Title: The Weepers: The Other Life
Author: Susanne WinnackerPublication date: May 15th 2012
Publisher: Marshell Cavendish
Age group: Young Adult
Genre: Post Apocalyptic/Dystopia
Cover rating: 2/5
Content rating: 4/5
Buy: Amazon / The Book Depository
Description via Goodreads:
3 years, 1 month, 1 week and 6 days since I’d seen daylight. One-fifth of my life.My thoughts:
Sherry and her family have lived sealed in a bunker in the garden since things went wrong up above. Her grandfather has been in the freezer for the last three months, her parents are at each other’s throats and two minutes ago they ran out of food.
Sherry and her father leave the safety of the bunker and find a devastated and empty LA, smashed to pieces by bombs and haunted by ‘Weepers’ - rabid humans infected with a weaponized rabies virus.
While searching for food in a supermarket, Sherry’s father disappears and Sherry is saved by Joshua, a boy-hunter. He takes her to Safe-haven, a tumble-down vineyard in the hills outside LA, where a handful of other survivors are picking up the pieces of their ‘other lives’. As she falls in love for the first time, Sherry must save her father, stay alive and keep Joshua safe when his desire for vengeance threatens them all.
From the moment I first read the description of this book, I knew I just had to read it. Just the sheer number of days since the protagonists had seen daylight had me curious. I was really excited to find out what had gone so terribly wrong and to get to know the character who counts every single day! I was looking for a creepy read and I definitely found that in this book. I was hooked from the very first page and didn't want to take my eyes off the book until I was finished. For me, that is the sign of a good story!
The Weepers (also called The Other Life) is a tale set in a devastated world. A virus has taken control of the population and the ones who aren't dead or infected, are hiding out and wishing for a miracle. This story is told from the point of view of Sherry (such an unexpected name!), a teenager who has been stuck in a bunker with her family for the last 3 years. I loved Sherry's voice from the beginning and found it really easy to connect with her as a character. She's clearly a very strong person despite her appalling circumstances. She does great job of creating the picture of what life is like inside the bunker and how it's tearing her family apart.
There is a lot of doom and gloom in this book. It is actually quite depressing at some points and some images creeped me out so much! Especially, like in the description, the fact that they had to keep her grandfather's body in freezer next to their food. There was just so much despair and so many terrible things happening! This novel really keeps you guessing, too. We slowly find out more about what's been going on and there's lots of mystery and suspense to keep you on your toes as you speed through it.
It's quite a quick read and really only takes a couple of hours. The writing flows so well and is easy to get lost in. I really enjoyed getting to know Sherry and Joshua and watching their relationship slowly grow, in spite of everything that was going on. The Weepers is one of the better dystopian books I've (and it seems like I've read a lot) and I would totally recommend it. It's definitely worth your time!
Great review Nicola! I've also been reading great reviews for this book so I'm glad you enjoyed it too! I'm not sure which cover I prefer I've only seen the on on the right floating about! :)
ReplyDeleteI've seen this one around but, to be completely honest, I took one look at the cover and figured it was some "heart-wrenching" contemporary. Needless to say, I'm not a fan. I saw this one your homepage, groaned, and finally decided to read the description. Dystopian?! And it sounds interesting at that! 4/5 stars isn't something to scoff at either. I will definitely have to check this one out. Thanks for the review! :)
ReplyDeleteAwesome review Nicola. I was looking forward to seeing what you'd think of this one. I agree with everything you say in your review. I really liked it too. Sherry and Joshua were great characters.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to see you liked this Nicola! I gave it the same rating as you. :) I loved the writing and the tone of the book and Joshua and Sherry were great characters to read about. Lovely review!
ReplyDeleteI was also turned off by the cover. But the review is great. Thank for that. I saw your post on Goodreads YA blogs and am happy to follow you. You can find me at: http://todayinshenaya.blogspot.com
ReplyDeleteGwynneth
I love that you included both covers in your review! Sometimes there are so many alternate covers that it takes a moment for it to click in me that it's actually a book I've already read instead of one that just gives me a sense of deja vu LOL! x)
ReplyDeleteThis was a fantastic review, Nicola! The reason I wanted to read this book was because the idea of her not seeing the sun for a fifth of her life was so intriguing too! And even though it's really creepy and depressing at times, I guess that's exactly what a good dystopian is, right? ;) You just made me more eager to read this than before! :) <3
I've heard of this book before but never actually got the chance to read it! The cover does not really intrigue me but I like the sound of the book! Sounds really interesting!
ReplyDeleteAwesome review, Nicola! <3 So glad you enjoyed it!