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The Forager
It’s been thirty years since the economy collapsed, and all Dillon has ever known is a world without electricity or medicine, living in a community constantly under the threat of starvation as they struggle to feed the rest of the country.
Orphaned and alone, unsure of his future, Dillon serves as a lookout, watching for the bands of Scavengers that prey on towns like his—while also trying to keep away from the mayor’s twin sons, who are bent on terrorizing him.
When a Forager rides into town, he opens Dillon’s eyes to the possibility of another life for himself. And when a Scavenger attack leaves the Forager injured, he sends Dillon out on a mission that may mean the difference between life and death for the mayor’s missing daughter. Dillon is about to find more than a way to help his community—he’s about to find himself.
Orphaned and alone, unsure of his future, Dillon serves as a lookout, watching for the bands of Scavengers that prey on towns like his—while also trying to keep away from the mayor’s twin sons, who are bent on terrorizing him.
When a Forager rides into town, he opens Dillon’s eyes to the possibility of another life for himself. And when a Scavenger attack leaves the Forager injured, he sends Dillon out on a mission that may mean the difference between life and death for the mayor’s missing daughter. Dillon is about to find more than a way to help his community—he’s about to find himself.
255 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 17, 2014
89 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
September 4, 2014
God, I've been so lazy about writing an actual review for this. So here it is. I liked this book, it was an easy read. It didn't pull me in though, so I kept pushing it aside and reading other books instead. I finished it though! I finished it and then procrastinated on writing a review for it for another few weeks. Because I am a lazy lazy girl.
First off, I want to thank the author for not giving his characters completely ridiculous names in this dystopia. Dillon, the main character is a likeable guy. Josh and Jason are pretty much complete assholes for no valid reason and it was unnecessary. Chane is completely useless, even though the whole point of the story is to save her. Maybe if Scheer had told us more about her it would've been better.
The story itself was good, but I think it needed more world-building. An economic crash is a believable reason for our society to screw up, because it's happened before. But we've also pulled ourselves out of one before.I think the society needed to be better elaborated.
The writing was good, but it could have been been improved with better editing. Sometimes I found the dialogue a bit choppy and unnatural. Good read.
First off, I want to thank the author for not giving his characters completely ridiculous names in this dystopia. Dillon, the main character is a likeable guy. Josh and Jason are pretty much complete assholes for no valid reason and it was unnecessary. Chane is completely useless, even though the whole point of the story is to save her. Maybe if Scheer had told us more about her it would've been better.
The story itself was good, but I think it needed more world-building. An economic crash is a believable reason for our society to screw up, because it's happened before. But we've also pulled ourselves out of one before.I think the society needed to be better elaborated.
The writing was good, but it could have been been improved with better editing. Sometimes I found the dialogue a bit choppy and unnatural. Good read.
February 9, 2015
I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Actual Rating 3.5
What would you do if people in your town looked at you as good for nothing or a waste of space?
What would you do if you were given the opportunity to make a difference?
What if you could save the people around you?
Would you still do it if almost nobody believed in you?
Dillon would.
Let me start off by saying that I love the setting of this story. I love the whole idea of it. There were just a few things that bothered me.
I wanted to know more.
There's supposedly a big community that runs a lot of little communities. It's ruled by someone named The Governor. I was a little disappointed that I was never given anymore information on him. He is mentioned so much... but I was still left with so many questions.If there is a second book I hope we actually get some details on him.
There was so much space and I feel like not much of it was filled. The author is definitely a good writer. I was never really irritated at the style of writing when I was reading. But sometimes things just moved SO FAST. Some things were so obvious and predictable.
While the main character, Dillon, was doing whatever he was doing... it was just described... I don't know. It wasn't described well, or it was described too well. I don't exactly know how to say it other than there being a lot of space through-out the novel that I wanted filled. Sometimes it just moved too fast while giving us little information. Sometimes it gave us too much information where it wasn't needed.
