3.5 stars 
 The story follows survivors of the Georgia flu, a virus that wiped out 99% of humanity 20 years ago. A big part of the book deals with a character named Arthur--a big name actor who is performing King Lear on stage when the story begins--and the aftermath of the Georgia flu which begins shortly after Arthur's death. 
 I enjoyed the story for the most part, specifically the way Mandel takes us from the present to the past to demonstrate how all of the main characters are connected somehow. As I was reading this I kept wondering how it would end, since not much was really happening and what did happen felt anti-climatic somehow. I like that it ended on a hopeful note, leaving the reader wondering what the future may hold for the characters. Overall a very interesting story, I just wish it had a little more punch.