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The Hurricane
Daniel Stillman has 42 Facebook friends. His cell phone contains 18 contacts, two of them for pizza delivery. Six people follow him on Twitter. Four readers subscribe to his blog; he's pretty sure one of them followed him on accident. And now a category 5 storm is about to wipe all this away. In its wake will be left a single girl, a neighbor he never knew, and a new reprieve from the digital maelstrom of his life, a great silence like the eye of some terrific storm.
226 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 2011
265 people are currently reading
1470 people want to read
About the author
Hugh Howey
151 books57.6k followersI'm the author of WOOL, a top 5 science fiction book on Amazon. I also wrote the Molly Fyde saga, a tale of a teenager from the 25th century who is repeatedly told that girls can't do certain things -- and then does them anyway.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
A theme in my books is the celebration of overcoming odds and of not allowing the cruelty of the universe to change who you are in the process. Most of them are classified as science fiction, since they often take place in the future, but if you love great stories and memorable characters, you'll dig what you find here. I promise.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 284 reviews
March 21, 2015
Sorry Mr. Howey but I could not get into this one at all. I love your science fiction to bits but I am left underwhelmed by your other works so far. This one was not a life or death drama taking place during a hurricane as the blurb and the title might suggest although there was indeed a hurricane. This book is a coming of age story about the usual boy who isn't cool enough but nevertheless meets the girl of his dreams who just happens to live round the corner and everything turns out wonderfully for everyone. So yes, underwhelmed but not giving up yet. I believe in you Mr Howey and I am going to continue working my way through your books:)
October 18, 2012
tl;dr version:
Too many trees, not enough silos.
Real review:
For starters, the tl;dr review will not make sense if you haven't read the Wool Omnibus and/or First Shift, which you really need to do.
I'm not feeling this one, and that's OK. I'd be happier than stink in a barnyard if Mr Howey did nothing but expand the literary world he built in the Wool stories. Thing is, that's not fair to him as an author. He's allowed to write different kinds of stories, with varying themes and different characters.
The book is well written, and Howey does a good job making his characters both credible and compelling, but the coming of age + family drama stuff just didn't grab me. If it's yours, this is a well paced story with credible and compelling characters, and odds are good you will enjoy it despite the lack of silos.
August 21, 2015
This was a really enjoyable read. I suggest reading it during a summer thunderstorm, or maybe while power is out during/after a hurricane.
I read Howey’s Wool series, along with just about everything else he has written. He’s a solid writer, and excels at capturing the emotion of people trapped in dire situations. The plots are often vastly different, but that really doesn’t matter when the writer is focused on the human condition. Teenage coming-of-age stories are not my forte; in fact, I usually avoid them. I’m glad I read/listened to this one, and found a story that is exceptionally easy to connect to.
The story is relatively simple: day-to-day living is completely knocked on its head and the main character and his friends and family are put into a situation that forces them to see things from a different perspective, which, in turn, forges new relationships and adjusts their social paradigms. I also liked because I was just like Daniel during high school: an outcast. Granted, we didn’t have cellphones, texting, Facebook, or any of the other “modern” technology, but that didn’t make it any less painful. Mr. Howey captures this pain in great detail, and even better, how Daniel grew through it, and ending up closer to adulthood at the end of the story.
The only real issue I had with the book was the choice of the narrator. The story was set in Beaufort, SC, and the dialogue was spoken with the proper southern drawl. The narrative, though, like the descriptions of the destruction from the hurricane was spoken with a British accent, which was quite confusing and annoying. I’m curious why the narrator chose to speak in what I’m assuming is his normal voice when the rest of the book was “southern”. Pretty odd, if you ask me.
I read Howey’s Wool series, along with just about everything else he has written. He’s a solid writer, and excels at capturing the emotion of people trapped in dire situations. The plots are often vastly different, but that really doesn’t matter when the writer is focused on the human condition. Teenage coming-of-age stories are not my forte; in fact, I usually avoid them. I’m glad I read/listened to this one, and found a story that is exceptionally easy to connect to.
The story is relatively simple: day-to-day living is completely knocked on its head and the main character and his friends and family are put into a situation that forces them to see things from a different perspective, which, in turn, forges new relationships and adjusts their social paradigms. I also liked because I was just like Daniel during high school: an outcast. Granted, we didn’t have cellphones, texting, Facebook, or any of the other “modern” technology, but that didn’t make it any less painful. Mr. Howey captures this pain in great detail, and even better, how Daniel grew through it, and ending up closer to adulthood at the end of the story.
The only real issue I had with the book was the choice of the narrator. The story was set in Beaufort, SC, and the dialogue was spoken with the proper southern drawl. The narrative, though, like the descriptions of the destruction from the hurricane was spoken with a British accent, which was quite confusing and annoying. I’m curious why the narrator chose to speak in what I’m assuming is his normal voice when the rest of the book was “southern”. Pretty odd, if you ask me.
March 27, 2012
A really good story -- I LIKE the people in it.
Having just finished "Wool Omnibus," I decided to try another book by Hugh Howey. I didn't think, though, that another book by him could be as good as Wool -- but I was wrong. I love this book. I suck down disaster books, but this book isn't really about the hurricane. No. It's about a misfit trying to find his place in his world.
