I’ll still be picking up the companion book, but after reading the excerpt, I can see how the 3rd person POV will be less affecting. Which, honestly, is strange for me, because I typically prefer 3rd person. But I think LAWKI is the perfect example of how, when it works, it works wonderfully.

I also thought Miranda was a great narrator, and the diary format a nice frame. I agree that she was selfish at times, but I also thought it was appropriate for her age (and understandable.) The same goes for the mother — in their spats (and the making up afterward) there was a ring of truth that wouldn’t have been there, I think, without those flaws.

Also, now that I’ve started Hunger Games, it strikes me exactly as you’ve written above: this is a book that could easily, easily become a movie. Whereas LAWKI, they’d have to manufacture some “bad guy” suspense to move the plot forward.

I’ve heard THE ROAD is coming out as a movie soon; I haven’t seen a trailer for it yet. I wonder if they’ll keep the ending?

As I said in my review though, I do think LAWKI is the better book when compared to its companion, the dead & the gone. Looking back now, I don’t think it’s just the fact that much of tension is gone due to readers knowing what happens next but it’s also that the protagonist, Alex, lacks the same compelling character arc that Miranda had. Granted, some readers didn’t care for Miranda’s selfishness but I thought it appropriate for her age and situation. By comparison, Alex is almost bland.

Oh and I am an emergency kit person. Stockpiled water, purification tablets, fireproof blankets, matches, canned goods…yeaaaaah :p It is california, and it helps to be prepared for earthquakes…or zombie apocalypses… (my boyfriend thinks i’m insane).