Wool by Hugh Howey

It’s not often these days that I find a book so good that I read it in a couple of days but Wool was definitely that book.  Simon and Schuster sent me a copy to review.

In a post-apocalyptic world, a remnant of humans remain living underground in a silo that is 144 levels deep. It is a society based on strict rules and regulations and generations have already come and gone when we meet the current inhabitants of the silo.  The society is segregated by function; the farmers and mechanical people are in the lower third, the people who run the information technology sector are in the middle third and the professionals are in the top third.  The top third is the only place that there is a view to the outside.  The silo is self-sufficient and efficient in the way it’s run.  But the secrets are becoming known and the fabric of the society is starting to unravel.  The heroine of the story is a 34 year old woman named Juliette who is from the mechanical sector.  A series of events lead to her moving up to the top level and becoming entangled in the mysteries of the silo.

The writing is tight and atmospheric.  Sometimes I almost felt the claustrophobia of people who had to live underground all their lives.  There is lots of action and the characters themselves are likeable, well-written and I found myself caring about what happened to them.   This book is a page-turner and like Juliette the reader becomes entangled in the mysteries of the silo.   

I was happy with the ending and I hope there is a sequel in the works.    I recommend this book to everyone, even if this isn’t your typical genre to read.    The story is just that good.