While reading this book, I thought about how much I want to rip my sister's iPhone out of her hands and finally get some eye contact with her. How my nieces and nephews only respond to text messages -- and I don't text (life is to short to waste looking for glasses so I can send an inane message). How if I really want stuff taken care of, I email the to-do list to my husband. How deeply personal technology has become ingrained in our way of life -- at least in the First World. How it's taken away as much as it's given.
It was fascinating to watch the family pull together in the face of a disaster, how events brought things into sharp focus. I really like the characters in the book, and I would love to find out what happens next in their lives. I like the look beneath the surface.
Daniel felt true to me -- his life evoked memories of my own adolescent stumbling through life, what it took to get closer to my sense of self. I want to know more about Anna. But that's not to say the book itself isn't satisfying as it stands -- not at all. The book is so good I believe it, and think about the people in it as if they are real people I know.
Having just finished "Wool Omnibus," I decided to try another book by Hugh Howey. I didn't think, though, that another book by him could be as good as Wool -- but I was wrong. I love this book. I suck down disaster books, but this book isn't really about the hurricane. No. It's about a misfit trying to find his place in his world.
While reading this book, I thought about how much I want to rip my sister's iPhone out of her hands and finally get some eye contact with her. How my nieces and nephews only respond to text messages -- and I don't text (life is to short to waste looking for glasses so I can send an inane message). How if I really want stuff taken care of, I email the to-do list to my husband. How deeply personal technology has become ingrained in our way of life -- at least in the First World. How it's taken away as much as it's given.
It was fascinating to watch the family pull together in the face of a disaster, how events brought things into sharp focus. I really like the characters in the book, and I would love to find out what happens next in their lives. I like the look beneath the surface.
Daniel felt true to me -- his life evoked memories of my own adolescent stumbling through life, what it took to get closer to my sense of self. I want to know more about Anna. But that's not to say the book itself isn't satisfying as it stands -- not at all. The book is so good I believe it, and think about the people in it as if they are real people I know.
April 22, 2013
First off - Hugh Howey really needs a better synopsis writer. While the descriptor of the protagonist Daniel may be accurate, it never comes up in the book.
Daniel is a prototypical South Carolinian high school senior, middle child, and a product of the wireless digital age. He's also a universal outcast by normalcy - not a member of any of the cliques in high school, he is a clique of one, but without the power or prestige. On the night of the first party of his senior year - a party he was only secondarily invited to - Hurricane Anna hits his hometown of Beaufort. And while the town tries to cope with the first major storm to hit the area since Hugo, Daniel rides out the aftereffects of the storm, bringing their own hurricane of effects and emotions with them.
While the synopsis of the book makes it sound almost apocalyptic, the story is much simpler. A social outcast trying to find his way in his senior year: where he should theoretically be at the peak of his social standing within his family, but isn't. His school year starts off like any other, only to be interrupted by the hurricane that no one expected.
The story is more interesting than its archetype would suggest by the narrative it makes on the post-ubiquitous-data-world. In a society constantly connected by cell phones and smart phones and tethered to Twitter and Facebook, where even emergency broadcasts are DVR-skipped, what happens when the society is suddenly cut off? Ironically, it's Daniel's seemingly terminal uncool-factor that provides him with the only connection to the outside world during the hurricane, in the form of the FM-tuner built into his Zune (oh, dear...the Zune...). It provides an interesting commentary on the digital world, as well as the nature of people to monopolize and monetize on human suffering, and how indoctrinated we have all become towards that attitude. Surely, in a world where September 11th relief funds are misappropriated and false Katrina aid charities spring up, no one is willing to help the community for the sake of helping the community...
Family, charity, digital sevrage - all of these and more are themes that revolve around throughout Howey's "The Hurricane", creating it's own unique view on the world in which we now live.
As an aside - anyone who remembers Hurricane Andrew, Hugo, Isabelle, or the September 11th attacks will feel very dated in reading this Y.A. novel.
Daniel is a prototypical South Carolinian high school senior, middle child, and a product of the wireless digital age. He's also a universal outcast by normalcy - not a member of any of the cliques in high school, he is a clique of one, but without the power or prestige. On the night of the first party of his senior year - a party he was only secondarily invited to - Hurricane Anna hits his hometown of Beaufort. And while the town tries to cope with the first major storm to hit the area since Hugo, Daniel rides out the aftereffects of the storm, bringing their own hurricane of effects and emotions with them.
While the synopsis of the book makes it sound almost apocalyptic, the story is much simpler. A social outcast trying to find his way in his senior year: where he should theoretically be at the peak of his social standing within his family, but isn't. His school year starts off like any other, only to be interrupted by the hurricane that no one expected.
The story is more interesting than its archetype would suggest by the narrative it makes on the post-ubiquitous-data-world. In a society constantly connected by cell phones and smart phones and tethered to Twitter and Facebook, where even emergency broadcasts are DVR-skipped, what happens when the society is suddenly cut off? Ironically, it's Daniel's seemingly terminal uncool-factor that provides him with the only connection to the outside world during the hurricane, in the form of the FM-tuner built into his Zune (oh, dear...the Zune...). It provides an interesting commentary on the digital world, as well as the nature of people to monopolize and monetize on human suffering, and how indoctrinated we have all become towards that attitude. Surely, in a world where September 11th relief funds are misappropriated and false Katrina aid charities spring up, no one is willing to help the community for the sake of helping the community...
