I finished "Alas, Babylon" by Pat Frank last night. It was assigned for my Classic Moms class. I ordered the book along with others at the beginning of the class so it was around the house a while before I got to it. When I saw the words "The classic apocalyptic novel that stunned the world." on the cover, I knew Dan would want to read it and he did. Then he read it to the boys and then I got to it.
Tom and I agree we didn't really like the end. It was a little anti-climatic. Just the words "Not that it matters." stuck out for me. We won the war, but does it matter? When the whole world is destroyed, sent back to the dark ages? The novel is about nuclear war in the 50's. The threat that loomed over everyone for several decades. Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I missed this part of our history and the book does bring that forward into reality for me. I've decided that nuclear war is just something that is not allowed. :))
There were several little pieces that I thought were funny in an odd way. The main character's nephew is happy that he doesn't have to go to school but the uncle assures him that he will as soon as possible. But they don't set up a school. They decided that educating children will have to fall to the parents responsibility for the time being, as if it's a huge burden. Seriously, because the world has been blown to kingdom come and parents will have to keep up to the state standards until...well, until there is a state to make standards again. I know, people try to continue down the path of normalcy especially during a crisis but this is just silly. There were others too, like breastfeeding being so old fashioned but they will just have to do it.
There were interesting things to think about like how would you cook anything and where would you get things like salt! I'm rethinking some of my emergency supplies now. And communication! Wow! No radio, telephone, or even mail. Word of mouth only and that would be severely limited since people were not traveling between areas at all, no cars, just horses and after a nuclear attack? You just don't know when you would be getting radiation. The book gave me anxiety attacks at times, hence the decision against nuclear war. I just can't wrap my mind around preparing or surviving that.
This book brought up "bread and circuses" which I keep reading and seeing and being reminded of, which gives me the creeps!
Anyway, the book is good and I enjoyed reading about the relationships that continue, the segregation that had to be overcome, the restoring of order. I highly recommend it!
Tom and I agree we didn't really like the end. It was a little anti-climatic. Just the words "Not that it matters." stuck out for me. We won the war, but does it matter? When the whole world is destroyed, sent back to the dark ages? The novel is about nuclear war in the 50's. The threat that loomed over everyone for several decades. Growing up in the 70's and 80's, I missed this part of our history and the book does bring that forward into reality for me. I've decided that nuclear war is just something that is not allowed. :))
There were several little pieces that I thought were funny in an odd way. The main character's nephew is happy that he doesn't have to go to school but the uncle assures him that he will as soon as possible. But they don't set up a school. They decided that educating children will have to fall to the parents responsibility for the time being, as if it's a huge burden. Seriously, because the world has been blown to kingdom come and parents will have to keep up to the state standards until...well, until there is a state to make standards again. I know, people try to continue down the path of normalcy especially during a crisis but this is just silly. There were others too, like breastfeeding being so old fashioned but they will just have to do it.
There were interesting things to think about like how would you cook anything and where would you get things like salt! I'm rethinking some of my emergency supplies now. And communication! Wow! No radio, telephone, or even mail. Word of mouth only and that would be severely limited since people were not traveling between areas at all, no cars, just horses and after a nuclear attack? You just don't know when you would be getting radiation. The book gave me anxiety attacks at times, hence the decision against nuclear war. I just can't wrap my mind around preparing or surviving that.
This book brought up "bread and circuses" which I keep reading and seeing and being reminded of, which gives me the creeps!
Anyway, the book is good and I enjoyed reading about the relationships that continue, the segregation that had to be overcome, the restoring of order. I highly recommend it!
