I liked this book. It was written in the 90s and takes place basically now in California. It was a very realistic and immediate representation of a possible end of civilization scenario. Horrific descriptions of decay and violence were written in a matter of fact tone of someone who had grown up with it all her life.
The curious part was the Sharing. Lauren Olamina, the main character, has a congenital condition caused by her mother’s drug use while she was pregnant, that causes her to feel the exact physical pain of someone around her. Not sure what the point of this is. Does not seem to be driving the plot or anything like that. I’m thinking it should have been a bigger part of the plot. Still thinking on that.
Also it was great to view this world through the eyes of a black woman, who would likely be the most vulnerable of any able bodied adult person.
I understand that this is part of a series, but it did end up just kind of abrupt. I did not sign up for a series. But, considering what I have written thus far, I plan to read the next and I think final book.
