We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach

For the first book in my book challenge, I had to read a book that I own but haven't read, so I chose to read We All Looked Up by Tommy Wallach. I bought this back around Christmas, because I thought that it looked quite interesting but I've just been very busy and haven't gotten around to it.

Unfortunately, the past few days I haven't been very well, so I have been in bed and on the sofa all day, which isn't that bad because I just alternated between watching Friends and reading this book, meaning that I finished it in 2 days.

This book is sooo gripping. It is about our world, where we only have two months to live before an asteroid hits, that will destroy the world. There is 2/3 chance that the asteroid will hit, and when it does, everyone will die. It follows 4 teenagers from completely different groups, backgrounds, and seemingly different futures, and how the end of the world affects each of them, and brings them together.

I've always thought that if I found out I only had two months left to live, I would go bungee jumping and skydiving, and everything that I've always wanted to do. But this book... I was really surprised, and I guess shocked by how horribly realistic civilisation is described to be.

When it's the end of the world and people have nothing to loose, I hadn't ever thought about how the rates of crime, violence, vandalism, and drug abuse would rocket. There is one point in the book where it says:

"How many neighbours would finally go ahead and shoot the yipping Chihuahua that had been keeping them awake every night? Or, come to think of it, why not just shoot the inconsiderate neighbour who wouldn't keep his damn dog in the house?"

I don't know why, but this part really spoke to me, as a metaphor for everything that would happen in the world. If people have nothing to loose, they have nothing to fear, but then also nothing to gain - something that really wouldn't be a problem in this situation.

I feel like a really good word to describe this book would be haunting. It sticks in your mind and makes you think about things a lot more deeply, then you perhaps would've before - the way that the above quote has stuck in mine.

One thing that I did really like about this book, and that I thought was quite unique, was that it was split in to 10 sections (like chapters) but they were going in descending order, like a countdown to the end of the world. I really think that this helped to build the suspense, because you really want to finish the book and find out what happens, but at the same time, you're slightly terrified about what will happen at the end of the countdown, and want it to go as slow as possible.

But my absolute favourite thing about this book is the descriptions. Without trying to make this sound too much like an English essay, they were absolutely amazing. Some of the images that are created are so incredible and real, it isn't just like you're there, but that you're part of it, like someone cares that you see and understand and appreciate everything that is going on.

The end (don't worry, no spoilers!) I kind of hate. Not because it's bad, but because it's a cliff-hanger, and they really annoy me, because I just want to know what happens - part of the reason why it has stuck in my head so much more. But it is satisfying in a way, despite being quite sad.

I don't think that this book is suitable for younger readers, as it has a lot of drug, alcohol and sex abuse, as well as being really quite graphic in places. It isn't my usual type of book, but I'm really glad I read it, because I did enjoy it. It is quite a heavy read, I wouldn't go for it if you just want something light to unwind to, but other then that, I would really recommend it!

For my next book challenge book, I have to choose a book that was made into a movie. I was going to read The Notebook, and I would like to at some point, but I think that I'm going to read The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I have seen the movie a couple of times and really like it, so I am looking forward to reading the book!

See you soon!