Customer Reviews

The Flu

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

The Flu is a novel that takes its premise right from today's headlines. A flu strain similar to the one responsible for the Spanish Flu Pandemic of 1918 is being kept alive at a secret research facility in Alaska. A simple accident allows the virus to escape and, because travel is so easy, the virus rapidly spreads across the United States and around the world.

However, what makes this novel a real treat is not the frighteningly plausible premise, it's the point of view. Instead of focusing on the scientists combating the pandemic, Jacqueline Druga-Johnston tells the story from the vantage point of a believably dysfunctional family living in a small town in Ohio. The heroine is a divorced mother trying to balance the responsibilities of caring for her three sons and the attentions of her ex-husband and new boyfriend while the flu pandemic spreads across the nation. The novel ends with a take-no-prisoners climax as the flu reaches Ohio.

In The Flu, Jacqueline Druga-Johnston deftly balances action, wry humor, tragedy and ultimately hope as she gives us an unflinching view of the human spirit in time of crisis.

A month ago I'd never heard of Jacqueline Druga; now I'm one of her biggest fans.

I'm a big fan of post-apocalyptic novels, have been since I read Alas, Babylon at age 15. Forty-three years later, I've read all of the greats and some not-so-greats. It's been harder to find good ones, but since buying my Kindle I've had access to a far greater number of p-a works, including many by authors who aren't traditionally published. For the past six months, I've read a number of p-a novels that I have loved. This is one of the best.

Druga's characters in The Flu are likable, normal people I'd like to have as friends. I was quickly pulled into the story; not even the mistakes that others have mentioned were able to distract me for longer than a "what the?" moment. Usually I'm not able to finish a book when there are errors in grammar and usage, but the *story* Druga tells is so well-crafted that I not only kept reading, I stayed up really really late to finish it. I couldn't put it down and read it in one long sitting.

I've read two other of Druga's novels (Dust--post-nuclear survival and Yellow Zone--another post-flu pandemic) and liked them both. But The Flu is the book that has made me a solid fan of Jacqueline Druga. I'm looking forward to many pleasant hours of post-apocalyptic reading.

PS You will need a box of tissues as you near the end of The Flu. I usually won't read a book if I've been warned that it'll make me cry, but I'd heard such good things about this one that I read it anyway. I'm glad I did.

review I originally read this book in it's un-edited form, and still gave it four stars (on another venue). I've had a fascination with post-apocalyptic/survival books since I was in the fourth grade. Something about reading the thoughts and actions of people surviving insurmountable odds sparked something in my imagination.

I'd read nearly all of the "classic" PA books out there, but then started looking for more contemporary books and authors of this genre. Then I found Jacqueline Druga's book, Dust. I loved that book, so I looked for more of her books and found this one. I was floored!

Here was a book written from a woman and mother's perspective. Here were flawed characters, "real" folks...not hard-core survivalists or weapons fanatics. Here were characters that I came to "know". I had to write to the author and let her know how much I enjoyed her books. When I wrote to her about her characters, I wrote as though I actually knew them personally. I also let her know that many of the scenes brought me to tears...because the situations were so devastating and as a mother and grandmother, they touched my soul.

Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly, given Druga's willingness to actually listen to reader comments) has lead to a great friendship (via email and social media). That being stated, we became friends after I originally reviewed this book. I do not do "planted" reviews. I want any readers of this review to know that. I honestly HIGHLY recommend this book!

The original book was great, despite some editing issues. Those issues have now been cleaned up and the book was picked up by Permuted Press and recently re-released. I feel very confident in giving the re-released book five stars and urge you to read this book (and her many others books.) While Jackie's forté is PA books, she also does a great job with some of her other books in the comedy and spiritual genres. I plan on reading ALL of her books!

Hi there,

I began reading The Flu because someone recommended it to me as one of the best PA books on the market. That's true. It is. I was advised that it needed another round of editing, which is true. There are some issues that need addressing. With that said, I'm glad I read the book, despite its flaws. It was an unforgettable experience. I began this review intending to make it four stars, but as I wrote it, I changed my mind. In my opinion, this is a book worthy of five stars because of its strengths.

Now I want to talk about what makes this book stand out among the field of PA books I've read. I know the genre pretty well. I've been an avid fan of such books for many years. Seldom have I seen character development to match what this book offers. As the story builds you get to know not only the main characters, but a host of satellite characters as well. Actually, you get to know the town pretty well, but that's enough about the storyline. I hate giving spoilers and if I keep speaking about the storyline that's what I'll end up doing.

