Book Review - Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Title: Leave the World Behind
Series: -
Author: Rumaan Alam
 
Description: Amanda and Clay head out to a remote corner of Long Island expecting a vacation: a quiet reprieve from life in New York City, quality time with their teenage son and daughter, and a taste of the good life in the luxurious home they rented for the week. But a late-night knock on the door breaks the spell. Ruth and G.H. are an older black couple. It’s their house, and they’ve arrived in a panic. They bring the news that a sudden blackout has swept the city. But in this rural area, with the TV and internet down, and no cell phone service, it’s hard to know that to believe.
 
Should Amanda and Clay trust this couple, and vice versa? What happened back in New York? Is the vacation home, isolated from civilization, a truly safe place for their families? And are they safe from one another?
 
Review: Amanda and Clay are vacationing in a remote home, together with their teenage son and daughter, when they hear a knock on the door in the middle of the night. It’s Ruth and G.H., the owners of the house and clearly rushed to the house in a panic. Back in New York City there is a black out, but no one knows what is really going on. With no cell phone service and TV, there is no way to find out.
 
“Leave the World Behind” deals with a very serious theme, but the approach is small. The intrigue is in the details. Author Rumaan Alam is very good at making seemingly nothing happen, but at the same time setting the tension to the point where, as a reader, you don’t want to put the book down. If you expect big action, you will be disappointed. It’s best to go in blank before you start reading this book.
 
While reading this book, you’re constantly asking yourself questions. Who are these people, what is going on, who can be trusted? And you have no idea what is going to happen. This books is definitely not for everyone. I would understand if people say this book is boring and that would be their reason to disliking the story. It’s true that not a lot happens, but there is so much tension felt constantly and the characters are very interesting and mysterious. And I just wanted to find out what was going on.
 
I’m so surprised by how much I loved this book. I loved the approach Alam went with for this theme. Not your typical apocalyptic story.
 
Rating: 5/ 5