Characters:
Dillon: I liked him. Did I love him? Most of the time, yes. We weren't given too much information on his appearances so I never had much to go on. But I liked his personality. I loved his loyalty to those he cared about. He's a sweet and strong kid. I would definitely read a second novel about him.
Sawyer: MY FAVORITE CHARACTER BY FAR. Sawyer was just wonderful. I loved loved LOVED how he took Dillon under his wing. He was so caring, and such a strong character. He was funny too. I will refuse to read the second book if he isn't in it.
Fred: hehe... I just love horses.. so Fred was a treat for me. She was the cherry on top of the whipped cream. She has a cute little spike of attitude.
Chane:I don't like her... never did. She has always just seemed like a mega b****. Looks aren't enough honey.
Everyone Else: I loved the townsfolk. Including Josh. I loved Millie and Charlie. The doctor and Frank are awesome too. The mayor even had his moments.
Like I said... I LOVE this story line. It's awesome. And while sometimes predictable, it was entertaining. It had good imagery and was well written. I recommend this book to someone who wants a fun and easy read!
Actual Rating 3.5
What would you do if people in your town looked at you as good for nothing or a waste of space?
What would you do if you were given the opportunity to make a difference?
What if you could save the people around you?
Would you still do it if almost nobody believed in you?
Dillon would.
Let me start off by saying that I love the setting of this story. I love the whole idea of it. There were just a few things that bothered me.
I wanted to know more.
There's supposedly a big community that runs a lot of little communities. It's ruled by someone named The Governor. I was a little disappointed that I was never given anymore information on him. He is mentioned so much... but I was still left with so many questions.If there is a second book I hope we actually get some details on him.
There was so much space and I feel like not much of it was filled. The author is definitely a good writer. I was never really irritated at the style of writing when I was reading. But sometimes things just moved SO FAST. Some things were so obvious and predictable.
While the main character, Dillon, was doing whatever he was doing... it was just described... I don't know. It wasn't described well, or it was described too well. I don't exactly know how to say it other than there being a lot of space through-out the novel that I wanted filled. Sometimes it just moved too fast while giving us little information. Sometimes it gave us too much information where it wasn't needed.
Characters:
Dillon: I liked him. Did I love him? Most of the time, yes. We weren't given too much information on his appearances so I never had much to go on. But I liked his personality. I loved his loyalty to those he cared about. He's a sweet and strong kid. I would definitely read a second novel about him.
Sawyer: MY FAVORITE CHARACTER BY FAR. Sawyer was just wonderful. I loved loved LOVED how he took Dillon under his wing. He was so caring, and such a strong character. He was funny too. I will refuse to read the second book if he isn't in it.
Fred: hehe... I just love horses.. so Fred was a treat for me. She was the cherry on top of the whipped cream. She has a cute little spike of attitude.
Chane:I don't like her... never did. She has always just seemed like a mega b****. Looks aren't enough honey.
Everyone Else: I loved the townsfolk. Including Josh. I loved Millie and Charlie. The doctor and Frank are awesome too. The mayor even had his moments.
Like I said... I LOVE this story line. It's awesome. And while sometimes predictable, it was entertaining. It had good imagery and was well written. I recommend this book to someone who wants a fun and easy read!
July 27, 2014
I thoroughly enjoyed The Forager, finding it hard to put down. As this was my first ebook, I appreciated the convenience of having the story always as close as my phone.
The trials and maturation of Dillon in his post-apocalyptic, rural setting were believable and enthralling. Although not necessarily similar stories, The Forager took me on a young person's personal journey, engaging as those found in Catcher in the Rye, and The Basketball Diaries, but without a PG-13 or R rating. And I think Steinbeck would tip his hat to Mr. Scheer's depiction of the colony's attempts to make ends meet.
A very entertaining read!
