Reading Beneath The Moon

Eclectic Reviews From An Eclectic Reader

Book Review: Not A Drop To Drink by Mindy Mcginnis

Not A Drop To Drink

Mindy McGinnis

320 Pagrs

Published September 24th, 2013

Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.
But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….
With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

“There's a famous line from a poem about the ocean," Mother had finally said to end the discussion. "'Water water every where, but not a drop to drink.” 

In a future not too distant from our present world, the earth has pretty much gone to hell. Just decades ago water ran freely from faucets, a luxury that we take for granted every day of our live's. Now, a new and hostile environment has cropped up: one where water is scare and disease runs rampant. Cholera has spread across the country like wildfire, destroying civilization faster than a nuclear war. Violence is abundant, people doing anything and everything they can to survive in a barren wasteland that fights to rid itself of humans.

Somehow, the earth has run low on water. It started off slowly: water first had to be bought from the city, but was still freely available. Panic arose and things quickly escalating: the only way to get water being to live straight in the city. Crowded places bring disease and death, even with the guaranteed water supply many people thought it unsafe.

“Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.”

Lynn and her mother were two people who stayed as far from the city as possible. Their little farm felt safe, blockaded from the rest of human civilization. Without their farm they wouldn't survive. A small pond keeps them from having to travel to forage for water, but this freedom comes with a lofty price. Dangers run rampant, even out in the countryside. 

“Do you want to die like this?" Mother had asked, that night and every night since then.
Lynn's answer never changed. "No."
And Mother's response, their evening prayer. "Then you will have to kill.” 


Men weren't afraid to kill to get water, food or shelter, water being the main driving factor in their cruelty. Lynn grew up with a coldness to her, a hard shell that wrapped around her being and kept emotions put to the side, locked away in a dark closet. She had no qualms about killing anyone and anything that crept close to their property. She'd been raised with the sole purpose of surviving her decaying world, and in the start of Not a Drop to Drink she knew no different. 

“Type of men who gather up seven of themselves to attack two women in the middle of the night generally won't go back for dead friends.” 

Like I said, people in this book weren't kind. Gore was definitely present and Mindy McGinnis didn't hold back on any of the details. The churning of my stomach become a common feeling whilst reading this, but I still couldn't put it down, even to stop the queasiness. The characters were fantastic, even hard-hearted Lynn who eventually turned around, but not so much that she was weak. No, Lynn was always strong and had all the skills to survive and thrive on her own. I have to admit though, I loved her a whole lot more once she lightened up a bit and let herself feel. Feeling is good Lynn. Really. 

"Tough caring about people, isn't it?"
... "Wouldn't trade it," she said.” 


Not your average post-apocalyptic tale, Not a Drop to Drink was solely the story of a young girl's survival in a dessert-like environment and the friends she makes along the way. A fantastic read that I gobbled up in just two sittings. 

1 comments:

Glad to hear more love for this book, I have read so many 5 star reviews on it. I'll have to pick it up sometime, thank you!

Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

 

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