Plot: (Back of Book) In a matter of weeks, Massachusetts has been overrun by an insidious rabies-like virus that is spread by saliva. But unlike rabies, the disease has a terrifyingly short incubation period of an hour or less. Those infected quickly lose their minds and are driven to bite and infect as many others as they can before they inevitably succumb. Hospitals are inundated with the sick and dying, and hysteria has taken hold. To try to limit its spread, the commonwealth is under quarantine and curfew. But society is breaking down and the government's emergency protocols are faltering. Dr. Ramola "Rams" Sherman, a soft-spoken pediatrician in her mid-thirties, receives a frantic phone call from Natalie, a friend who is eight months pregnant. Natalie's husband has been killed—viciously attacked by an infected neighbor—and in a failed attempt to save him, Natalie, too, was bitten. Natalie's only chance of survival is to get to a hospital as quickly as possible to receive a rabies vaccine. The clock is ticking for her and for her unborn child.
My Review and Thoughts:
To be honest this is my first Tremblay book. I had no knowledge of his style of writing so it was a clean slate going in. I love books about viruses or medical disasters and so this was a plus for me. To me a good horror book brings out the unexplained or the mystery of what is happening or what is going to happen and that is what Survivor Song details.
It's rich with devastation and a mystery all brought forth through a tale of struggle and survival against the horror unfolding. What I find intriguing is how now we are going through the covid pandemic as of this writing and it gives it a personal reality to the story. The fear and dread of the unknown aspects of a virus, today's atmosphere gives a relevant reality to Survivor Song.
I am one that fears true horrors, horrors of a natural sense such as infection and viruses and the unknown of those infections. This book plays on the reality based horrors. This is a book mixed with deep rich brilliant moments with flawlessly written characters.
This dark story of strength and unknown lessons becomes a wonderful spiraling complete journey of emotional choices, actions and personal beliefs and struggles.
Tremblay created a vast world of thoughtful and disturbing characters. He created a landscape or formed a world in it's own little time line. Ramola and Natalie are what character building is all about. Those two characters are created deeply for the reader to bring the reader into that struggle on page after page of tension and survival.
There is a part of all of us in these two characters. Also the two teenage boys, Josh and Luis, there friendship, brotherhood and ultimate sensitive love for one another in the end of their journey is honestly something that pulls at the heart strings of humanity.
That is what makes this book work and the reality of the virus to me is not the main subject, the main subject is about life, it's about how life, or to live is the focus to move forward or to protect that ultimate means that all of us possess, the will and want to live.
Solidly executed with a mastery in building a fairy tale of truth. A personal touch of the human heart and the human will. This book plays out in truths, choices, struggles but most of all the formation of forward by any means, forward with life no matter all the horrors, either human in nature or darkness prone. Ramola and Natalie or a part of us all.
Would I Return to It Again: Absolutely, somewhere down the lane of time I will adventure along with Ramola and Natalie once again.
Would I Recommend: Passionately. I thought the characters were amazing.
My Rating: 4 out of 5
Four Final Words: Brilliant experience. Solidly crafted.