Family, charity, digital sevrage - all of these and more are themes that revolve around throughout Howey's "The Hurricane", creating it's own unique view on the world in which we now live.
As an aside - anyone who remembers Hurricane Andrew, Hugo, Isabelle, or the September 11th attacks will feel very dated in reading this Y.A. novel.
September 5, 2015
This proves that even spectacular authors don't always write great books. The Hurricane can best be described as tedious. The beginning illustrates the tedium of high school when you are an unremarkable loner. The middle illustrates the tedium of of all the helpless waiting while hunkered down in a bathroom with your family when the eye of the hurricane goes through your town. The ending illustrates the tedium of cleaning up after a hurricane. Sure, there was some conflict and trouble of the human variety thrown in. But none of it was really gripping or overly interesting. It tried to be a family drama at times, but it wasn't dramatic enough. The small romance was cute but felt like some sprinkles on a pile of liver. The detailed section on the roof made me want to rip my ears off. If I were reading the book instead of listening to he audiobook, I would have skimmed over it. But, I couldn't do that. TORTURE! And, while on the subject of the audiobook, why select an older British gentlemen to read a story centered around an American southern teenage boy? It was a poor choice and was distracting. In fact, I probably wouldn't have finished listening to this novel if I had any other available audiobook to accompany my walking. And I'm 80% sure I wouldn't have finished reading it if it was in book form.
You would think with the title of The Hurricane that it would have been a harrowing story of the terror and destruction from the storm. But the hurricane itself plays a minor supporting role in this novel and doesn't pack any of the punch I was expecting. It serves, simply, as a setting. I will say that the final conversation between Roby and Daniel was the best part of the entire book. It was funny. I was glad that the story ended on a high note. I only wish that there had been more personality to enjoy throughout the story.
You would think with the title of The Hurricane that it would have been a harrowing story of the terror and destruction from the storm. But the hurricane itself plays a minor supporting role in this novel and doesn't pack any of the punch I was expecting. It serves, simply, as a setting. I will say that the final conversation between Roby and Daniel was the best part of the entire book. It was funny. I was glad that the story ended on a high note. I only wish that there had been more personality to enjoy throughout the story.
March 24, 2013
I read this book for two reasons: 1) I have become a fan of Hugh Howey (WOOL) and was interested i finding some other sample of his work while waiting for the next volume of the Silo saga to appear, and 2) my work with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (my day job) keeps me acutely tuned into all sorts of disasters that have "graced" the shores of the United States.
I found The Hurricane to be an entertaining read and helped me to better understand the terror that the individual goes through when a monster storm turns his or her world upside-down and inside out. When I was deployed to help with the Hurricane Sandy disaster declarations, I told everyone with whom I was working, that if they wanted a good description of what it is like to experience a hurricane so they can better appreciate what our applicants for federal disaster aid have gone through, they should pick up a copy of this book.
I started reading Mr. Howey because of his science fiction books, but I was very impressed with his handling of this straight drama. I do plan on reading this again, perhaps as this year's hurricane season ramps up to its peak in August and September.
Thank you very much for the story.
I found The Hurricane to be an entertaining read and helped me to better understand the terror that the individual goes through when a monster storm turns his or her world upside-down and inside out. When I was deployed to help with the Hurricane Sandy disaster declarations, I told everyone with whom I was working, that if they wanted a good description of what it is like to experience a hurricane so they can better appreciate what our applicants for federal disaster aid have gone through, they should pick up a copy of this book.
I started reading Mr. Howey because of his science fiction books, but I was very impressed with his handling of this straight drama. I do plan on reading this again, perhaps as this year's hurricane season ramps up to its peak in August and September.
Thank you very much for the story.
March 23, 2012
I love, love, LOVED this book. It diverged from the Hugh Howey sci-fi theme, and was equally amazing. He has such a gift to place the reader right into the mind and feelings of the cahracter, without ever seeming to spend much timing narating.
This was a great read about a teenage boy and his experience with a devestating hurricane. Howey takes the reader through the transformation that anyone who goes through something like this expoeriences - that there are things in life that fundamentally shift your perception, that tragedies are sometimes the most amazing miracles.
Sound too corny? Just read it. You'll get it.
This was a great read about a teenage boy and his experience with a devestating hurricane. Howey takes the reader through the transformation that anyone who goes through something like this expoeriences - that there are things in life that fundamentally shift your perception, that tragedies are sometimes the most amazing miracles.
Sound too corny? Just read it. You'll get it.
March 16, 2012
Have you ever wondered how you would make it in a world that lost it's technology? What's life without reading your Facebook page while waiting for Mr. Coffee to make you a pot? The Hurricaine wreaks havoc in Daniel's teenage life, but in the end brings him out of himself and into the world.
When starting this book, at first I thought the lead character was rather superficial..but then I realized he's just a teenage boy, and can't help it. His character develops nicely as the book goes on. The author is very good at making the reader feel his awkwardness, and discomfort in the world; and also his subsequent contentment with his life. A nice, fast, happy read.
