not easy in the new world. I'm trying to imagine all the ways this trilogy will head. There is still a political aspect of governments and who is in charge. Plus the new genetic creatures that are around, and the individual relationships that Zoe has with others. Lots of potential!

Comments (9)

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Sounds really good! I would not say that I am unduly worried about genetic mutations -- is that a thing people worry about? :p And I could definitely use a first-in-a-trilogy book to read. It's nice looking forward to yet-unpublished books.
1 reply · active 677 weeks ago
People are worried about the genetic modification of plants, and the possible effect on people and animals. Genetic modifications are done on purpose, mutations happen spontaneousy, so it's just a matter of intent. I think.

It is fun looking forward to a new book!
Count me amongst the folks who are worried about the genetic messing-about. How can people NOT worry about that?! *looks in Jenny's direction* :) Even so, I'm really looking forward to reading this -- I've heard other good things, too -- but I'm pretty sure it will ratchet up the paranoia a good bit. Heh.
3 replies · active 674 weeks ago
Paranoia, eh? Kind of like after reading The Stand? or Life as We Knew It? It doesn't take much to change everything. Enjoy!
Yes, I've read The Stand a couple of times, but I don't know the other: should I be adding it to my list? I just finished White Horse, so I'll be posting my thoughts in a few days; it's quite an engaging read, that's for sure!
Life as We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeiffer is a YA book, where an asteroid bumps the moon a little closer to us, which affects the tides, and thus weather, and throwing the world in chaos. It is done as a young girl's diary, and was very good. I think everyone who read that book looks at their pantry and store of food a little differently.
I like the sound of this one!
1 reply · active 677 weeks ago
It was good, in a scary gross way. But I'm a Stephen King fan, so I like that.
I read this one back in 2012 (http://www.susanhatedliterature.net/2012/07/white-horse/ ) and I didn't enjoy it I'm afraid. I haven't read anything else by Adams since although I think I would if I stumbled across one. She has interesting ideas, but the way the plot developed didn't work for me, and that bad-guy!

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