This book review is being written for Mrs. McCoy's Honors Literature Class. The title of the book is Alas, Babylon, written by Pat Frank. The book has 303 pages and was published by HarperCollins. The book was first copyrighted in 1959 while the forward was copyrighted in 2005. I read this book because it was on my summer reading list for my Honors Literature Class.
Florence Wechek, Randy Bragg, Lib McGovern, Missouri Henry, Malachai Henry, Mark Bragg, Helen Bragg, Ben Franklin Bragg, Peyton Bragg, Dan Gunn, Bill McGovern, and Sam Hazzard are the main characters in this novel. Florence Wechek was the manager at western Union and also Randy Bragg's neighbor. She was a responsible gossip, but helped whenever and wherever she could after The Day. Randy Bragg was in the reserves for the military and he assumed command of Fort Repose after The Day because of a message sent out over Sam Hazzard's radio. Lib McGovern was Randy's girlfriend, to fiance to bride. Lib also helped around the house, cooking, cleaning, and sowing. Missouri Henry was Randy's house maid, and also the maid of Mr and Mrs. McGovern. The Henry Family was an African American family that was around Fort Repose as long as the Bragg family. Randy grew up living next to the Henry's, so they were like family. Malachai Bragg did Randy's yard work 20 hours a week, at any time, for $25. Mark Bragg was married to Helen Bragg and they had two kids, Ben Franklin Bragg and Peyton Bragg. Mark Brag sent His family, not including himself, to Fort Repose to live with Randy Bragg because their home city, Omaha, was a target area for Russia in the eminent war because of the SAC base in Omaha. Dan Gunn is the doctor for Fort Repose. He is really the only person that had real medical experience in Fort Repose so anyone that was hurt or sick called Dan Gunn, which had him driving all over town, even after The Day with limited gas. Bill McGovern was the father of Elizabeth, or Lib McGovern. He was married to Lavinia McGovern, but she passed away not long after The Day. Sam Hazzard was a retired military man who had a very important radio. This radio allowed Randy and the rest of Fort Repose know as much as possible about the world outside of Fort Repose and about the war after Randy's radio's batteries ran out.
Rita Hernandez, Lavinia McGovern, Paul Hart, Two-Tone Henry, and Preacher Henry were all prominent but not main characters in this novel. Rita Hernandez loaned her food truck to Randy, Bill, Malachai, and Sam in order to track down, lure in, and kill the highwaymen that beat up Dan Gunn and stole their car and his medical equipment. They succeeded. Lavinia McGovern, late wife of Bill McGovern and mother of Lib McGovern, died a few days after The Day from illness. She tended to push around Missouri, her maid, but Missouri didn't mind too much to let it get to her, though she was affected by it. Paul Hart was an old friend of Randy Bragg. Paul Hart was also the person who found the Bragg house at the end of the novel and let them know that the war was over, and that we won. Two-Tone Henry was Preacher Henry's son, so named because the right side of his face is two shades lighter than the right side. Two-Tone Henry helped out whenever he could. Preacher Henry's real name was Clarence Henry.
This novel was a fictional history navel set in Fort Repose in Florida, present time. Randy Bragg was trying to do everything he could to protect fort repose and the people in it, especially his close friends and family. He gets the help of those around him to find food and run water to nearby houses. There are times when the people of Fort Repose run out of necessities. When this happens, people are forced to trade nonessential goods for essential goods in order to survive, but in order for them to trade for these necessities, other people have to be willing to give it up, which can get very difficult. There is even a time when Randy and his friends have to go to a beach down the river where the "sand" is not sand at all. It is actually salt because humans nee salt, and that was the only way to get it.
My final thoughts on "Alas, Babylon" is that it was a very well-written book, but there were times when the book was not interesting. Some of the times, when something was being described, the author seem ed to tone down the situation, which made the book less interesting. However, there were many times when the author made me get involved in the book because he wrote that situation out so clearly and precisely. This book taught me that even though times can get hard sometimes, there are always people around you that will help you stay on your feet, even though you think you cant stand any longer. This book also taught me that if you are determined, you can do anything or find anything or accomplish anything you want to do. I would definitely recommend this book to others because this book is so well written and really draws the reader in. The novel makes you feel like you are living in that situation because of how it is written.
Monday, January 4, 2016
Important Quotes- 5
"We won it."
This is the end. These three words bring so much relief and calmness to Randy and his friends and family. In hearing these words, the citizens of Fort Repose know that they survived the war, while many others did not. The citizens now know that there is something that is going to be done to attempt to rebuild society, even if it takes years, or decades.
This is the end. These three words bring so much relief and calmness to Randy and his friends and family. In hearing these words, the citizens of Fort Repose know that they survived the war, while many others did not. The citizens now know that there is something that is going to be done to attempt to rebuild society, even if it takes years, or decades.
Important Quotes- 4
"Randy realized how much he missed music."
This is very important because people don't realize how much they enjoy something until it's gone. Most people love music. To some, music is an escape from the real world. To others, music is something that they listen to to calm them down or take away stress. Either way, Randy had not listened to music for a long time. He didn't realize until he got it back that he missed it so much. For him, like most people, music was a big part of his life, and its one of the harder enjoyable things to lose.