When starting this book, at first I thought the lead character was rather superficial..but then I realized he's just a teenage boy, and can't help it. His character develops nicely as the book goes on. The author is very good at making the reader feel his awkwardness, and discomfort in the world; and also his subsequent contentment with his life. A nice, fast, happy read.
August 21, 2014
My husband loves Hugh Howey so when this popped up on my Amazon recommendations, I thought that I would try it out.
Maybe this is partially on me because I expected a different book but I never expected this to be as boring as it was. Quite simply, nothing happened. Even the category 5 hurricane was meh. The main character alternated between apathetic and whiny. I spent the whole book brainstorming ways that I could raise my children not to turn out like this kid.
My husband is a big fan of Wool though, so maybe go check that one out?
Maybe this is partially on me because I expected a different book but I never expected this to be as boring as it was. Quite simply, nothing happened. Even the category 5 hurricane was meh. The main character alternated between apathetic and whiny. I spent the whole book brainstorming ways that I could raise my children not to turn out like this kid.
My husband is a big fan of Wool though, so maybe go check that one out?
December 15, 2014
I'm not sure what I was expecting from this, but whatever it was, I didn't get it. I got way more. This is a marvelous story with a delicate and vulnerable heart. It develops slowly, unfolding like a flower during the long hours of a dewy morning. Over about the last quarter of it, I found myself near to tears again and again. This book is wonderful. It's like getting a beautiful valentine that's been wrapped in newspaper.
January 14, 2012
My favorite Hugh Howey book yet. This one is completely different from his other work- it's not sci-fi or post-apocalyptic. It's just a regular story. The main character is wonderful, and you really feel like you're living it all. There were a lot of things in the book that could have been overdone, but were done just right. It was very believable and eye-opening.
October 12, 2012
Hugh Howey is a master of the Human Condition.
April 9, 2015
Nice little coming of age story for our high tech times. It gave me the warm fuzzies. Glad I've never had to ride out a storm like this.
September 5, 2025
Loved this. Not sci-fi at all. Just a story about some people in the real world. Couldn't be more different than Silo or Beacon 23. This guy is a damn good writer not limited to one genre.
September 13, 2012
The Hurricane was a nice little story, full of double meaning and lessons for life. I especially enjoyed the idea of the "digital hurricane" we are all living in, tied to the electronic devices that allow us to instantly communicate with eachother and consume all forms of media instantly. The story touches on broken families, true friends, first love, real love, living with regrets, avoiding regrets, alcoholism, true beauty, being popular vs being yourself . . . those are just the themes that come to mind as I write. Oh ya, and there's a hurricane--a real one!
As I've discovered in all of Hugh Howey's stories, the writing is surpurb. I've never read an author who does such a great job describing the scene in so few words. Here's an example that stuck out to me:
"The world went by in reverse. Daniel and Anna watched the past from the back of the Bronco, the road sliding off into the distance as they leaned against the back of the seat adn peered out the rear window. A tree that they had cut and hauled out of the way just hours before popped into view and then slid away from them. The plastic grocery bags rustled in the breeze. Bits of conversation from the two men in the front drifted back, but in an indistinguishable slur. The deep silence from Hunter and Chen was much nearer." (From The Hurricane, location 2284 on Kindle, Chapter 23)
I'm a sucker for great prose, but I'll never get into a story that has a plot that doesn't hold my attention. As I've said before in my reviews, the story is king. Luckily The Hurricane was story enough to keep pulling me through to the end.
My only frustration that I continue to have with Hugh Howey is the language in his books. He's not as profane as the Stephen King books that crossed the line for me, but he certainly is pushing my limits of tolerance.
I recommend The Hurricane to anyone who enjoys a good story, but with the disclaimer that you're not allowed to come back and say I didn't warn you about colorful adjectives!
As I've discovered in all of Hugh Howey's stories, the writing is surpurb. I've never read an author who does such a great job describing the scene in so few words. Here's an example that stuck out to me:
"The world went by in reverse. Daniel and Anna watched the past from the back of the Bronco, the road sliding off into the distance as they leaned against the back of the seat adn peered out the rear window. A tree that they had cut and hauled out of the way just hours before popped into view and then slid away from them. The plastic grocery bags rustled in the breeze. Bits of conversation from the two men in the front drifted back, but in an indistinguishable slur. The deep silence from Hunter and Chen was much nearer." (From The Hurricane, location 2284 on Kindle, Chapter 23)
I'm a sucker for great prose, but I'll never get into a story that has a plot that doesn't hold my attention. As I've said before in my reviews, the story is king. Luckily The Hurricane was story enough to keep pulling me through to the end.
My only frustration that I continue to have with Hugh Howey is the language in his books. He's not as profane as the Stephen King books that crossed the line for me, but he certainly is pushing my limits of tolerance.
I recommend The Hurricane to anyone who enjoys a good story, but with the disclaimer that you're not allowed to come back and say I didn't warn you about colorful adjectives!
August 16, 2014
I'm not sure how to rate this book... It's not at all what I expected, and I blame that at least partly on the misleading blurb. (There are a couple different ones floating around out there, and neither of them are really good, imho.) Based on the blurb, I was expecting much more of a tale of catastrophe. It sounds like Daniel will be alone with this "single girl"... and that they'll have to rely on one another to survive-- for a while, at least. Instead, his whole family is there with him, too. Thing is, it's not a catastrophe/survival story-- not really. There are a few elements of that, but it's much more a tale of coming-of-age. It's from a male perspective, which could have been interesting, since most (all?) of the coming-of-age books I remember reading have been about girls. But... meh. I just didn't love it.
