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The Revivalists
"The Revivalists is a thrilling, terrifying, surprising, and tender debut, written in such exquisitely precise prose that I felt singed by its imaginary fires and warmed by its beating heart. Chris Hood's nightmarish cross-country family odyssey is also one of the most beautiful love stories I've ever read."--Karen Russell, bestselling author of Swamplandia! and Orange World
A stunning debut novel about a couple's harrowing journey across a ravaged America to save their daughter.
Bill and Penelope are the lucky ones. Not only do they survive the Shark Flu emerging from the melting Icelandic permafrost to sweep like a scythe across the world, but they begin to rebuild a life in the wreckage of the old. A garden to feed themselves planted where the lawn used to be, a mattress pulled down to the living room fireplace for warmth. Even Bill's psychology practice endures the collapse of the social order, the handful of remaining clients bartering cans of food for their sessions. But when their daughter's voice over the radio in the kitchen announces that she's joined a cult three thousand miles away in Bishop, California, they leave it all behind to embark on a perilous trek across the hollowed-out remains of America to save her.
Their journey is an unforgettable odyssey through communities scattered across the continent, but for all the ways that the world has changed, the hopes and fears of this little family remain the same as they always have been. In The Revivalists, Christopher M. Hood creates a haunting, moving, darkly funny, and ultimately hopeful portrait of a world and a marriage tested by extraordinary circumstances.
A stunning debut novel about a couple's harrowing journey across a ravaged America to save their daughter.
Bill and Penelope are the lucky ones. Not only do they survive the Shark Flu emerging from the melting Icelandic permafrost to sweep like a scythe across the world, but they begin to rebuild a life in the wreckage of the old. A garden to feed themselves planted where the lawn used to be, a mattress pulled down to the living room fireplace for warmth. Even Bill's psychology practice endures the collapse of the social order, the handful of remaining clients bartering cans of food for their sessions. But when their daughter's voice over the radio in the kitchen announces that she's joined a cult three thousand miles away in Bishop, California, they leave it all behind to embark on a perilous trek across the hollowed-out remains of America to save her.
Their journey is an unforgettable odyssey through communities scattered across the continent, but for all the ways that the world has changed, the hopes and fears of this little family remain the same as they always have been. In The Revivalists, Christopher M. Hood creates a haunting, moving, darkly funny, and ultimately hopeful portrait of a world and a marriage tested by extraordinary circumstances.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published October 4, 2022
About the author
Christopher M. Hood
3 books43 followersChristopher M. Hood is a high school teacher and writer, and The Revivalists is his first novel. He lives in the New York City area with his wife and daughter. He loves book clubs and would be happy to zoom into yours!
Please don't hesitate to reach [email protected]. He is also happy to send signed bookplates for all the book club members!
Please don't hesitate to reach [email protected]. He is also happy to send signed bookplates for all the book club members!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 141 reviews
October 5, 2022
Wow… just wow.. I don’t think I’ve ever read a book where the author’s self-hating white male issues are so obvious and overbearing. Seriously, this rivals Cohen’s professor character from "Who Is America?". That one was a parody, and here, unfortunately, the author seems to have some deep issues with himself and white people.
Here’s the author basically saying that “Whiteness” is the worst disease and that a world ravaging virus is actually a good thing to get rid of “Whiteness”--”Whiteness was a numbing, amnesiac drug. Maybe cleansing fire had been necessary. Maybe the Shark Flu was a gift. Maybe it was God putting his massive divine thumb on the reset button.”
Here’s some more racist thoughts and ideas-- “It’s ridiculous. Is racism really going to be the last thing left in the whole fucking world? The last guy alive, if he happens to be White, is going to be worried about what’s happening to the neighborhood if the wrong element moves into the cave next door.” A minute went by before she spoke. “When we finally got to have cemeteries,” Penelope said, “they segregated those too. Even when they’re dead, White people are still racist.”
Oh, and of course the time when he claims that slavery was worse than a virus that killed nearly every human on earth - ““This virus shit is bad,” Veronica was saying, “but slavery? Come on. White folks act like the end of Western civilization is the worst thing that ever happened. We know that shit happens…All. The. Time. None of this shit was built to last. People of color in Africa, Asia, the Middle East—we were doing advanced math and forming complex agrarian societies when y’all was shitting in the woods.”
There’s so much more of this throughout the book, it’s absolutely ridiculous. Oh, and the white husband at one point becomes a slave to his black wife. Have your issues man, but why did you feel the need to share them with the world? This book is slow, tedious, and simply bad. Go read THE ROAD, STATION ELEVEN, or SWAN SONG if you want to scratch that post apocalyptic itch. This heap of bullshit and awful writing would just make you itch harder.
