Sunday, January 06, 2008

The Cobra Event...a few random thoughts

I actually started reading this book way back in October during Dewey's 24-hour readathon. But I didn't make that big of dent in it at the time, and though I was enjoying it, I somehow managed to set it aside and move on to other things. But I decided that I really needed to pick it back up and finish it. And I'm very glad I did.

I originally picked up The Cobra Event, by Richard Preston, at a thrift store, because it sounded like a good medical thriller. And it was a good medical thriller...one of the best I've read. You might also call it a crime thriller or a political thriller, as there were definitely elements of all these things.

At times the book was definitely a fast-paced read, but then it would slow you down with what could nearly be called scientific lessons in bioterrorism and genetic engineering. I found these sections fascinating, however. And while on the surface, this may sound a bit disjointed, Preston really made it work overall.

I will say that there are some rather gruesome descriptions in this book. What this bio-engineered virus does to a person is not a pretty sight, so if you read this one, be prepared. And also be prepared to live with a feeling of dread still residing in your gut long after the final pages have been read.



Yeah, another slot filled in on Joy's A-Z Challenge! 2 down, only 50 to go...

7 comments:

twiga92 said...

I enjoyed this book too. It was one of the ones I read for the Medical Mystery Madness.

SCANjolina said...

Hi Debi! I just wanted to say hello. It's be so long since I checked in with you. Glad to see you're still reading so much. That is great!

I've gotten hooked on all the "Stephanie Plum" mysteries by Janet Evanovich. They are so cute, and they make me laugh out loud.

Nice to catch up with you!

chrisa511 said...

Ok, I think you have me wanting to join that damn A to Z challenge thing...it just looks to fun being able to put down every book you read! Dammit Debi...dammit...lol!

Debi said...

Chris-

Oh, just do it! You're not nearly overextended enough yet! Come on, you know you want to...

Seriously, it is great fun just filling in the slots and watching the "completed" list grow! Of course, I guess after a while it will get a lot harder when they start doubling up. And some letters will certainly be harder than others. Though isn't there a book in the Ender series called Xenocide? I'll have to get to those to fill in that dastardly X, don't you think?

Jean said...

There is, indeed, a book in the Ender series called Xenocide, though it's not one of my favorites. None of the sequels could live up to Ender's Game, IMHO. Ender's Shadow and the ones that followed it were probably my next favorites.

chrisa511 said...

There is in fact a Xenocide as Jean says, but I have to disagree :p I loved it...though many claim that it's not a favorite...it's the third book after Ender's Game and Speaker for the Dead. It starts to take a more philosophical turn and I think that if you like Speaker for the Dead then you'll like that one too. Hmm...an X book...sheesh...I guess I could reread that one :/

Debi said...

Chris-

If you don't feel like a reread is in order for this year, I came across a book called The Xenocide Mission. It's a YA science fiction...so you use it for Carl's Sci-Fi experience as well. It's actually the sequel to another book (can't remember the name), but from what I've read about it, it supposedly works just fine as a stand-alone.

Nothing like trying to push another challenge on you, huh?