The Things That Keep Us Here

A Novel

De: Carla Buckley

Narrado por: Kimberly Farr, Abby Craden

How far would you go to protect your family?

Ann Brooks never thought she’d have to answer that question. Then she found her limits tested by a crisis no one could prevent. Now, as her neighborhood descends into panic, she must make tough choices to protect everyone she loves from a threat she cannot even see. In this chillingly urgent novel, Carla Buckley confronts us with the terrifying decisions we are forced to make when ordinary life changes overnight.

A year ago, Ann and Peter Brooks were just another unhappily married couple trying - and failing - to keep their relationship together while they raised two young daughters. Now the world around them is about to be shaken as Peter, a university researcher, comes to a startling realization: A virulent pandemic has made the terrible leap across the ocean to America’s heartland.

And it is killing 50 out of every 100 people it touches.

As their town goes into lockdown, Peter is forced to return home - with his beautiful graduate assistant. But the Brookses’ safe suburban world is no longer the refuge it once was. Food grows scarce, and neighbor turns against neighbor in grocery stores and at gas pumps. And then a winter storm strikes, and the community is left huddling in the dark.

Trapped inside the house she once called home, Ann Brooks must make life-or-death decisions in an environment where opening a door to a neighbor could threaten all the things she holds dear.

Carla Buckley’s poignant debut raises important questions to which there are no easy answers, in an emotionally riveting tale of one family facing unimaginable stress.

©2010 Carla Buckley (P)2010 Random House

Great book!

I truly enjoyed this book and completely disagree that it was boring. This book made me question what I found wrong and right and why. What are my moral limits. What will I do and NOT do. This book really made me think about my life and love. I found myself questioning everything and finally had a conversation with my best friend as to why we do what we do and when it is acceptable and unacceptable. I love forward to her next book. However, I do have to say that I did not think that 'love story' was robust enough. I didn't understand why she felt this love for him nor him for her. I would truly recommend this book to all.

Now this is Scary

because it can happen.. It got you thinking a lot about who or what you would do. I couldn't put it down.

Didn’t want to get out of the car!

Listen to audio books in my car, and more often than not would sit “just a few more minutes” because I didn’t want to stop listening! I loved this book!

Not my typical kind of book, but enjoyed it.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would the tag line be?

I wouldn't.

Any additional comments?

It was a little too long. The mother bear instinct was so strong in the main character that I found it annoying at times. I felt like shaking her like "enough already!". It does make you question how far would you go for your friends and neighbors and to protect your family.

I said it wasn't a typical book for me because it seemed "out there" as far as what was happening to the country...At least I hope it is "out there" and we never see the likes of it.

Definitely worth a listen. It was a good car ride book.

Enjoyable and sometimes nerve wracking.

Overall I very much enjoyed this book. The narrator did a great job. It was eerie to listen to the beginning of this book while currently in a pandemic ourselves. The only thing that kept me from eating this higher was the ending. I felt like it was rushed.

And amazing and heartwarming story!

From the very first word to the very last, this book had my complete attention and heart. It portrays struggles and victories defeats and successes and shows the amazing courage of the human spirit. I recommend this book for anyone with a heart for other living things.

Excellent

I loved it. I loved the characters and the story. I can't wait to listen to more by this author. The narration was excellent also.

Really great!

This story slowly winds up so stick with it because by the last 3 hours or so, you won't want to stop. Performance was excellent and a great match for the story. I've listened to so many books but this is the first one that got me emotional. I feel like I have been on this journey with all of them. Carla Buckley has become one of my favourite authors!

wow

wow to read this after the pandemic its unreal how so many things were similar yet we were lucky it wasn't this bad. Great audio book

Horrible!

Have enjoyed her before but the only good parts of this book were the narrator and the epilogue😞