This is very important because people don't realize how much they enjoy something until it's gone. Most people love music. To some, music is an escape from the real world. To others, music is something that they listen to to calm them down or take away stress. Either way, Randy had not listened to music for a long time. He didn't realize until he got it back that he missed it so much. For him, like most people, music was a big part of his life, and its one of the harder enjoyable things to lose.
Important Quotes- 3
"He knew he shouldn't be thinking about food at this time, but he was hungry again."
This is important because it shows how desperate people are getting for food. In this moment, Randy Bragg had just proposed to Lib McGovern and he knew that it was a very important time, but he saw a gator and all he could think about was selling the tail or eating it. He knew that it was a very important and life-changing moment, but there was such a lack of food in Fort Repose and in the Bragg house that food was also a very important thing all the time.
This is important because it shows how desperate people are getting for food. In this moment, Randy Bragg had just proposed to Lib McGovern and he knew that it was a very important time, but he saw a gator and all he could think about was selling the tail or eating it. He knew that it was a very important and life-changing moment, but there was such a lack of food in Fort Repose and in the Bragg house that food was also a very important thing all the time.
Important Quotes- 2
"If Man retained faith in God, he might also retain faith in Man."
This quote is important because there was an Easter Sunday service even after The Day, which made Randy relieved to know that people still thought about God or any religion. Randy was happy because of this revelation, and he wondered if people still believed that other people are good. This was hard to do, however, because in time of crisis some men build each other up, and some men tear each other down, worse than ever before.
This quote is important because there was an Easter Sunday service even after The Day, which made Randy relieved to know that people still thought about God or any religion. Randy was happy because of this revelation, and he wondered if people still believed that other people are good. This was hard to do, however, because in time of crisis some men build each other up, and some men tear each other down, worse than ever before.
Important Quotes- 1
"Alas, Babylon."
This quote was a code of some sort that Randy Bragg and Mark Bragg used to let each other know of danger. Mark sent Randy a letter that told him that he wanted to meet. This letter had the quote, "Alas, Babylon" at the end telling Randy that Mark's family would be going to stay with him. Randy knew this because of what Mark and Randy had decided long before. Randy later found out that the reason that Mark's family was being sent to live with Randy was because there was an eminent war coming and that Omaha, Mark's home town, was a key target because of the SAC base in Omaha.
This quote was a code of some sort that Randy Bragg and Mark Bragg used to let each other know of danger. Mark sent Randy a letter that told him that he wanted to meet. This letter had the quote, "Alas, Babylon" at the end telling Randy that Mark's family would be going to stay with him. Randy knew this because of what Mark and Randy had decided long before. Randy later found out that the reason that Mark's family was being sent to live with Randy was because there was an eminent war coming and that Omaha, Mark's home town, was a key target because of the SAC base in Omaha.
Figurative Language
"The Russians are great chess players."
I chose to use this example because the book says that the Russians don't make the same mistake twice. The Russians make their move on us, and if we react badly they can continue to use that same move, but if we react united and form against them quickly, they know that they have to find a new way to beat us.
"Her eyes, which reflected her moods as the river reflected the sky, were gray and opaque."
I chose this simile because it shows us that our eyes are windows to the soul and that what we feel, no matter what our body language shows, is often reflected in our eyes and recognized by those that know us best.
"Under the soft tan painted by winter's sun."
I chose this example of personification because it tells us that the sky can sometimes affect our mood and the way we feel or act around certain people or in certain situations.
"Placing his feet carefully as a heron feeding on minnows in the shallows."
I chose this simile because it describes the gentleness that man has, even though we have gone through great tragedy and loss. This shows us, as readers, that no matter what happens to us, we are still human, and there is a part of us that will always be gentle because that is the way we are made, even if everything around us is hectic and chaotic.
"Sam Hazzard's den was compact and crowded, like a ship master's cabin stored for a long and
lonely voyage."
I chose this example of a simile because it shows that Sam Hazzard didn't even know for sure that a war was coming, but because of his military training and radio, he was ready for anything, including packing up and leaving if he had to. Sam Hazzard had food and other necessities which would help the neighborhood when they needed help.
I chose to use this example because the book says that the Russians don't make the same mistake twice. The Russians make their move on us, and if we react badly they can continue to use that same move, but if we react united and form against them quickly, they know that they have to find a new way to beat us.
"Her eyes, which reflected her moods as the river reflected the sky, were gray and opaque."
I chose this simile because it shows us that our eyes are windows to the soul and that what we feel, no matter what our body language shows, is often reflected in our eyes and recognized by those that know us best.
"Under the soft tan painted by winter's sun."
I chose this example of personification because it tells us that the sky can sometimes affect our mood and the way we feel or act around certain people or in certain situations.
"Placing his feet carefully as a heron feeding on minnows in the shallows."
I chose this simile because it describes the gentleness that man has, even though we have gone through great tragedy and loss. This shows us, as readers, that no matter what happens to us, we are still human, and there is a part of us that will always be gentle because that is the way we are made, even if everything around us is hectic and chaotic.
"Sam Hazzard's den was compact and crowded, like a ship master's cabin stored for a long and
lonely voyage."
I chose this example of a simile because it shows that Sam Hazzard didn't even know for sure that a war was coming, but because of his military training and radio, he was ready for anything, including packing up and leaving if he had to. Sam Hazzard had food and other necessities which would help the neighborhood when they needed help.
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