...Anyway, I think this book is pretty different from the author's other works-- certainly from the ones I've read. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who's read Wool, for instance, and is looking for more of the same. If, however, you like coming-of-age stories-- or you want a fairly realistic portrayal of a hurricane-- it's a pretty quick read. And based on the ratings around the Internet, most people liked the book better than I did.
...Anyway, I think this book is pretty different from the author's other works-- certainly from the ones I've read. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to someone who's read Wool, for instance, and is looking for more of the same. If, however, you like coming-of-age stories-- or you want a fairly realistic portrayal of a hurricane-- it's a pretty quick read. And based on the ratings around the Internet, most people liked the book better than I did.
August 23, 2014
Given the title and the author of this book I was expecting something great and I would have settled for good. However it was just ok.
The Hurricane tells the story of Daniel, as his house and community are hit by a hurricane that no one is really prepared for. There are no twists or turns, there are not pieces of intrigue or parallel story lines, no insights into life, relationships, or society. There is just an account of what happened. This book is not at all what I expected, and was not really that rewarding to read.
If you are interested in a Hugh Howey book, there are many fantastic books to choose from, this is not one of them.
The Hurricane tells the story of Daniel, as his house and community are hit by a hurricane that no one is really prepared for. There are no twists or turns, there are not pieces of intrigue or parallel story lines, no insights into life, relationships, or society. There is just an account of what happened. This book is not at all what I expected, and was not really that rewarding to read.
If you are interested in a Hugh Howey book, there are many fantastic books to choose from, this is not one of them.
January 26, 2023
A Quick and Enjoyable Read
A storm, a glass of wine, and a fireplace is the perfect setting to sit down and read this classically written book. Hugh Howey steps away from his dystopian tales to write a classical literary piece. The brilliance of this book is in his ability to engage the reader through metaphors which juxtapose the hurricane with the storm which tore apart a family and their struggle to rebuild their lives.
The breadth of Howey's talent is remarkably shown in The Hurricane. The charm of this book is in his ability to tell the story without the need of forced drama to make it interesting.
It is a perfect book to read on a stormy day.
A storm, a glass of wine, and a fireplace is the perfect setting to sit down and read this classically written book. Hugh Howey steps away from his dystopian tales to write a classical literary piece. The brilliance of this book is in his ability to engage the reader through metaphors which juxtapose the hurricane with the storm which tore apart a family and their struggle to rebuild their lives.
The breadth of Howey's talent is remarkably shown in The Hurricane. The charm of this book is in his ability to tell the story without the need of forced drama to make it interesting.
It is a perfect book to read on a stormy day.
August 28, 2014
I've never been in a hurricane, but based on my experiences in other natural disasters (blizzards, earthquakes), I feel like I now have a better sense for what it would be like. Those who have experienced a hurricane will have to weigh in.
Though Hugh Howey is perhaps better known for his dystopian novel series Wool/Shift/Dust, this is no futuristic dystopia. Instead this is a very common, contemporary, and temporary dystopia--a natural disaster in which one has to survive and recover. But normal life and modern conveniences, while temporarily unavailable will return.
One appeal of disaster/dystopia novels for me is in contemplating whether and how I might survive. What skills and knowledge do I have and/or could I develop to improve my odds? How would I fare?
But a whole other aspect to this book is the coming of age story of Daniel, a teenage boy. As it turns out that I have never been a teenage boy but I have been a teenager (a while ago) and better yet I HAVE a teenage boy.
For me getting insight into the life and thoughts of a teenage boy and being reminded of the awkwardness of social life, learning to understand and, maybe, forgive adults in your lives, learning new skills, new emotions, new viewpoints. This is gold for the parent of a teenager.
This being a Hugh Howey story, I did start to worry about what would become of the protagonist but luckily no zombies or civilization-ending crisis occurred. OK there was NO cell service but that was only for a few days.
However I was shocked by the ending of this book. That is I was shocked that it had ended. I kept thinking there was a problem with my Kindle, I repeatedly pressed the forward/back button sure there were pages missing. As it turns out there weren't, I just didn't want the story to end. I wanted to know more about the internal and external life of a teenage boy. I wanted to see what he experienced and how it all turned out.
And then I realized this this book, like real life, wasn't going to let me know how everything happened in his life and how it was all going to turn out in the future. Which is truth for the parent of a teenager--they grow up, grow out of their adulation of you, grow out of your sphere of influence and into the world. Which is what we want. But ah, the feeling of yearning for that connection and knowledge...that is the joy and pain of parenthood.
Though Hugh Howey is perhaps better known for his dystopian novel series Wool/Shift/Dust, this is no futuristic dystopia. Instead this is a very common, contemporary, and temporary dystopia--a natural disaster in which one has to survive and recover. But normal life and modern conveniences, while temporarily unavailable will return.
One appeal of disaster/dystopia novels for me is in contemplating whether and how I might survive. What skills and knowledge do I have and/or could I develop to improve my odds? How would I fare?
