The Compound (by S.A. Bodeen)

THE COMPOUND
by S.A. Bodeen
Release date: September 2009

Eli and his family have lived in the underground Compound for six years. The world they knew is gone, and they’ve become accustomed to their new life. Accustomed, but not happy. No amount of luxury can stifle the dull routine of living in the same place, with only his two sisters, only his father and mother, doing the same thing day after day after day. As problems with their carefully planned existence threaten to destroy their sanctuary—and their sanity—Eli can’t help but wonder if he’d rather take his chances outside. Eli’s father built the Compound to keep them safe. But are they safe—really? (taken from MacMillan)

MY THOUGHTS : May I say that I ADORED this book?! The permanent suspense and the way the story grew crescendo throughout the whole book turned the atmosphere into that of a Kubrick movie. The characters are perfectly characterized. I lived Eli's life in the compound through his eyes, trying to shield myself from the truth just like he does, which led to discovering this same truth together. Life in the compound and the relationships between all family members are described wonderfully, giving free rein to the imagination but being clear enough not to miss any details. Unexpected twists are around the corner almost during the whole read. It's a very humane story, generating multiple issues, including ethical ones. I kept on wondering what I would have done in their place, which I always love to do when reading a book. A vibrant and original book, I had trouble putting it down and almost read it in one sitting!