P.S just in case you don’t believe me -here’s some more examples of the author’s inexplicable hatred (towards himself?) and bigotry. There are so many more but I’ll spare you the rest.
“This was part of getting past the veneer—the talk got real, which meant the danger was real, but also the gift: truth being told. I’d been living an artificial life, a Disneyland existence, all White people had this unspoken agreement not to look too hard at anything."
“Dividing people up, excluding them, that’s your peoples’ thing. You can join, we got some White folks. The only thing is this: they have to recalibrate their thinking. Nobody wants to hear what you have to say, just because you’re White. You gonna have to be comfortable with Black women leading the way.”
Here’s the author basically saying that “Whiteness” is the worst disease and that a world ravaging virus is actually a good thing to get rid of “Whiteness”--”Whiteness was a numbing, amnesiac drug. Maybe cleansing fire had been necessary. Maybe the Shark Flu was a gift. Maybe it was God putting his massive divine thumb on the reset button.”
Here’s some more racist thoughts and ideas-- “It’s ridiculous. Is racism really going to be the last thing left in the whole fucking world? The last guy alive, if he happens to be White, is going to be worried about what’s happening to the neighborhood if the wrong element moves into the cave next door.” A minute went by before she spoke. “When we finally got to have cemeteries,” Penelope said, “they segregated those too. Even when they’re dead, White people are still racist.”
Oh, and of course the time when he claims that slavery was worse than a virus that killed nearly every human on earth - ““This virus shit is bad,” Veronica was saying, “but slavery? Come on. White folks act like the end of Western civilization is the worst thing that ever happened. We know that shit happens…All. The. Time. None of this shit was built to last. People of color in Africa, Asia, the Middle East—we were doing advanced math and forming complex agrarian societies when y’all was shitting in the woods.”
There’s so much more of this throughout the book, it’s absolutely ridiculous. Oh, and the white husband at one point becomes a slave to his black wife. Have your issues man, but why did you feel the need to share them with the world? This book is slow, tedious, and simply bad. Go read THE ROAD, STATION ELEVEN, or SWAN SONG if you want to scratch that post apocalyptic itch. This heap of bullshit and awful writing would just make you itch harder.
P.S just in case you don’t believe me -here’s some more examples of the author’s inexplicable hatred (towards himself?) and bigotry. There are so many more but I’ll spare you the rest.
“This was part of getting past the veneer—the talk got real, which meant the danger was real, but also the gift: truth being told. I’d been living an artificial life, a Disneyland existence, all White people had this unspoken agreement not to look too hard at anything."
“Dividing people up, excluding them, that’s your peoples’ thing. You can join, we got some White folks. The only thing is this: they have to recalibrate their thinking. Nobody wants to hear what you have to say, just because you’re White. You gonna have to be comfortable with Black women leading the way.”
October 24, 2023
This book was a thrill ride for me. Well educated, middle aged couple survive a devastating pandemic and set out on a cross country quest to reunite with their beloved daughter. The landscape they travel across is familiar yet incredibly changed. Human nature being what it is, not much has changed in that area. Friends, enemies, active avoiders - all are encountered. The wife uses her mathematically attuned mind to find the best solution to one major problem and also to reestablish the bond with her husband that time had weakened. Absorbing... Hard to put down. Highly recommended.
My thanks to the author, Christopher M. Hood, and the publisher, Harper Perennial, for my copy of this book. #Goodreads Giveaway
My thanks to the author, Christopher M. Hood, and the publisher, Harper Perennial, for my copy of this book. #Goodreads Giveaway
September 26, 2022
A riveting and original debut!
A post-apocalyptic novel that leaves you constantly turning the page but offers so much heart as it covers marriage, race, survivor's guilt, family, and what it all means in a time where there's little left!
In a post Covid-19 world, the world is shocked again by Shark Flu. Leaving the world decimated, readers follow Bill and Penelope. Having survived the Flu and cocooned in their once picturesque suburb, they receive an alarming radio communication from their college aged daughter, Hannah, who has joined a cult and says she is no longer a part of their family. Devastated but determined, the two pack up for a journey across a country now unknown to them to save their daughter.
I could not put this one down and finished it in a day!
I found this book to be equal parts thrilling and realistic with characters that felt real and approachable.
Story:
- Great pacing. Relevant themes: normalcy, loneliness, societal constructs and their relevancy in a post apocalyptic, family, trauma, murder/death. Impactful moments. A snarky college aged kid. Crazy characters but also kind characters along the way! And a married couple that will stay with me for awhile.
Characters:
- Bill was a thoughtful MC. He is highly self aware and knows his place in his marriage, his family, and this life he's been living. I enjoyed the layers he brought as well as witnessing the intense love he felt for Penelope and Hannah. Despite terrible circumstances, he always felt realistic and never whiney and was resolute until the very end.
