Deep Thinking

I couldn’t resist. I found this “severe case of Pfefferitis” entry from Brooklyn Arden about Susan Beth Pfeffer’s fall 2006 title Life As We Knew It and I was intrigued. Since I inexplicably found myself in the Books A Million store (only 2 miles from my house, heaven!) with nothing particular in mind, I asked at the desk if they had the title. Of course I couldn’t remember the title. Having a mom who managed a bookstore for 20 years I know all about people who walk in and can’t remember enough about the book they saw on TV or in a newspaper review, but still insist that any title you suggest isn’t it. Fortunately, I have Joe. Joe, the manager at BAM, who won’t give up. I have finally met someone as determined as myself to ensure that he finds the title I wants and gets it in my hands. While I was describing the plot from the blog post, all the employees gathered around. When he finally found the title and special ordered it for me, they forced him to order copies for themselves, too.

I was warned. I knew that once I opened this book I couldn’t stop. I just don’t listen to warnings. I began at 12:45 a.m. Do I need to tell you that I know exactly what time the birds start heralding sunrise? I had to read it twice. Once as I raced through for the plot. The second time to read the indepth stuff and begin my survivalist grocery list. I have saved it in the note section of my cell phone so I am prepared if I’m not at home when a disaster strikes and need my grocery list. Chocolate chips are big on my list. Go read this comment to understand why.

I was warned. I dismissed everyone’s claims of food cravings while they read this book. Fortunately #3 son was hungry at 2:30 so I could go fix him something to eat and count the cans of mixed vegetables and tuna I had on hand.

When I woke this morning, I found Susan Pfeffer’s blog and a few other links:

Bookshelves of Doom’s comments “As irrational as it may be, Life As We Knew It scared the crap out of me. It made me want to stockpile food and hook up the wood stove. It also made me want to move further inland, just in case.”

Sci Fi Wire interviewed Susan Pfeffer for this title named a finalist for the Andre Norton Award for best young-adult SF/fantasy novel of the year. It was nominated for seven awards I believe, but I save many of my middle grade fiction novels for summer reading.

Random House on Susan Pfeffer allowed me to sign up for new title announcements

LibraryThing on Susan Beth Pfeffer shows I am not alone in my need to have this book

Inter-Galactic Playground’s not totally shining review blogpost “Survival the American Way” points out an area that bothered me in the book, but I don’t expect perfect characters so it didn’t diminish my enjoyment. It simply gave me something to discuss with readers and that’s what I’m looking for - books that make you think, react, and respond. If you have ever made hard choices, you’ll understand why Pfeffer took one mom’s focus totally on her family and aversion to altruism without creating a simplistic message that we should all take care of one another. Personally I believe I would handle this situation differently, but Pfeffer is writing a second story on the disaster so hopefully we’ll get to see a different viewpoint.

Tracy K at GVPL Book Picks for Teens writes this title:

was kind of like a car crash I couldn’t stop looking at. While I was reading it, when I woke up in the morning I felt very relieved that the world as we know it is still here. This was an intense, thought-provoking book which will remain with me.

Does this make me a gawker? I’m hooked and can’t wait for the next installment. It’s a very good thing I waited until summer vacation to read this. What should I read next?