The trials and maturation of Dillon in his post-apocalyptic, rural setting were believable and enthralling. Although not necessarily similar stories, The Forager took me on a young person's personal journey, engaging as those found in Catcher in the Rye, and The Basketball Diaries, but without a PG-13 or R rating. And I think Steinbeck would tip his hat to Mr. Scheer's depiction of the colony's attempts to make ends meet.
A very entertaining read!
November 21, 2014
I really enjoyed this book! I like dystopian fiction, but aside from that it's just a good story with a writing style that doesn't distract from the plot at all. Good characters with a lot of room for development.... I'm ready for a sequel! Also, I can see everyone from advanced 10 year old readers to adults enjoying it, no worries about profanity etc.
Nice debut Mr. Scheer!
Nice debut Mr. Scheer!
February 13, 2015
***R4R. Free copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review. Thank you so much for the opportunity!
This is one of those times that I wish GoodReads had a half-star rating system because though I enjoyed The Forager for the slow paced story that it was, it left much to be desired. Still, I have to give it 3 stars instead of 2 solely because of the main character, Dillon.
Dillon was rational. At the beginning, . I mean, he was mad too, but ultimately he was this initial thought that drove him to his actions.
Dillon cared about others more than he cared about himself. He took on responsibilities even when he wasn’t fully prepared, thus solving big problems within his community. He found medicine for a guy who gave him a chance to see that he’s worth something. His mind was always on finding ways to help out those who were closest to him (like Millie, (then)Chane, Sawyer).
Dillon grew as a character from a punk little boy to a young man saving the lives of his people and standing up for himself. He took calculated risks and made sure it was worth if he came out on top. When dealing with Scavengers, he made quick decisions and didn’t do stupid things. He took on responsibilities that weren’t his to take on and didn’t complain about it. He didn’t try to get out of things by lying; he’d take his punishment(s) and understand why they were being given to him, even if he didn’t like it or disagree with it. He earns the respect he wants and doesn’t get because he’s the son of the mayor or because he’s some big guy who dishes out punishment.
The other characters of this book are stereotypical IMO. You have the badass, quick-witted, mysterious Forager who is above the law and scares people with just a stare or a single threat. And, obviously, he’s the one that sees the potential in Dillon. I actually liked their relationship; Dillon lost his parents before the start of the story (hint the nickname: Orphan Boy) and Sawyer seems to be the only one that made him feel like he had something to prove, or like he was able to be more than the orphaned f*ck up. Still, Sawyer’s dialogue got on my nerves a bit because it was so… clichéd?
The twins, Josh and Jason, were the tough jocks who resorted to name-calling as their bullying tactics. I didn’t like them and I was glad when Dillon started standing up to them. They made dumb decisions that resulted in many consequences (like when one of them tried to kill a Scavenger when negotiating is sister’s return). Again, their choice sentences were typical of those kinds of characters, who are seen as two dumb daddy’s boys by our main character (he doesn’t actually say this, but this is the vibe he gives off when he speaks/thinks of them).
The mayor, for as much as Dillon tries to convince us that he cares about the people, he sure does pick the wrong time to want to enforce his laws and push the fact that he is mayor (and he holds on to this to the bitter end of the damn book. Like, after all Dillon had done… seriously?). He wants to punish Dillon instead of letting him go look for an alternator – something needed for harvesting. He would rather have tired-ass Dillon, who has just returned from multiple trips out Foraging, go look for his daughter instead of giving him time to rest. And I can’t say that he read as a genuine person who cared about his people. His relationship with Sawyer was silly and, again, a clichéd rival type deal where they have to set aside their differences in order for everything to work out.
The world-building and setting was believable. For the most part, he author was able to give information about the town and the way it works without it seeming as if it was out of place of info-dumpy. I especially enjoyed how Dillon didn’t understand the obsession with computers or technology period and how internet worked. If he only knew… The images of them living in the country-side verses the emptiness of the city is good. It felt like to two different worlds and even now, people make the comparisons between the city and the country. Everyone does their part and the only restriction is he age limit. I do think that his whole “no hunting” rule was silly and the fact the Mayor was willing to go to extreme measures instead of just letting the people know why he made it illegal just made me dislike him even more!