- At first, I wanted more from Penelope and wished for chapters in her perspective, but by the end, that wasn't the case. She was a brilliant foil to Bill. She had such a quiet power, and the moments where she spoke or took control of the situation were some of the most impactful for the book. And while yes she had moments of strength, I found how she dealt with aftermath of the Shark Flu so realistic to someone of her previous stature in life. Truly a great character.
This book has so much heart. Thank you Harper for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!
A post-apocalyptic novel that leaves you constantly turning the page but offers so much heart as it covers marriage, race, survivor's guilt, family, and what it all means in a time where there's little left!
In a post Covid-19 world, the world is shocked again by Shark Flu. Leaving the world decimated, readers follow Bill and Penelope. Having survived the Flu and cocooned in their once picturesque suburb, they receive an alarming radio communication from their college aged daughter, Hannah, who has joined a cult and says she is no longer a part of their family. Devastated but determined, the two pack up for a journey across a country now unknown to them to save their daughter.
I could not put this one down and finished it in a day!
I found this book to be equal parts thrilling and realistic with characters that felt real and approachable.
Story:
- Great pacing. Relevant themes: normalcy, loneliness, societal constructs and their relevancy in a post apocalyptic, family, trauma, murder/death. Impactful moments. A snarky college aged kid. Crazy characters but also kind characters along the way! And a married couple that will stay with me for awhile.
Characters:
- Bill was a thoughtful MC. He is highly self aware and knows his place in his marriage, his family, and this life he's been living. I enjoyed the layers he brought as well as witnessing the intense love he felt for Penelope and Hannah. Despite terrible circumstances, he always felt realistic and never whiney and was resolute until the very end.
- At first, I wanted more from Penelope and wished for chapters in her perspective, but by the end, that wasn't the case. She was a brilliant foil to Bill. She had such a quiet power, and the moments where she spoke or took control of the situation were some of the most impactful for the book. And while yes she had moments of strength, I found how she dealt with aftermath of the Shark Flu so realistic to someone of her previous stature in life. Truly a great character.
This book has so much heart. Thank you Harper for an advanced reader's copy in exchange for my honest review!
October 16, 2022
"What did you do?" I asked. "When everything fell apart?"
"I don't know, man," she said. "Did everything fall apart? How together was it to begin with?"
The Revivalists is a story about real people in unreal times. I say real because Hood's master stroke is that every character - be it a small town therapist, toxically masculine militant, backwoods ganja hippy or crazed religious cult leader - has a pulse you can feel.
Hood's debut novel follows a married couple, Bill and Penelope, on a perilous journey across hollowed-out, post-pandemic America to save their daughter, Hannah, from the grips of a religious cult.
This isn't the pandemic of our time. This is a pandemic that wipes out 70% of the global population, leaving its survivors to rebuild in the aftermath of complete societal collapse, where modern technologies and conveniences are rusted relics of which we clearly relied all too heavily on.
New orders are claiming their own fucked up manifest destiny, upending the freedom we all once enjoyed, instilling tolls paid in necessities on our throughways, blindly killing the desperate to loot what little they have, and some even drinking the blood of the immune in some quasi-pursuit of immortality.
This is high-grade, post-apocalyptic fiction that pulls few punches, but quite a few heartstrings. You take the journey with Bill and Penelope, rooting for their cause, caring for their safety, and hoping for their reunion with their daughter.
This is raw and real writing; a page-turning odyssey with character depth you wish would continue another 200 pages.
4 out of 5
"I don't know, man," she said. "Did everything fall apart? How together was it to begin with?"
The Revivalists is a story about real people in unreal times. I say real because Hood's master stroke is that every character - be it a small town therapist, toxically masculine militant, backwoods ganja hippy or crazed religious cult leader - has a pulse you can feel.
Hood's debut novel follows a married couple, Bill and Penelope, on a perilous journey across hollowed-out, post-pandemic America to save their daughter, Hannah, from the grips of a religious cult.
This isn't the pandemic of our time. This is a pandemic that wipes out 70% of the global population, leaving its survivors to rebuild in the aftermath of complete societal collapse, where modern technologies and conveniences are rusted relics of which we clearly relied all too heavily on.
New orders are claiming their own fucked up manifest destiny, upending the freedom we all once enjoyed, instilling tolls paid in necessities on our throughways, blindly killing the desperate to loot what little they have, and some even drinking the blood of the immune in some quasi-pursuit of immortality.
This is high-grade, post-apocalyptic fiction that pulls few punches, but quite a few heartstrings. You take the journey with Bill and Penelope, rooting for their cause, caring for their safety, and hoping for their reunion with their daughter.
This is raw and real writing; a page-turning odyssey with character depth you wish would continue another 200 pages.
