I was putting the pluses and minuses of this book together and after five minuses I had come up with only one plus – giant carnivorous chickens.
There are more pluses, however. I liked this book’s approach of commenting on the current capitalism/environmental balance and how it might tip too far in the wrong direction. I liked how it portrayed the culty vibe of the residents of this “company town” and how many people tend to go along with things because it is in (what they think are) their best interests.
But the recurring theme in this book is that you should listen to your wife/mother. The main character is sort of a super mom who takes on the challenge of keeping her family together during this very unique situation. The men in the family are drinking the Kool-aid while only the wife and daughter smell a rat.
The way the author relates the events is sort of simple, and things are pretty predictable. She even gives us a big foreshadowing of the aforementioned giant carnivorous chickens early on.
A lot of this could be edited down to a shorter book that still accomplishes the same goals – maybe less telling about things and show us more from the characters’ actions.
Next I am reading The Exchange by John Grisham.
