On the Beach, by Nevil Shute
This paperback was sent to me by Bookcrosser Dad-i-Libri for my Little Free Library. It sounded interesting so I decided to read it first. This is a post-apocalyptic story written in the late 1950s, and unlike most post apocalyptic stories, this one is more rooted in possible reality.
The world had gone to war and pretty much destroyed itself. Atomic bombs were used by Russia, China, America, and Middle Eastern countries and they pretty much bombed themselves out of existence. The Northern Hemisphere was all radioactive, and the radioactive fallout was slowly but steadily making its way through the Southern Hemisphere, killing every living person and animal in its path, through radiation sickness. All that's left now is Australia, New Zealand, the southernmost parts of Africa and South America. Everyone else is dead, and those living know that this is it, they will not survive.
This is the story of a few people in Australia and how they spend their last year of life--an American submarine captain searching for life, an alcoholic young woman trying to find purpose and love, a young family taking care of their home and baby, a scientist with a love for racing cars.
I didn't understand why they all just rolled over and accepted this was the end--no attempt at building a fallout shelter or bunker by anyone--just no hope.
It was sad and depressing but I had to read to the end. I would view this as a cautionary tale of what could happen as a result of nuclear war.
This will be going into my Little Free Library.
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