Besides being pretty predictable –the bits that did have some action- the story itself is a slow. You’d think that with the cover and the title (after learning what it means) that it would be fast-paced and lots of running and shooting and Scavengers just ravaging the country towns and its people. But actually, it’s a slow-paced, character-driven story. It’s more about Dillon growing into himself than it is about Scavengers. It’s more about the decisions he makes as a Forager than it is actually about Foraging and what it mean to Forage in such a time. Therefore, the story it sort of a count-by-count telling of Dillon and his day-to-day life routines and the decisions he makes and why. There doesn’t seem to be much action, and the action it does have still seems to be slow moving.
I like stories like this, but if you want some fast action-packed story, then I wouldn’t recommend you pick this up. If you want a good main character who may get on your nerves at time but thinks like a human being and not some fictional character who does and/or says things because it’s something a fictional character would/should say in a “time like this”, then maybe pick this book up.
This is one of those times that I wish GoodReads had a half-star rating system because though I enjoyed The Forager for the slow paced story that it was, it left much to be desired. Still, I have to give it 3 stars instead of 2 solely because of the main character, Dillon.
Dillon was rational. At the beginning, . I mean, he was mad too, but ultimately he was this initial thought that drove him to his actions.
Dillon cared about others more than he cared about himself. He took on responsibilities even when he wasn’t fully prepared, thus solving big problems within his community. He found medicine for a guy who gave him a chance to see that he’s worth something. His mind was always on finding ways to help out those who were closest to him (like Millie, (then)Chane, Sawyer).
Dillon grew as a character from a punk little boy to a young man saving the lives of his people and standing up for himself. He took calculated risks and made sure it was worth if he came out on top. When dealing with Scavengers, he made quick decisions and didn’t do stupid things. He took on responsibilities that weren’t his to take on and didn’t complain about it. He didn’t try to get out of things by lying; he’d take his punishment(s) and understand why they were being given to him, even if he didn’t like it or disagree with it. He earns the respect he wants and doesn’t get because he’s the son of the mayor or because he’s some big guy who dishes out punishment.
The other characters of this book are stereotypical IMO. You have the badass, quick-witted, mysterious Forager who is above the law and scares people with just a stare or a single threat. And, obviously, he’s the one that sees the potential in Dillon. I actually liked their relationship; Dillon lost his parents before the start of the story (hint the nickname: Orphan Boy) and Sawyer seems to be the only one that made him feel like he had something to prove, or like he was able to be more than the orphaned f*ck up. Still, Sawyer’s dialogue got on my nerves a bit because it was so… clichéd?
The twins, Josh and Jason, were the tough jocks who resorted to name-calling as their bullying tactics. I didn’t like them and I was glad when Dillon started standing up to them. They made dumb decisions that resulted in many consequences (like when one of them tried to kill a Scavenger when negotiating is sister’s return). Again, their choice sentences were typical of those kinds of characters, who are seen as two dumb daddy’s boys by our main character (he doesn’t actually say this, but this is the vibe he gives off when he speaks/thinks of them).
The mayor, for as much as Dillon tries to convince us that he cares about the people, he sure does pick the wrong time to want to enforce his laws and push the fact that he is mayor (and he holds on to this to the bitter end of the damn book. Like, after all Dillon had done… seriously?). He wants to punish Dillon instead of letting him go look for an alternator – something needed for harvesting. He would rather have tired-ass Dillon, who has just returned from multiple trips out Foraging, go look for his daughter instead of giving him time to rest. And I can’t say that he read as a genuine person who cared about his people. His relationship with Sawyer was silly and, again, a clichéd rival type deal where they have to set aside their differences in order for everything to work out.