4 out of 5
October 24, 2022
I'll save you a few hours. It's a post-pandemic world that can be summarized as follows: White people bad, Black people good. Men bad, women good. Christians bad, agnostics good. Conservatives bad, liberals good. Urban residents smart, rural residents dumb.
It's like a version of World War Z written by Bernie Sanders. Such drivel.
It's like a version of World War Z written by Bernie Sanders. Such drivel.
December 29, 2022
Good story, but the writing was a bit basic for my taste. I do like post apocalyptic stories that focus on characters and hopefulness, so I enjoyed reading it even with the uninspired writing.
August 10, 2022
Absolutely loved this book. Could not put it down- finished in a couple of days. If you liked Station Eleven you’ll love this.
August 22, 2022
In Hood’s debut novel, the time is few years after the Covid-19 pandemic, and a new virus (absurdly named “shark flu”) born of melting permafrost in Iceland has struck with devastating effects. In a matter of several months, everything society relies on (cell phones, television, the internet) grinds to a halt as billions of people die. Interracial couple Bill and Penelope are among the lucky few who have “dipped,” meaning they caught the virus and survived it, but they fear for their daughter, Hannah, across the country in California at college. Bill, a psychologist, realizes that phone service will end soon, so he goes to the home of a former patient and takes a short-wave radio, then with only days to spare, gives Hannah the frequency so they can communicate. When she does, however, it’s to inform her parents that she has joined the Revivalist cult, news that spurs her parents to leave the safety of their home in a frantic attempt to rescue her. Their trip is incredibly dangerous and filled with uncertainty, jeopardizing Bill and Penelope’s marriage and sanity along with their physical welfare. This one gets hold of you on the first page and doesn’t let go. Thanks to #NetGalley for the arc!
September 6, 2022
The Revivalists by Christopher M. Hood. Thanks to @harperbooks for the gifted Arc ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Bill and Penelope have survey the Shark Flu. They are lucky; not many survived. They’ve set up a nice garden and way of life in the new world. Then their daughter radios to let them know she’s joined a cult in California. They hit the road to help her escape from 3,000 miles away.
I love dystopian novels and this one was unique as it had family as the entire backbone. I liked the main characters and their adventures. It got pretty darn exciting at times, but then there were also slow times. The ending was pretty abrupt. I would have enjoyed more but it was a good set up for a sequel!
“Maybe cleansing fire has been necessary. Maybe the Shark Flu was a gift. Maybe it was God putting his massive divine thumb on the reset button.”
The Revivalists comes out 10/4.
Bill and Penelope have survey the Shark Flu. They are lucky; not many survived. They’ve set up a nice garden and way of life in the new world. Then their daughter radios to let them know she’s joined a cult in California. They hit the road to help her escape from 3,000 miles away.
I love dystopian novels and this one was unique as it had family as the entire backbone. I liked the main characters and their adventures. It got pretty darn exciting at times, but then there were also slow times. The ending was pretty abrupt. I would have enjoyed more but it was a good set up for a sequel!
“Maybe cleansing fire has been necessary. Maybe the Shark Flu was a gift. Maybe it was God putting his massive divine thumb on the reset button.”
The Revivalists comes out 10/4.
November 2, 2022
The pandemic/apocalypse in this book strikes too close to home, but it isn’t really about a pandemic anyway. It’s really about a marriage and how it evolves over time, especially when children enter the picture. Bill and Penelope’s marriage rang true to me, as did each of their relationships with their daughter, Hannah.
It was a propulsive read and it sucked me in so deeply that, a few times, I forgot we’re able to leave the house safely these days!
It was a propulsive read and it sucked me in so deeply that, a few times, I forgot we’re able to leave the house safely these days!
October 26, 2022
Christopher M. Hood takes readers on a cross-country road trip as two parents set out in a post-pandemic world to save their daughter from the cult she’s joined. Or so the synopsis says. While the premise of The Revivalists falls in line with some of my favorite themes—cults and a dystopian world—I didn’t enjoy it. Contrary to the synopsis, this is the story of our narrator, Bill, and his social and political opinions. The cross-country trip Bill and his wife Penelope go on is a brutally slow progression—one I could skip paragraphs only to see literally nothing has happened and Bill is still spewing his political musings or personal reflections. Once they finally reach their daughter, in the second to last chapter of the book, it feels like Hood rushes to finish and abruptly ends with little resolution. It was bizarre.
My main problem with the book is that I was duped into reading it—promised one thing in the synopsis and given something completely different. In a world that is non-stop barfing political views that I didn’t ask for, I look to books to escape the noise. Unfortunately, The Revivalists is just more noise dressed up as a thriller. I wish it would've been made clear that's what the book was about. If you are into heavily social and politically opinionated books, definitely check this one out. If you aren’t, move on.
