OnlineBookClub.org

[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Man Who Watched The World End" by Chris Dietzel.]

I found this story quite fascinating and I couldnt put it down, in fact I read it twice!

This is 234 pages of journal writing that brings depth to and evokes real feeling toward the plight of our protagonist. Based on the premise that the end of civilisation comes as not a bang but a whimper, it is a diary of the final days of the last generation of the human race.

Our main character, the carer of his non- responsive brother who is a member of a generation that marks mans decline, describes the plans enacted by the government and the reaction of the people of the world as they come to terms with our final ageing society. Reflecting back on his childhood, as a member of the last generation, and its simple pleasures as he tries to survive day to day challenges in this new world; where everyone feels the ticking down of the clock, nature is slowly taking back what is hers, coupled with the inevitable limitations of old age and fears for the fates of himself and his brother.

As a fictitious tale I found the events quite plausible, the style easy to read and it has kept me interested until the very last page.

My only problem with this story was, as was to be expected, the ending. There are definite clues as to how this story will end but I found myself hoping that there would be a saving grace; a rescuer, a cure, a white knight. But when it suddenly ceases, and you can guess at the outcome, it is a sad end for the reader when that final page is turned to discover that the book has finished.

This was a great effort by the writer and brings up some interesting scenarios and insights into human nature. I definitely recommend this one.

I rate this book 3 out of 4 stars.

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Thanks Insomnia, I appreciate the kind words. It's funny, I get both extremes of responses when it comes to the ending. Some people find it uplifting and others find it depressing. If anyone else reads it, I would love to hear your thoughts.

Thanks again,
Chris

-- 28 May 2013, 07:04 --

In addition to the nice review here "The Man Who Watched The World End" has been getting great reviews on Amazon. If anyone here wrote one of the reviews there, I just wanted to thank you for reading it and for the amazing feedback. If you came across anything you particularly liked or disliked, let me know so I can improve my writing for my next novel.

kind of boring not much emotions

Annebell,

I have to disagree; this book, based on its topic, is nothing but emotion. Every page of the main character's diary reflects on what was or what could have been as he watches mankind come to an end. I don't know of anything that could evoke more emotion than watching everybody around you get old and die, knowing that they are the end of humanity.

As for the official review, I too thought that this book was an outstanding premise, but I was disappointed with the ending. The whole feel of the book is depressing, so although you can sense what is coming, I was hoping that it would be a bit more abrupt. I was also disappointed that when the main character returned from the neighbor's house (around the 200 page mark), the events were just explained in a journal entry. I would have liked it much better if I were to feel the character's feelings about the events rather than just being told.

I got the recommendation to read this book from a mixed martial arts forum. It seems that this book, like MMA, is visceral enough that it will appeal to people from all walks of life. All in all, this book was a great, and very fast, read.