But a whole other aspect to this book is the coming of age story of Daniel, a teenage boy. As it turns out that I have never been a teenage boy but I have been a teenager (a while ago) and better yet I HAVE a teenage boy.
For me getting insight into the life and thoughts of a teenage boy and being reminded of the awkwardness of social life, learning to understand and, maybe, forgive adults in your lives, learning new skills, new emotions, new viewpoints. This is gold for the parent of a teenager.
This being a Hugh Howey story, I did start to worry about what would become of the protagonist but luckily no zombies or civilization-ending crisis occurred. OK there was NO cell service but that was only for a few days.
However I was shocked by the ending of this book. That is I was shocked that it had ended. I kept thinking there was a problem with my Kindle, I repeatedly pressed the forward/back button sure there were pages missing. As it turns out there weren't, I just didn't want the story to end. I wanted to know more about the internal and external life of a teenage boy. I wanted to see what he experienced and how it all turned out.
And then I realized this this book, like real life, wasn't going to let me know how everything happened in his life and how it was all going to turn out in the future. Which is truth for the parent of a teenager--they grow up, grow out of their adulation of you, grow out of your sphere of influence and into the world. Which is what we want. But ah, the feeling of yearning for that connection and knowledge...that is the joy and pain of parenthood.
November 28, 2016
This was an odd coming of age story, and not entirely eventful. I would have enjoyed something with more of a scifi feel (like The Age of Miracles) or more rugged, like a truly apocalyptic novel. The Hurricane was...meh. I kept waiting for something to happen, and with the exception of a fairly routine hurricane for that part of the country, nothing really did. I don't know what I was expecting, but I certainly expected *something*. Anything, really.
What did happen was the tragedy we will call The Narrator. Holy crap, this guy was The Worst Possible Choice for this novel. When I say he was bad, I mean catastrophic, Category 5 destruction bad.
You never notice how often certain words are used in a book until a narrator pronounces them weirdly over and over and over. Here are my "favorites":
palm, from him sounds like pamm
calm, when he says it, sounds like comm
solder somehow came to rhyme with smolder or sold her
Then there's his nails on a chalkboard Southern accent, barely recognizable as "Southern" at all. Is it even worth mentioning that coastal South Carolina has a very distinctive twang, a harsher pronunciation of words rather than the stereotypical lofty, plantation-living Suh-thun-air's lilt, which (except in the movies) hasn't been heard in at least a century? Probably not, but I feel compelled to say this accent should stay extinct. It reminds people of slavery and the Civil War. Who wants that in their ears for 6 hours? Oh, and his father sounded like a drunk John Wayne, again not Southern, more Texan and bizarre.
I'm serious, if you think you will mangle an accent, just use your own voice, for Zeus's sake. Using accents is supposed to enhance the reading of a story, not totally distract with its butchery.
What did happen was the tragedy we will call The Narrator. Holy crap, this guy was The Worst Possible Choice for this novel. When I say he was bad, I mean catastrophic, Category 5 destruction bad.
You never notice how often certain words are used in a book until a narrator pronounces them weirdly over and over and over. Here are my "favorites":
palm, from him sounds like pamm
calm, when he says it, sounds like comm
solder somehow came to rhyme with smolder or sold her
Then there's his nails on a chalkboard Southern accent, barely recognizable as "Southern" at all. Is it even worth mentioning that coastal South Carolina has a very distinctive twang, a harsher pronunciation of words rather than the stereotypical lofty, plantation-living Suh-thun-air's lilt, which (except in the movies) hasn't been heard in at least a century? Probably not, but I feel compelled to say this accent should stay extinct. It reminds people of slavery and the Civil War. Who wants that in their ears for 6 hours? Oh, and his father sounded like a drunk John Wayne, again not Southern, more Texan and bizarre.
I'm serious, if you think you will mangle an accent, just use your own voice, for Zeus's sake. Using accents is supposed to enhance the reading of a story, not totally distract with its butchery.
January 18, 2012
I only just discovered Hugh Howey last week and tore my way through his "Wool" series. (I have been on a YA dystopian genre kick lately.) Next on the list was The Plagiarist and then The Hurricane.
The Hurricane is definitely not in the same genre as the others, but I really loved this one. His descriptions of the storm were incredibly real and the surreal feeling that came in the aftermath of the storm was spot-on. I was excited to discover that Mr. Howey can write for a number of different genres and is able make each and every one of them a 'page-turner.'
This one is going on my Favorites list.
The Hurricane is definitely not in the same genre as the others, but I really loved this one. His descriptions of the storm were incredibly real and the surreal feeling that came in the aftermath of the storm was spot-on. I was excited to discover that Mr. Howey can write for a number of different genres and is able make each and every one of them a 'page-turner.'
This one is going on my Favorites list.
August 25, 2012
It's official. Hugh can write anything. Thought Wool was good? (and it is)! This is just as good or better, but it's completely different. It's deep and tender. It's incredibly touching, and I agree with others who have said they like the characters, every single one. I want to meet Daniel and his family. I don't understand people who complained that nothing happened. It's not that kind of story. It's a story about people, and what happens to Daniel is incredibly moving. This is a brilliant novel. Well done, Hugh.