Thank you to HarperCollins for my copy of this book
My main problem with the book is that I was duped into reading it—promised one thing in the synopsis and given something completely different. In a world that is non-stop barfing political views that I didn’t ask for, I look to books to escape the noise. Unfortunately, The Revivalists is just more noise dressed up as a thriller. I wish it would've been made clear that's what the book was about. If you are into heavily social and politically opinionated books, definitely check this one out. If you aren’t, move on.
Thank you to HarperCollins for my copy of this book
April 2, 2023
For all my reading friends who love a post-apoc that is about the survival in the aftermath, this one will grab you by the nose you have stuck in the book, and it won't let go!
The story follows a husband and wife as they travel across the entire US to try to find their daughter. It's filled with adventure, danger, and family/relationship dynamics that made me so interested!
I absolutely recommend this one!
The story follows a husband and wife as they travel across the entire US to try to find their daughter. It's filled with adventure, danger, and family/relationship dynamics that made me so interested!
I absolutely recommend this one!
October 29, 2022
In another life, Chris and I were friends, our lives intertwined in many ways. But as things do, our lives untangled and went in different directions, and I haven't seen him since a chance encounter at the Met 15 years ago. I saw this book in Esquire's list of books to read in the fall and the jolt I had when I saw his name! I was thrilled that he has written a novel (he got his master's in poetry when I knew him). I can hear his voice so clearly, and my fondness for him runs extremely deep, so I am entirely biased in my rating of this stellar first novel.
I tried--I tried!--to step back and listen with a more critical ear, and I still think this book is excellent. Beautiful prose, perfectly captured scenes, and real emotion runs through the entire book.
Is it a lot like Station Eleven? Does it remind you of The Road? Am I weary of pandemic/apocalypse books when I'm busy living through one myself? Yes on all counts. But the heart at the core of this kept it from being bleak.
There were many times in our current pandemic when I turned to my husband and wondered why we're working so hard to stay safe from the virus--do I want to be one of the remaining people still alive?--and I was reminded of the time I read The Road, or some of it, and it was so upsetting my therapist literally told me to stop reading. I like that Chris explored what it would be like to be one of the survivors, and reminded us how meaningful life is.
I tried--I tried!--to step back and listen with a more critical ear, and I still think this book is excellent. Beautiful prose, perfectly captured scenes, and real emotion runs through the entire book.
Is it a lot like Station Eleven? Does it remind you of The Road? Am I weary of pandemic/apocalypse books when I'm busy living through one myself? Yes on all counts. But the heart at the core of this kept it from being bleak.
There were many times in our current pandemic when I turned to my husband and wondered why we're working so hard to stay safe from the virus--do I want to be one of the remaining people still alive?--and I was reminded of the time I read The Road, or some of it, and it was so upsetting my therapist literally told me to stop reading. I like that Chris explored what it would be like to be one of the survivors, and reminded us how meaningful life is.
October 7, 2022
So much drama! This wasn't like most post-apocolyptic books I read. When I hear post-apocalyptic I think of movies like Mad-Max, or I am Legend, or books like After the Plauge, by Imogen Keeper. This one was different. This one felt more real in a lot of ways. First...information was cut off. Bill and Penelope didn't know how the rest of the world survived...there were no news casters to tell them. It was a complete societal collapse...and not really enough people left to create scenarios like Mad-Max.
Bill and Penelope stayed in their home, they grew food in their backyard. They spoke with their surviving neighbors, and Bill even started back up his therapy practice...for barter. People had trauma from what they went through...and Bill needed a sense of purpose.
When Bill and Penelope set off on their journey to find their daughter Hannah, they run into quite a few different communities as they go. People just trying to survive a new world. There are some crazies, but most people are kind. Most people are willing to share knowledge, food, supplies and are just happy to see someone alive. Their journey across the country is a dangerous one never-the-less, with no safety nets in case of an accident, or injury. They met some really fascinating people on the way.
If you're looking for a book that is a quick read, that will stick with you for a while, be sure to check out it out. Bonus points for the Colin Kaepernick pseduo-cameo.
Bill and Penelope stayed in their home, they grew food in their backyard. They spoke with their surviving neighbors, and Bill even started back up his therapy practice...for barter. People had trauma from what they went through...and Bill needed a sense of purpose.
When Bill and Penelope set off on their journey to find their daughter Hannah, they run into quite a few different communities as they go. People just trying to survive a new world. There are some crazies, but most people are kind. Most people are willing to share knowledge, food, supplies and are just happy to see someone alive. Their journey across the country is a dangerous one never-the-less, with no safety nets in case of an accident, or injury. They met some really fascinating people on the way.
If you're looking for a book that is a quick read, that will stick with you for a while, be sure to check out it out. Bonus points for the Colin Kaepernick pseduo-cameo.
