The Passage by Justin Cronin

Alright, so my next read was going to be something French for the Paris in July challenge, but I got sidetracked.  On Friday, my Amazon order came in and well I couldn't help but look over my new book purchases - one of those being The Passage. I had barely read the first few sentences when I knew that I was not going to be reading anything French this weekend. 

From the book flap:

IT HAPPENED FAST.

THIRTY-TWO MINUTES FOR ONE WORLD TO DIE, ANOTHER TO BE BORN.

First, the unthinkable: a security breach at a secret U.S. government facility unleashes the monstrous product of a chilling military experiment.  Then, the unspeakable: a night of chaos and carnage gives way to a sunrise on a nation, and ultimately a world, forever altered.  All that remains for the stunned survivors is the long fight ahead and a future ruled by fear - of darkness, of death, of a fate far worse.

As civilization swiftly crumbles into a primal landscape of predators and prey, two people flee in search of sanctuary.  FBI agent Brad Wolgast is a good man haunted by what he's done in the line of duty.  Six-year-old orphan Amy Harper Bellafonte is a refugee from the doomed scientific project that has triggered apocalypse.  Wolgast is determined to protect her from the horror set loose by her captors, but for Amy, escaping the bloody fallout is only the beginning of a much longer odyssey - spanning miles and decades - toward the time and place where she must finish what should never have begun. 

My thoughts: WOW!!!

What a gripping and fantastic read! I just could not put this book down at all! The Passage is a must read book that tells the story of a group of people journeying towards survival and answers.  You have a world that is no more because of a military experiment gone awry - the virals (vampires) they created have gotten loose and have destroyed the world.  People are scarce and therefore history, culture, society, laws, etc. have pretty much been forgotten.  The Colony we happen upon has their own governmental system that consists of a hierarchy and lineage based on who was here first.  As for the virals that are roaming the earth, well they all follow their thirst.  I don't really want to write much about the plot, because there is just so much that happens and its better for you to read it yourself to fully get the picture of all the events that lead to 'the passage'.  Plus, it has been noted that Cronin will be writing 2 more books to follow The Passage - thereby making it a series. I cannot wait to find out what happens next to Peter and Amy and everyone in the book. Will they survive? Will they succeed?  What happened to The Colony?  Where is everyone? Hmmm.

As for the writing - excellent!  And by excellent, I mean the kind where you refuse to sleep, eat, leave the house, etc. because you are so involved in the book that aside from breathing, everything else can fall to the wayside.  Yes, I was that consumed by my book!  It was just so easy to fall in step with the writing and follow along on this journey being taken by a group of characters that are so engaging , you can't help but cheer them on when they succeed and shed a tear when they don't.  I found myself completely immersed in this world of virals, corrupt government officials, The Colony, nuns, and the Girl from Nowhere.  I also found myself wondering where Cronin got the idea for this book, because, though it is a vampire book, it really isn't.  There's more to it then just virals that need to be killed - its a book about humanity, love, hope and despair.  Its a book about a world that can be mended.  

And I would most definitely recommend The Passage. Even if you aren't into vampire books, it is a fun book to read - it has action, suspense, thrills and love. Definitely one of my favorite books of 2010.