October 12, 2012
Hugh Howey, as I know him is more of a science fiction writer, and after reading this story I was pleasantly surprised that his talents go much deeper. This is a coming of age story about a major event (the title hurricane) that happens in a teenagers life that shapes his life by changing the relationships he takes for granted. Howey masterfully develops the characters, where you find yourself vested in the outcome of this event. I highly recommend this book, you will not be disappointed.
August 22, 2014
Howey does it again. It was kind of weird reading this one. Most Howey books have twists and turns and usually deal with the end of the world. The Hurricane has no major twists or surprises. It is just a great book. Howey writes the main character Daniel so realistically you really feel for him and understand what he and his family are going through.
I have never read a bad Hugh Howey book and don't know that I ever will. I look forward to anything he writes.
I have never read a bad Hugh Howey book and don't know that I ever will. I look forward to anything he writes.
May 4, 2016
Not what I expected from the blurb, but a nice enough story about a boy, his cell phone obsessed sister, his reappearing father, and a hurricane and a girl both named Anna.
February 29, 2020
Story about nothing
There was no point to this other than for the author to put words in paper. The writing is good but pointless.
There was no point to this other than for the author to put words in paper. The writing is good but pointless.
Read
August 14, 2025Hugh can be hit or miss and this was definitely a miss, mostly because he seems to lack some basic common sense. Hugh isn’t a “good” writer when it comes to the craft or having any real finesse as such. He has interesting concepts and can manage to string together enough (mostly) coherent sentences to make those ideas into a book. He just isn’t actually SKILLED and that’s why you never really know which story will be good or not at any given time. This was not a good one.
Without knowing anything else about Amanda other than they kissed it seems out of character (for the barest minimum we are told) for her to just randomly go to such an extreme to torture and embarrass him for no reason. (Also it would legally be considered child exploitation and they could be charged with child pawn).
Soooooo much metaphor! And not even good ones or even necessary to make them metaphors. “It’s like the nails were being forced loose -“ it’s not like that… it IS that exact thing when a hurricane is hammering your house. I think I know what howey was trying to achieve - having the weather matching the action of what’s happening and how he feels - but he’s not a skillful enough writer to pull it off and this is a perfect example of how NOT to do it. It feels like he came up with a massive list of metaphors for wind and rain and then built the book around them.
“Lifeless cooler” lol aren’t all coolers lifeless?
What parent is going to let a kid explore the house or OUTSIDE in the middle of a hurricane? What sane adult would even CONSIDER it and why is the mom looking to the step dad for guidance? Can she not make a decision about her own kids without a guy’s help?
Really? “Damn” gets a watch your language?
DO NOT OPEN WINDOWS DURING HURRICANES!!!! This is a fantastic way to blow your roof off and tear your house apart. It is a DANGEROUS MYTH that continues to be promoted in media. It does not “equalize” the house. Plus basic common sense, it’s a good way to get driving rain to pour into your house causing damage all over and future issues of mildew/mold.
Just like hiding under an overpass during a tornado - it’s antiquated and dangerous misinformation. This day and age and people in hurricane prone areas should at least know this and they should have a basic hurricane kit yet this family seems clueless and has nothing more than some candles and flashlights?
The power is out, it’s been established, why go back to point out that even the appliances were out. Of course they’re out, there’s no power.
How many times in a row is he going to say something ran across the floor?
I gave up at this point making any more notes. If Hugh can’t be bothered to better his craft I can’t be bothered explaining it.
Without knowing anything else about Amanda other than they kissed it seems out of character (for the barest minimum we are told) for her to just randomly go to such an extreme to torture and embarrass him for no reason. (Also it would legally be considered child exploitation and they could be charged with child pawn).
Soooooo much metaphor! And not even good ones or even necessary to make them metaphors. “It’s like the nails were being forced loose -“ it’s not like that… it IS that exact thing when a hurricane is hammering your house. I think I know what howey was trying to achieve - having the weather matching the action of what’s happening and how he feels - but he’s not a skillful enough writer to pull it off and this is a perfect example of how NOT to do it. It feels like he came up with a massive list of metaphors for wind and rain and then built the book around them.
“Lifeless cooler” lol aren’t all coolers lifeless?
What parent is going to let a kid explore the house or OUTSIDE in the middle of a hurricane? What sane adult would even CONSIDER it and why is the mom looking to the step dad for guidance? Can she not make a decision about her own kids without a guy’s help?
Really? “Damn” gets a watch your language?
DO NOT OPEN WINDOWS DURING HURRICANES!!!! This is a fantastic way to blow your roof off and tear your house apart. It is a DANGEROUS MYTH that continues to be promoted in media. It does not “equalize” the house. Plus basic common sense, it’s a good way to get driving rain to pour into your house causing damage all over and future issues of mildew/mold.
Just like hiding under an overpass during a tornado - it’s antiquated and dangerous misinformation. This day and age and people in hurricane prone areas should at least know this and they should have a basic hurricane kit yet this family seems clueless and has nothing more than some candles and flashlights?
The power is out, it’s been established, why go back to point out that even the appliances were out. Of course they’re out, there’s no power.
How many times in a row is he going to say something ran across the floor?
I gave up at this point making any more notes. If Hugh can’t be bothered to better his craft I can’t be bothered explaining it.