The world-building and setting was believable. For the most part, he author was able to give information about the town and the way it works without it seeming as if it was out of place of info-dumpy. I especially enjoyed how Dillon didn’t understand the obsession with computers or technology period and how internet worked. If he only knew… The images of them living in the country-side verses the emptiness of the city is good. It felt like to two different worlds and even now, people make the comparisons between the city and the country. Everyone does their part and the only restriction is he age limit. I do think that his whole “no hunting” rule was silly and the fact the Mayor was willing to go to extreme measures instead of just letting the people know why he made it illegal just made me dislike him even more!
Besides being pretty predictable –the bits that did have some action- the story itself is a slow. You’d think that with the cover and the title (after learning what it means) that it would be fast-paced and lots of running and shooting and Scavengers just ravaging the country towns and its people. But actually, it’s a slow-paced, character-driven story. It’s more about Dillon growing into himself than it is about Scavengers. It’s more about the decisions he makes as a Forager than it is actually about Foraging and what it mean to Forage in such a time. Therefore, the story it sort of a count-by-count telling of Dillon and his day-to-day life routines and the decisions he makes and why. There doesn’t seem to be much action, and the action it does have still seems to be slow moving.
I like stories like this, but if you want some fast action-packed story, then I wouldn’t recommend you pick this up. If you want a good main character who may get on your nerves at time but thinks like a human being and not some fictional character who does and/or says things because it’s something a fictional character would/should say in a “time like this”, then maybe pick this book up.
September 3, 2014
Ron Scheer was kind enough to give me a copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review. I hope it does not disappoint!
The Forager takes places in the future, a future where life is hard and uncertain, due to The Collapse – which in when the country fell into economic turmoil after the dollar lost its value. Since then, people have been living in tight knit communities, making a life for themselves by growing and harvesting their own crops. Of course, a portion of their supplies goes to the Governor – so there is a quota that had to be met by every town – but for those who are lucky enough to live within a community, life is generally good. And if you don’t live inside a community – you’re most likely a Scavenger, or those who raid the communities just to get by.
Dillon is a teenager living in one such community. One day, Scavengers attack their town, trying to get much needed supplies. With them, a Forager came, who tried to warn them of the impending attack. While the community was able to fight off the intruders, another couple of misfortunes occur. First of which, the combine for harvesting the food breaks down. Quickly following that, the mayor’s daughter goes missing. Dillon, who was thrown into the midst of all of these things, is begrudgingly chosen to act as a Forager when the initial Forager is wounded in battle. Suddenly, he had a lot more responsibility resting on his shoulders than he’s used to and it’s up to him to find a working alternator and rescue the mayor’s daughter.
I really liked the world building for this book. I thought it was very interesting that the reason the country was in such ruin was due to economic tragedy – particularly since this is something that could easily become a reality if we don’t make wise decisions today. I really wish that Scheer could have elaborated a little more on the world itself, though. It was mentioned that society was in the shape it was in due to bad decisions about money, but why? The only reason we’re given is because of “greed.” I think if this had been elaborated on, it would’ve made for a much more firm foundation on which to base the novel.
I found the main character, Dillon, pretty likable. He��s pretty much your average guy, so when he’s chosen to help the community, you quickly find yourself rooting for him. Unfortunately, many of the other characters felt pretty bland and cut-out. I didn’t much like Chane – she was pretty stupid and just a tool – or her brothers, as they were unnecessarily abusive to the main character. Seriously, those guys went out of their way to make Dillon’s life miserable and there didn’t really seem to be any motive to it, other than they were bullies. We do get a little character development from Josh (one of the brothers) at the end, so that was nice. But other than Dillon, I didn’t much care for any of the characters. Except the leader for the Scavengers. She was pretty awesome.