September 29, 2022
I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
A pandemic wipes out over half the world's population and almost all forms of modern technology and communication. Months later, a college-aged daughter in California reaches out to her parents in New York on the ham radio her father taught her to use to tell them that she's fine...and she's joining a cult.
What would you do?
The parents load up their car and head west, embarking on a brutal post-apocalyptic road trip to rival Alison Stine's Road Out of Winter, Meg Elison's Road to Nowhere series, and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Christopher M. Hood has widened the genre by not only dreaming up horrific new situations around every turn, but by showing what race, mental health, and agency could mean in a devastated America.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram
A pandemic wipes out over half the world's population and almost all forms of modern technology and communication. Months later, a college-aged daughter in California reaches out to her parents in New York on the ham radio her father taught her to use to tell them that she's fine...and she's joining a cult.
What would you do?
The parents load up their car and head west, embarking on a brutal post-apocalyptic road trip to rival Alison Stine's Road Out of Winter, Meg Elison's Road to Nowhere series, and Cormac McCarthy's The Road. Christopher M. Hood has widened the genre by not only dreaming up horrific new situations around every turn, but by showing what race, mental health, and agency could mean in a devastated America.
Come chat with me about books here, too:
Blog | Instagram
August 13, 2022
I ABSOLUTELY LOVE THIS BOOK!!!
This is a slow burn reader, if you like action and adventure right away, this is not that book.
It builds up with a good backstory, a current situation POV and is told entirely in a first person view.
It brings Post Pandemic Apocalypse into view but in a way that doesn't involve some crazy plot or unnatural creatures or what other things you get in most books, movies and TV shows.
This book has a lot of current issues brought into view and discussed...
Marriage Troubles
Mental Health
Race
Gender Roles
Religion
Politics
Ethics and Morals
All in all, this book made me think a lot and view things from a more open minded perspective. I actually related to the main characters more than expected and it really had me wondering how I would think and feel; how would I respond in a crisis like this.
This is a slow burn reader, if you like action and adventure right away, this is not that book.
It builds up with a good backstory, a current situation POV and is told entirely in a first person view.
It brings Post Pandemic Apocalypse into view but in a way that doesn't involve some crazy plot or unnatural creatures or what other things you get in most books, movies and TV shows.
This book has a lot of current issues brought into view and discussed...
Marriage Troubles
Mental Health
Race
Gender Roles
Religion
Politics
Ethics and Morals
All in all, this book made me think a lot and view things from a more open minded perspective. I actually related to the main characters more than expected and it really had me wondering how I would think and feel; how would I respond in a crisis like this.
September 7, 2022
This was a riveting post-apocalyptic story. I was thoroughly entranced throughout almost the entirety. The main characters where well developed and their relationship felt so real and relatable. I wish their connection to their daughter had been more developed in comparison. There was one odd part of the story where they stopped to visit an acquaintance and that whole section felt out of place but otherwise the story chugged right along. I was hoping for more about the cult that only appeared in the last 40 pages but that’s ok. Once again I’m reminded that I’m not ready for the world as we know it to vanish.
Thanks to the publisher for sending an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thanks to the publisher for sending an advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion.
July 25, 2022
This was Station Eleven meets Walking Dead, minus the zombies. There was nothing about this book I didn't like. I on purpose made myself slow down, especially towards the end when I tend to read too fast and miss things, just so I could get every detail.
Every encounter, every decision, they were all so real and believable that I felt myself wondering "what would I do?" every step of the way. I have driven through the Delaware Water Gap about a billion times so I could envision that whole scene.
I don't want to reveal too much except to say read this as soon as you possibly can!
Every encounter, every decision, they were all so real and believable that I felt myself wondering "what would I do?" every step of the way. I have driven through the Delaware Water Gap about a billion times so I could envision that whole scene.
I don't want to reveal too much except to say read this as soon as you possibly can!
October 26, 2022
I can only imagine that many (if not most) readers aren't *quite* ready for a book about the dystopian future that awaits us after the NEXT goddamn pandemic, but if you've got the intestinal fortitude to buckle up and take the ride, this is a haunting ode to marital and parental devotion.
September 12, 2022
The story that Christopher Hood came up with was very immersive. I personally love how it shows the growth of the main character throughout the book.
October 3, 2022
With a name like “The Revivalists” you’d expect this cult to be the center of the book, but that is not the case. Instead, we have two parents attempting a cross-country rescue attempt of their daughter. But since this is a post-apocalyptic world, where a devasting virus wiped out nearly everyone this is not an easy task.
There is a long set-up with the main characters, Bill is our narrator who was, or is a psychologist. His wife Penelope went into deep hibernation, barely doing anything other than sleeping and eating for many months, maybe close to a year? Until they heard from their daughter who was caught in California when the virus hit, while they are in New York.