October 8, 2018
Bringing back memories
I’ve actually read “Hurricane” by Hugh Howey before, but since a Michael is knocking on the door I decided to bring back old memories. Hugh Howey has obviously ridden out a category 4 or 5 before. I’ve done that too. Dozens of hurricanes over the years, but until Ivan came calling in 2004 I never realized what a hurricane was. Officially Ivan was a high category three. BS. Winds of up to 140mph pummeled us for hours, even 60 miles inland. 150 miles inland, winds of 120mph were recorded. I walked the floors, shining my flashlight at the ceiling, praying the roof would hold on. We had most of the windows boarded up. Those that weren’t constantly breathed in and out, threatening to shatter any minute.
I did know to keep the wind out of the house. Do not open windows. The people that had windows blown out lost walls and roofs. My house was one of the two percent in the region that had no damage, when all was said and done. Trees were down everywhere but none hit the house. The double roof held on, the cypress siding flexed, nothing was damaged. My parents roof blew away. My brother and sister had major damage to their homes. It took a week just to get the trees cut out of the way to reach help and get some ice and MRE’s, even though we had heavy equipment. FEMA and Red Cross couldn’t reach anyone around here for at least that long a time.
I stepped outside at daybreak, when the winds began to die down and gasped. I could see for miles and miles, here in the delta., where you couldn’t see 50 yards before the storm. All the leaves were gone, shredded. Thousands of trees were down.
Even 14 years later, nothing looks the same. It never will. What trees I have left are one sided, pitiful looking. Next time you see all the condos and mansions along the coast after a major hurricane, think of the people like me, inland. The ones that are hurt just as bad or worse. The ones that did without electricity for almost a month afterwards. But the beach makes for better videography.
Another great job by Hugh Howey, one of the best authors ever!
I’ve actually read “Hurricane” by Hugh Howey before, but since a Michael is knocking on the door I decided to bring back old memories. Hugh Howey has obviously ridden out a category 4 or 5 before. I’ve done that too. Dozens of hurricanes over the years, but until Ivan came calling in 2004 I never realized what a hurricane was. Officially Ivan was a high category three. BS. Winds of up to 140mph pummeled us for hours, even 60 miles inland. 150 miles inland, winds of 120mph were recorded. I walked the floors, shining my flashlight at the ceiling, praying the roof would hold on. We had most of the windows boarded up. Those that weren’t constantly breathed in and out, threatening to shatter any minute.
I did know to keep the wind out of the house. Do not open windows. The people that had windows blown out lost walls and roofs. My house was one of the two percent in the region that had no damage, when all was said and done. Trees were down everywhere but none hit the house. The double roof held on, the cypress siding flexed, nothing was damaged. My parents roof blew away. My brother and sister had major damage to their homes. It took a week just to get the trees cut out of the way to reach help and get some ice and MRE’s, even though we had heavy equipment. FEMA and Red Cross couldn’t reach anyone around here for at least that long a time.
I stepped outside at daybreak, when the winds began to die down and gasped. I could see for miles and miles, here in the delta., where you couldn’t see 50 yards before the storm. All the leaves were gone, shredded. Thousands of trees were down.
Even 14 years later, nothing looks the same. It never will. What trees I have left are one sided, pitiful looking. Next time you see all the condos and mansions along the coast after a major hurricane, think of the people like me, inland. The ones that are hurt just as bad or worse. The ones that did without electricity for almost a month afterwards. But the beach makes for better videography.
Another great job by Hugh Howey, one of the best authors ever!
February 3, 2018
A wonderful coming of age story! Being a senior in high school is not easy, but especially being one of the "nerds". After a big keg party goes very, very bad, Daniel feels his life is over (socially speaking). He doesn't remember how he got home.
That night a rather small hurricane that had been forecast to bypass their town of Beaufort, makes a sudden inward turn towards land and quickly turns into a Category 5 hurricane bearing down on the area. Daniel and his family spend the night huddled in the bathroom after a tree crashes through the upstairs of their home, wondering if they are going to survive.
The amazing thing about this book is that I felt I was actually living that hurricane. I have never been in a hurricane, but it feels as though I know how horrifying it is - as well as the aftermath. No power, no gas, no cellphone service, no computers online, trees across all the roads - but it seems in one way, for Daniel, living in a non-technology world for several days changes his life. Let me quote the final sentence of the review on Amazon: "In its wake will be left a single girl, a neighbor he never knew, and a new reprieve from the digital maelstrom of his life, a great silence like the eye of some terrific storm."
That night a rather small hurricane that had been forecast to bypass their town of Beaufort, makes a sudden inward turn towards land and quickly turns into a Category 5 hurricane bearing down on the area. Daniel and his family spend the night huddled in the bathroom after a tree crashes through the upstairs of their home, wondering if they are going to survive.
The amazing thing about this book is that I felt I was actually living that hurricane. I have never been in a hurricane, but it feels as though I know how horrifying it is - as well as the aftermath. No power, no gas, no cellphone service, no computers online, trees across all the roads - but it seems in one way, for Daniel, living in a non-technology world for several days changes his life. Let me quote the final sentence of the review on Amazon: "In its wake will be left a single girl, a neighbor he never knew, and a new reprieve from the digital maelstrom of his life, a great silence like the eye of some terrific storm."
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