Overall, the book was pretty entertaining, but I think it could’ve done well with a few extra pairs of eyes looking at it. Some parts of the book could’ve been left out, while others flushed out. And there were a few grammatical errors here and there, but nothing that would really distract the reader or anything. Overall, I look forward to seeing how the author progresses!
The Forager takes places in the future, a future where life is hard and uncertain, due to The Collapse – which in when the country fell into economic turmoil after the dollar lost its value. Since then, people have been living in tight knit communities, making a life for themselves by growing and harvesting their own crops. Of course, a portion of their supplies goes to the Governor – so there is a quota that had to be met by every town – but for those who are lucky enough to live within a community, life is generally good. And if you don’t live inside a community – you’re most likely a Scavenger, or those who raid the communities just to get by.
Dillon is a teenager living in one such community. One day, Scavengers attack their town, trying to get much needed supplies. With them, a Forager came, who tried to warn them of the impending attack. While the community was able to fight off the intruders, another couple of misfortunes occur. First of which, the combine for harvesting the food breaks down. Quickly following that, the mayor’s daughter goes missing. Dillon, who was thrown into the midst of all of these things, is begrudgingly chosen to act as a Forager when the initial Forager is wounded in battle. Suddenly, he had a lot more responsibility resting on his shoulders than he’s used to and it’s up to him to find a working alternator and rescue the mayor’s daughter.
I really liked the world building for this book. I thought it was very interesting that the reason the country was in such ruin was due to economic tragedy – particularly since this is something that could easily become a reality if we don’t make wise decisions today. I really wish that Scheer could have elaborated a little more on the world itself, though. It was mentioned that society was in the shape it was in due to bad decisions about money, but why? The only reason we’re given is because of “greed.” I think if this had been elaborated on, it would’ve made for a much more firm foundation on which to base the novel.
I found the main character, Dillon, pretty likable. He��s pretty much your average guy, so when he’s chosen to help the community, you quickly find yourself rooting for him. Unfortunately, many of the other characters felt pretty bland and cut-out. I didn’t much like Chane – she was pretty stupid and just a tool – or her brothers, as they were unnecessarily abusive to the main character. Seriously, those guys went out of their way to make Dillon’s life miserable and there didn’t really seem to be any motive to it, other than they were bullies. We do get a little character development from Josh (one of the brothers) at the end, so that was nice. But other than Dillon, I didn’t much care for any of the characters. Except the leader for the Scavengers. She was pretty awesome.
Overall, the book was pretty entertaining, but I think it could’ve done well with a few extra pairs of eyes looking at it. Some parts of the book could’ve been left out, while others flushed out. And there were a few grammatical errors here and there, but nothing that would really distract the reader or anything. Overall, I look forward to seeing how the author progresses!
February 13, 2015
Set in a dystopian future, The Forager is the story of young man by the name of Dillon. This is a world recovering from the devastation that an economic disaster caused - resulting in a restructuring of governments and general lifestyles, massive loss of lives, and a shortage of the goods that survivors need to …well survive. Dillon, an orphan whose parents died in a wave of illnesses that swept the community, lives in one of the small farming towns that provide food for the whole state - hopefully producing enough for themselves. Doing all this while protecting their supplies and harvests from Scavengers - people who have been banished from their own towns and survive by trying to take what they can from towns like Dillon’s. Dillon is bullied by the Mayor’s sons, his town is hit by Scavengers who are run off but manage to somehow kidnap his crush, the mayor’s daughter. And Dillon is about to be punished for killing a deer which is considered hunting and against the Mayor’s law. So its safe to say Dillon is having a bad day. The only bright light is the forager Sawyer who takes a liking to Dillon and needs his help (to help the town) when Sawyer is injured.