Instead, I want to talk about how the book impacted me. A few books that I've read were so intense and mesmerizing and the characters so well defined that I found myself thinking about them when I was at work because they were unforgettable. This is that kind of book.

I found the scenes so well depicted that I could quite easily envision them. The moral dilemmas that confront the characters are all too real and plausible. Portions of this book will have you laughing. If you're tender hearted, other sections will probably have you in tears. I'm not tenderhearted, but I found a tear in my eye anyway, and any author who can so move me deserves a five star rating. This author skillfully manipulates the reader's emotions, playing the heart strings like a skilled concert harpist, and most of the time you don't see it coming. Blindsiding me is hard to do. Not because I'm smart, but because I've read so many books that I can see most scenarios coming long beforehand.

I'd like to encourage the author to keep writing. She has a wonderful gift, and that is the ability to entertain with captivating scenes.

Bravo Ms. Druga. Well done. Thank you for the fine read. It's one I'll never forget.

Have a great day,

Ricky Sides

First, I have to say that I can really overlook editing issues. The majority of the books that I read are from independent authors. I believe that some editing issues will exist when you give an author a chance. Ms. Druga is an independent author that I have had the pleasure of reading for the last few months. If you can overlook errors, I highly recommend that you give this book a chance. This book follows a family and a town during an epidemic of the flu. It was a really different take on a story that has been told quite a bit. This book was written in a way that I could really relate to. The characters were people that you begin to care about. Although it started a little bit slow to me, I stuck with it, and I am so glad that i did. I usually like my books a little more filled with action, but the end made up for it in my opinion. I thought that the ending was so well written. This is a huge compliment from me because many authors on here will tell you that I do not say that often. In fact, it is something that I usually always say is lacking in some way. I also want to say that Ms. Druga is one of the nicest authors that I have ever met on the community discussion boards. She takes criticism, and she truly wants to hear what her fans think of her work which is so refreshing!

If you like post-apocalyptic novels that are different and have well written characters, then give this book a try.

I'll start with the elephant in the room. This book is in serious need of editing. Pick any sentence on any page and you'll probably have a one in five chance of catching one of those little errors that threaten to throw you out of the story. But... BUT... Once you start to put those sentences together, this book turns into something much greater than the sum of its parts. The best thing is the characters. They are messed up in all the most wonderful ways that people really mess themselves up. The dynamics and interaction of the characters is excellent as well. It's not always rational, just like real life, but it always makes sense within the story and in the way that people manage to find little islands of peace within the storm of life. In this case, life is in trouble. While I thought the pacing was little quick in places, the unfolding of the disaster works in waves of hard logic interlaced with human pain. In the midst of it all, there is joy and the struggle for happiness, which makes it all the harder when the struggle fails. In the end, I *wanted* for these characters, and cared about the outcome, and that's why I recommend this book.

Ms.Druga + a diligent editor = greatness.

Apocalyptic fiction is my escape from the mad world of teaching and parenting, and this book was a page turner! I came to believe in and care about the characters, and found the entire pandemic scenario to be quite plausible and convincing. I noticed a few minor editing issues, but I knew what Ms. Druga meant; the edit police for these Kindle downloads need to shut up and write an entertaining book for me to read! I wanted a great story and I got one! Thank you, Ms. Druga, for your effort and hard work, and I'll try to keep downloading your books so you will have the means to keep writing good stories.

More about the people then the flu.

I really enjoyed this book. It is about a flu that is much like the 1918 pandemic. But instead of focusing in on the flu itself, it is a book about a family and their struggle through the pandemic. The characters are very heart warming and believable. I would recommend this book to anyone who really loves books about the interaction between people in a crisis.

I highly recommend this book for PA enthusiasts, especially those w/ children. There were a few shaky points, misused words and editing errors, but the characters definitely carried past those. Deeply compelling, the story sucked me in and made me feel for the family, especially the mom and father figure. It really sucked me in and transported me to a small town in Ohio, to the point that I had tears streaming down my face. After reading this and Ms. Druga's other PA book Dust, this is an author I will follow, patiently waiting for the next release. She truly has a gift for this genre. Now, if only there were a few ravenous zombies in the mix, I would have the perfect novel!

Was not expecting that I would be moved by ending..Far above the usual fare.

The author did a fine job of developing believable characters and praise for not going for the easy 'happy' ending.