As one may expect in a post-apocalyptic world going cross country they meet a variety of characters, and quickly have to deal with an entirely new world.
The writing was good, and it kept up the momentum where you want to keep reading, finding out what happens next. Although there are parts that bog down, with backstory and occasional social commentary. I had wanted more about the cult, was it formed before or after the devastating virus? How did their daughter get there?
Many questions remain, and the book ended a bit abruptly. Perhaps leaving and opening for a part two. If you’ve read a lot of cross-country travel in a post-apocalyptic world this book may not bring much new to that genre. I’ve not read a lot, but it felt familiar enough. There was enough here to say I’m glad I read it.
Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
There is a long set-up with the main characters, Bill is our narrator who was, or is a psychologist. His wife Penelope went into deep hibernation, barely doing anything other than sleeping and eating for many months, maybe close to a year? Until they heard from their daughter who was caught in California when the virus hit, while they are in New York.
As one may expect in a post-apocalyptic world going cross country they meet a variety of characters, and quickly have to deal with an entirely new world.
The writing was good, and it kept up the momentum where you want to keep reading, finding out what happens next. Although there are parts that bog down, with backstory and occasional social commentary. I had wanted more about the cult, was it formed before or after the devastating virus? How did their daughter get there?
Many questions remain, and the book ended a bit abruptly. Perhaps leaving and opening for a part two. If you’ve read a lot of cross-country travel in a post-apocalyptic world this book may not bring much new to that genre. I’ve not read a lot, but it felt familiar enough. There was enough here to say I’m glad I read it.
Thanks to Harper and NetGalley for an uncorrected electronic advance review copy of this book.
October 11, 2022
Bill is a lucky guy. He, his wife, and his daughter managed not to get Shark Flu, which wiped out most of the world. Some of their neighbors came out ok too, and they have rebuilt some kind of life. They have their house with a fireplace., a small garden, and Bill was even able to keep up with his work as a psychiatrist. The only downside is their daughter, who is across the country for college. With their radio though they have been able to keep in touch.
Eventually, though, their daughter said she has joined a cult, The Revivalists. Knowing that this was bad news, her parents headed out to save her. Their journey was rough, finding small communities that were either friendly or very dangerous. They had no idea what to expect after living in their small, safe bubble and they were not prepared.
The book felt very realistic. They managed to add in some very real-world issues like racism, standard parenting struggles, and depression. The characters were all likable and unique in their own way. It also felt very unique for a post-apocalyptic story. I feel like I haven't read anything like it.
Eventually, though, their daughter said she has joined a cult, The Revivalists. Knowing that this was bad news, her parents headed out to save her. Their journey was rough, finding small communities that were either friendly or very dangerous. They had no idea what to expect after living in their small, safe bubble and they were not prepared.
The book felt very realistic. They managed to add in some very real-world issues like racism, standard parenting struggles, and depression. The characters were all likable and unique in their own way. It also felt very unique for a post-apocalyptic story. I feel like I haven't read anything like it.
October 24, 2022
I found The Revivalists by Chris Hood to be lots of fun. What I liked most about this book was the way that it blended traditional dystopia tropes with more cultural commentary. I found myself laughing out loud multiple times during the book and I think that it’s commentary was very timely, but in a way that’s fun.
While I didn’t immediately fall in love with the characters, they were definitely a slow burn. I grew to love the characters of Bill and Penelope and I enjoyed reading about the love they had for one another.
The story itself was fun. I really appreciated the tone. It was at times a little bit scary or “real” but it had so much fun with the premise. Nothing else comes to mind of a story that is post-apocalyptic but also funny.
The pacing was good. The plot moved along quickly. The scale of it is so epic, but the book itself is quite small and moves at a fast clip. I think I could’ve spent more time in this world.
While I didn’t immediately fall in love with the characters, they were definitely a slow burn. I grew to love the characters of Bill and Penelope and I enjoyed reading about the love they had for one another.
The story itself was fun. I really appreciated the tone. It was at times a little bit scary or “real” but it had so much fun with the premise. Nothing else comes to mind of a story that is post-apocalyptic but also funny.
The pacing was good. The plot moved along quickly. The scale of it is so epic, but the book itself is quite small and moves at a fast clip. I think I could’ve spent more time in this world.
October 4, 2022
Set in a near future where 2/3 of the world's population has been lost to a virus unleashed by melting permafrost leading to total societal collapse, an interracial couple chooses to leave the relative comfort of their affluent NYC suburb travelling cross country to rescue their college-aged daughter from a cult. Part post-apocalyptic adventure, part family drama, The Revivalists reminds us that what truly matters now, family, relationships, people, will always matter regardless of the landscape around us. Ultimately quite a hopeful apocalyptic novel.
