(34)Wool by Hugh Howey

Wool

by Hugh Howey

@HughHowey

Pages: 508

Publisher: Simon & Schuster

Publication Date: March 12, 2013

Buy it Here!

Have you heard of Hugh Howey? He is an outspoken advocate for self-publishing.  Not to mention that he has made a crap load of money off of his own self published books.  The first being the Wool series, a post-apocalyptic novel that is set sometime in the future. 

Like I said, Wool is set sometime in the future.  We meet Sheriff  Holston as he is getting ready to be set into the outside wasteland for a Cleaning.  Cleaning is a form of punishment reserved for the worst of the worst in the Silo.  And those who speak about a desire to see the outside.   So the powers that be dress them in special suits and send them out to clean the off the camera lenses, allowing the people of the silo a clear look at the wasteland outside of the Silo.  There is no hope for Sheriff Holston or anyone else to survive a cleaning.  The air is just toxic.  Now the search is on for a new Sheriff and to find that Sheriff, the Mayor travels deep down into the Silo all the way down to the 100's and the Mechanical Department.  There they Mayor finds Juliet, a thirty-five year old woman who has been devoted to keeping the Silo's grid running efficiently. She reluctantly agrees to become Sheriff, but soon she realizes that life inside the Silo is much more darker than she thought and there are pockets of people within the Silo who are determined to keep things exactly as they are. When Juliet is forcefully sent to cleaning, she realizes that her friends down in Mechanical has figured out a way to give her extra time.  Will it be enough to keep her safe or will the wasteland outside the Silo claim another victim?

Wool was an excellent choice of an audio-book to listen to on a super long road trip. SUPER long road trip. It was easy to lose myself in the story of Juliet, the Mayor, the weasel Bernard, and the rest of the people of the Silo.  It was an interesting to see how this group of people who had created their own society and was thriving hundreds of years after the world collapsed.  Even though none of them have walked in grass or felt the sun on their face, yet they still got up everyday and went to work.  And had enjoyed going to bazaars, and saved up vacation to take trips to other parts of the Silo.  It was totally fascinating. Juliet is one of those strong female characters that are wonderful to read. Smart, strong, and never going to give up. 

Bottom line, I know that post-apocalyptic novels aren't for everyone, but I enjoy them.  Wool is one of those well written ones with a story that is so intricate with the details of a life I hope that we never have to live.  If you are looking for a good one to read , Wool is definitely towards the top of that list.