Reused

Reduced, Book 2

By: Robin Tidwell

Narrated by: Patricia Hoeksema

Length: 7 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's summary

Colonel Barton has been replaced, and the new commander is sending his henchman, Major Blake, to scour the outlying areas and remove any insurgents. Abby and the girls have remained in the cave at the camp, relatively safe for now, but plans are underway to eliminate all of them...for personal reasons, known only to the commander himself.

Soon, however, worlds will collide as Captain Alison Hinson is transferred in from Chicago. In spite of her background, Alison is horrified by the tactics of her superiors in the field and begins to question her own stance on the new government. As she puts together the pieces of the past, she realizes that she and Abby are kindred spirits, faced with a mission not of their own choosing but of circumstance.

Across the country, while officials and mercenaries live the high life, the citizenry are faced with more sanctions, more regulation, and fewer necessities.

Pockets of rebellion are quickly quelled, but incidents continue to increase as more people make the decision to go underground. Literally.

From abandoned caves below St. Louis itself to a subterranean river winding north into Illinois, Reused will tell you more, perhaps, than you truly wish to know about the potential for the utter collapse of our civilization.

©2012 Robin Tidwell (P)2015 Beacon Audiobooks

Wow, what an exiting adventure.

What made the experience of listening to Reused the most enjoyable?

The narrator brought the characters to life, you felt like you were really there. I found my self emotionally glued, and found it hard to stop listening to it!

What other book might you compare Reused to and why?

I found it very similar to the movie, the Maze Runner, both the first and second movie. It is similar in the sense that they are put in a situation, that is out of their control. This bonds their relationships, and makes them use their imagination's to try to resolve their predicament. They have to make a lot of hard decisions, in very dangerous, situations.

What about Patricia Hoeksema’s performance did you like?

Her range, going from nurturing mother, to teen, then to child, and then being able to switch up to rough soldiers and romantic males was amazing. She was very expressive, with a vast vocal range and excellent diction, some scenes even brought you to tears, others made you laugh. I am looking forward to hearing more of her work.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Definitely, although it would be better in two or three.

Any additional comments?

I'm a big fan of "what if" book. The bleak landscape that confronts the survivors and their will to live, battling the unknown and even more frightening, the known is heart wrenching. Robin Tidwell builds in wonderful relationships, a human side of survival which makes us care that much more. This is a breath-holding drama with moments of darkness yet these are characters we care about and want to see pull through. It is that mix of humanity and harshness that gives its power.

Bottom line - Terrific, relatable, characters you want to see make it through (and a GREAT mother/daughter relationship between our lead and a young survivor) and a world that's both scarily real and something you pray you never have to face yourself. though this was a serious subject of this terrible virus, Vador, it is a story that I wouldn't mind having the family listening to it as well. I'm sure it would inspire many conversations, on a long car drive!