Los Recolectores De Suicidas / The Suicide Collectors (2011) - Plot & Excerpts
The Despair has swept the world led by the mysterious Source and only 10% of the population has survived. Great start, but for various reasons this one didn't take it's second breath. The Suicide Collectors could have been a much better story if the author had bothered to spend a little more time and speculation on the cause of the mystery. There are far too many unanswered questions for my liking, the biggest of which is: How do the Collectors know that someone has just killed themselves (the Source tells them isn't good enough), and if they can know this, why can't they 'know' where Norman is? And why collect the bodies at all? And why, oh why, when the world has gone to hell and only crazies and wild animals roam the land does the main character wander off without bothering to take his gun? And if I thought I'd be at least given a real clue to what the Source is by the story's end (sorry, a big, black hole doesn't cut it), then I was sadly mistaken. This was really good for a first novel and quite excellent for a random grab off of a library shelf. I do enjoy post apocalyptic/dystopian fiction and this was an interesting entry into the genre dealing with, as the title states, suicides. Strong characters drive the story across the country as we witness the devastation that 5 years can being in the world that lost hope and desire to live. There are definitely some interesting ruminations on the phenomenon of suicide and the power of human spirit or lack thereof. Good writing and excellent pacing, very quick read, I finished it in a few hours. 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 for excellent debut effort. Recommended.
What do You think about Los Recolectores De Suicidas / The Suicide Collectors (2011)?
I liked this one a lot but the ending was a little disappointing. It didn't really explain much.
—jczerwonka
3.5I really enjoyed the premise of this book, but it fell a bit flat towards the end.
—mommy
Interesting idea ... but poorly written and disappointing ending.
—Iza
A very solid read. Entertaining and enjoyable to the last page.
—richel