First off let me say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read while at the same time managing to keep my attention. I have read a number of dystopian novels recently and while this does have some of the same tropes as some of those it manages to bring a freshness and an energy to the genre. I think a big part of that is the character Dillon. There is such an innocence and life to him that is so refreshing. You cannot help but want to root for him, he is the underdog with so much potential. I loved the scenes when he was out foraging - this is his first time out of the town and it is wonderful to see him taking in all the things around him - to watch him exploring a ghost world which he has heard about but never seen.
While I enjoyed this, I did find myself a little disappointed at times. Mostly because I wanted more. I wanted more from this world that Dillon explores. I wanted a deeper understanding of this world that we inhabit. I wanted the stakes to be just a touch higher. I am happy with the resolutions that happen but they are a little too tidy and too quick. And I would have liked to see more from many of the side characters - they were all so interesting but we only see the surface with many of them. I think that just a little more would tip me over from liking this to absolutely loving it. I know that this is Scheer’s first novel and I cannot wait to read more from him, to see his growth. Everything is there it just needs -- more.
First off let me say that I really enjoyed this book. It was a quick and easy read while at the same time managing to keep my attention. I have read a number of dystopian novels recently and while this does have some of the same tropes as some of those it manages to bring a freshness and an energy to the genre. I think a big part of that is the character Dillon. There is such an innocence and life to him that is so refreshing. You cannot help but want to root for him, he is the underdog with so much potential. I loved the scenes when he was out foraging - this is his first time out of the town and it is wonderful to see him taking in all the things around him - to watch him exploring a ghost world which he has heard about but never seen.
While I enjoyed this, I did find myself a little disappointed at times. Mostly because I wanted more. I wanted more from this world that Dillon explores. I wanted a deeper understanding of this world that we inhabit. I wanted the stakes to be just a touch higher. I am happy with the resolutions that happen but they are a little too tidy and too quick. And I would have liked to see more from many of the side characters - they were all so interesting but we only see the surface with many of them. I think that just a little more would tip me over from liking this to absolutely loving it. I know that this is Scheer’s first novel and I cannot wait to read more from him, to see his growth. Everything is there it just needs -- more.
August 28, 2014
I received this book from the author for an honest review.
I have started getting more and more into reading dystopian novels. I think when it comes to dystopian, there is a lot of creative avenues that can be taken. It almost doesn't really matter the setting. You can create your own setting and your own reason for why the world ended, and you can't really be wrong.
The Forager is no different. One thing I liked about this book is that, unlike some dystopians that use a mass war or environmental event, Ron Scheer used what could happen if the economy crashed and the value of the dollar became moot. It is scary, but our dollar is already not doing so well. So it made it that more interesting to learn while reading about what happened to the world when the economy crashed.
I did have a few minor issues...I don't know if maybe I just missed it somehow or it wasn't really explained, but I had no general idea of where this town was located in the story. I feel like it is situated somewhere in the mid-west, but I also can kind of visualize rural Pennsylvania. I also had a hard time visualizing majority of the characters. Reading this, I will tell you a few characters I could visualize and how I visualized them:
1. The Forager---Jeff Bridges
2. Frank- The Rock (not sure why, but just did)
3. The mayor---Anthony Hopkins
4. Millie- the mother from the movie Master in Disguise.
At first, this book starts kind of slow, but once everything happens, it picks up. Before I knew it I was 30 pages away from the end and wondering how in the world everything was going to happen that needed to. The ending was predictable, and I felt like I could have used more conflict, but overall, for a first book, it was pretty good. I enjoyed it. Structurally, there are some periods missing. All that said, I think it is an enjoyable read. It is original, and original is always welcomed and nice when so many books within a genre are almost the same.
I have started getting more and more into reading dystopian novels. I think when it comes to dystopian, there is a lot of creative avenues that can be taken. It almost doesn't really matter the setting. You can create your own setting and your own reason for why the world ended, and you can't really be wrong.
The Forager is no different. One thing I liked about this book is that, unlike some dystopians that use a mass war or environmental event, Ron Scheer used what could happen if the economy crashed and the value of the dollar became moot. It is scary, but our dollar is already not doing so well. So it made it that more interesting to learn while reading about what happened to the world when the economy crashed.
