The End of October

Pathogens. If living through a real pandemic makes you hungry to read about a fictional one, be sure to read Lawrence Wright’s novel titled, The End of October. I had to keep reminding myself that Wright wrote this novel well before anyone knew about covid-19 because he gets so much of our contemporary experience right. That said, we read fiction for other reasons. Protagonist Dr. Henry Parsons provides one of those reasons. Wright enfleshed this flawed hero with all the human qualities that make us fascinated by other people. This skilled epidemiologist does so much right, makes some big mistakes, and tries to move along, just like us. This thrilling novel provides lots of suspense and a cast of interesting characters, full of good and malice, focused often on the wrong things. Pathogens and nature are powerful forces, as we’re learning, and our human inclinations are not always focused on doing what’s best for ourselves and for others. Rating: Five-star (I love it) Click here to purchase The End of October from amazon.com.