Penelope has lost everything in the Earth Shaker that destroyed the Los Angeles area. Her home by the sea is in ruins, her family gone. There is no one left in the neighborhood. Penelope is trying to survive on what little food and water she can find in what remains of their basement pantry. Then suddenly three men appear at her home. She hides, knowing that they will kill her if they find her. But one does find her and surprisingly he offers her secret help and a bit of hope.
The cover of this book is absolutely amazing, artistic and gorgeous. It is the reason, along with a very intriguing title, that I chose to read this book. The writing is beautiful as well, I love lyrical prose. This is the first book I have read by Francesca Lia Block.
The story itself, however, I struggled with. For some reason, I cringed every time I heard the term "Earth Shaker." It sounded so ... childish? The main character, Penelope, didn't know what caused the event; it felt like an earthquake, why would she not refer to it as an earthquake? She had not crossed paths with a single person since the event to tell her it was anything different. Also, I just could not accept that with all the devastation around her, with a map to where her family was located and a van to drive to them, that she would start sight seeing along the way. She drove out of the way to check out a museum that she used to visit as a kid? It just struck me as off.
There were other aspects of the book that I struggled with as well. I understood early on that this was a loose retelling of the Odyssey, but I didn't like being reminded of that fact repeatedly "...just like in the Odyssey!" I felt somewhat preached to as far as our lack of responsibility in caring for the earth. Yes, I understand that global warming, our genetic experimentation and many other irresponsible actions led to the apocalyptic events that occurred. I didn't, however, appreciate being repeatedly reminded of that; I got it the first time.
I tend to read character driven realistic fiction. I do love magical realism, but the word "realism" is key. This story seemed almost psychedelic at times. It is beautifully written, but not my cup of tea. Having said that, I really wanted to finish the story. I cared about the characters, even if I couldn't fully accept them. This was a fast paced, compelling read. While this was not a favorite of mine, I do believe it is worth sharing. I have no doubt there will be people who love it!