I did have a few minor issues...I don't know if maybe I just missed it somehow or it wasn't really explained, but I had no general idea of where this town was located in the story. I feel like it is situated somewhere in the mid-west, but I also can kind of visualize rural Pennsylvania. I also had a hard time visualizing majority of the characters. Reading this, I will tell you a few characters I could visualize and how I visualized them:
1. The Forager---Jeff Bridges
2. Frank- The Rock (not sure why, but just did)
3. The mayor---Anthony Hopkins
4. Millie- the mother from the movie Master in Disguise.
At first, this book starts kind of slow, but once everything happens, it picks up. Before I knew it I was 30 pages away from the end and wondering how in the world everything was going to happen that needed to. The ending was predictable, and I felt like I could have used more conflict, but overall, for a first book, it was pretty good. I enjoyed it. Structurally, there are some periods missing. All that said, I think it is an enjoyable read. It is original, and original is always welcomed and nice when so many books within a genre are almost the same.
January 28, 2015
The Forager is an admirable story, a clever one that is really quite hopeful.
I liked that Dillon seemed like a typical kid, one who was bullied but other than that pretty normal. Like anyone rightfully would be, he was going stir-crazy and wanted nothing more than to go out and explore. I liked that he questioned authority, and didn't understand the rules that were placed on them as a society, but also didn't try to subvert the rules--this is something I think is typical of everyone. We whine and moan about the rules, but rarely do we break them.
I liked that Dillon was able to bridge the gap between the townspeople and the scavengers. This is a pretty common theme both in the real world and in fiction, so it absolutely seemed like something that would crop up after everything else fails.
What I didn't like was how seemingly easy the whole thing was. Dillon has very little real conflict where his life is in danger, and the vast majority of his foraging time is spent on him taking a close look at combines--not nearly as exciting as say, a shoot out or a kidnapping. I would have liked more time spent on that kind of action than on searching.
Overall though, it's a great story!
I liked that Dillon seemed like a typical kid, one who was bullied but other than that pretty normal. Like anyone rightfully would be, he was going stir-crazy and wanted nothing more than to go out and explore. I liked that he questioned authority, and didn't understand the rules that were placed on them as a society, but also didn't try to subvert the rules--this is something I think is typical of everyone. We whine and moan about the rules, but rarely do we break them.
I liked that Dillon was able to bridge the gap between the townspeople and the scavengers. This is a pretty common theme both in the real world and in fiction, so it absolutely seemed like something that would crop up after everything else fails.
What I didn't like was how seemingly easy the whole thing was. Dillon has very little real conflict where his life is in danger, and the vast majority of his foraging time is spent on him taking a close look at combines--not nearly as exciting as say, a shoot out or a kidnapping. I would have liked more time spent on that kind of action than on searching.
Overall though, it's a great story!
January 25, 2015
When I started this book I was not quite sure what to expect. It's safe to say that I was not let down. The Forager is an amazing book. It helps you to see that things can change in an instant. It helps you to be greatful for what you have. It helps you see that one day things could change, not for the better but for the worst. Mr. Scheer creates a vivid image of the town and houses and such that he writes about. When Dillion gets bullied you are able to feel his anger and his fear because Mr. Scheer is such a strong writer that you can connect to all the characters. The book takes you on a great adventure, one where you make mistakes and you learn from them, one where you can place yourself in the book and live out the adventure as if it were you own. You learn what can happen if things were to get too out of hand. In the end everyone stands up for Dillion and he sets of to become a Forager, something he was destined to become but just didn't know it yet. Read this book because I promise you will not be let down.
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September 4, 2014I seriously and honestly haven't finished this book after nearly two months since I've got a digital version and am not used to it. So, I guess I'll finish this book and review for it later when I get to it eventually...:)
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