I really enjoyed reading and think The Revivalists will appeal to both readers of dystopian/apocalyptic stories as well as those who like a family drama.
Thanks to Harper Books for the ARC.
I really enjoyed reading and think The Revivalists will appeal to both readers of dystopian/apocalyptic stories as well as those who like a family drama.
Thanks to Harper Books for the ARC.
August 27, 2022
I received an advance copy of this book from a Goodreads giveaway. Thank you to Goodreads and the author and publisher for my free copy.
I enjoyed this story. So much of it resonates with me as being very realistic to the world as I know it now and also as it might be if something like "shark flu" were to decimate the human population. The story is interesting, engaging, easy to read, and thought- provoking. I recommend.
My advance copy had a few editorial/formatting issues that will presumably be fixed before the final print. (Mostly just sentences that were split into separate paragraphs that shouldn't have been.)
I enjoyed this story. So much of it resonates with me as being very realistic to the world as I know it now and also as it might be if something like "shark flu" were to decimate the human population. The story is interesting, engaging, easy to read, and thought- provoking. I recommend.
My advance copy had a few editorial/formatting issues that will presumably be fixed before the final print. (Mostly just sentences that were split into separate paragraphs that shouldn't have been.)
November 21, 2022
Whew, I tore trough this book. Kind of scary how realistic this seemed with lots of references to real world current events. Yet another story of parents going to extremes for their children (seems like quite the trend in books lately), but there is so much more that it doesn't overwhelm the story line. Discussions of race, distribution of wealth, religions, marriage and so much more. For such heavy topics, the story didn't get weighed down. The main characters were flawed in their own ways but likable and balanced each other out. In addition to the action and drama, there was even a fair amount of humor woven in. I thoroughly enjoyed this one!
December 1, 2022
I really liked this! A lot of apocalypse scifi novels are:
a) my wife wants to divorce me but then zombies came and now I can use an ar-15 even though I was an accountant and also I’d suck myself off if I could
b) women are simply MILK MACHINES !!!!!
c) literally those 2 are the most popular
But this had a purpose and a lot of Reckoning With Oneself and seeing the humanity and normal traits in people despite the world ending. Honestly the daughter seems kinda fucking annoying but literally who am I to talk
a) my wife wants to divorce me but then zombies came and now I can use an ar-15 even though I was an accountant and also I’d suck myself off if I could
b) women are simply MILK MACHINES !!!!!
c) literally those 2 are the most popular
But this had a purpose and a lot of Reckoning With Oneself and seeing the humanity and normal traits in people despite the world ending. Honestly the daughter seems kinda fucking annoying but literally who am I to talk
October 12, 2022
Not quite at the level of a modern classic as I think Station Eleven is, but still a mostly-compelling post-apocalyptic novel. I enjoyed the nods to The Odyssey and the occasional lines from Paradise Lost.
November 18, 2023
I received this as a Goodreads Giveaway.
I loved the premise of the story: a post-apocalyptic version of a near-future U.S. with survivors trying to avoid: extremist groups who have taken control, out of control weather, and even a burgeoning cult.
The story centers on the relationship between a husband and wife, and how dangerous events are an extreme stress test for a marriage.
As much as the narrative focuses on the couple, I felt like I didn't know them well enough, even less so their daughter, who has fallen in with a religious survival cult on the other side of the country.
I felt l Iike we didn't know anything about the cult, until the very end. I was hoping to get a few glimpses from any other perspectives early on, which would have given more depth to the intersections later. I wanted more from some of the characters, and others could have been eliminated.
The couple wore on me, and were just not interesting enough to carry the whole novel, in my view. It took me a long time to get through this otherwise short book.
I loved the premise of the story: a post-apocalyptic version of a near-future U.S. with survivors trying to avoid: extremist groups who have taken control, out of control weather, and even a burgeoning cult.
The story centers on the relationship between a husband and wife, and how dangerous events are an extreme stress test for a marriage.
As much as the narrative focuses on the couple, I felt like I didn't know them well enough, even less so their daughter, who has fallen in with a religious survival cult on the other side of the country.
I felt l Iike we didn't know anything about the cult, until the very end. I was hoping to get a few glimpses from any other perspectives early on, which would have given more depth to the intersections later. I wanted more from some of the characters, and others could have been eliminated.
The couple wore on me, and were just not interesting enough to carry the whole novel, in my view. It took me a long time to get through this otherwise short book.
August 25, 2022
Wow! So nice to read a apocalypse book that has good pacing and interesting smart characters. After almost 70 percent of the world’s population die from a horrific plague a married couple make the decision to drive across the country to try to find their only child hoping that she is still alive in an effort to reunite. The consequences of each decision are weighed mostly by accident rather than planning and help to drive this story as the pace intensifies. Great story by a first time novelist!
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