The book was about a virus called the Despair which caused otherwise happy people to commit suicide. At the start of the book, much of the U.S. population was gone. The idea was certainly intriguing, but there were too few characters in the story, and you spent the entire read waiting for them to off themselves. Very depressing. To me this book was more for the horror genre. ( )

This book was unique--it had bits of my favorite genres (dystopia, mystery, apocolyptic type stuff) and some new stuff--some kind of virus that makes everyone feel depressed and lonely (and there are mass suicides)...I like the twist.

The ONLY thing I would like to have more information on is...well...the end. It didn't explain how or why it all happened, or really tell the reader what happened with the characters. That kind of ambiguity I can take to an extent (Margaret Atwood does that all the time)...but I *almost* felt like the author was just trying to get out of coming up with an explanation... oh well?

Quick easy holiday read. ( )

I wanted to really like this book just because the premise was so fascinating. But I think this dude had a deadline he was about to miss because he ended it very abruptly, without explaining anything, and it just didn't gel with the rest of the book. It was a little like drinking a decent cup of coffee. It's doing its job, it tastes pretty good, but you put it down for a minute and when you pick it back up it is cold and more bitter than you thought previously. So you stop drinking it and get another cup. I'm ready for my next book. ( )

For the first time in my entire life I can honestly say I could not put down a book. I wish the ending had a better finish but the overall story was simply awesome! ( )

A truly stellar work, surprisingly "together" for a first novel. Norman lives in a world afflicted by the "Despair," a general depression which causes people to commit suicide. The dead are almost immediately spirited away by mysterious individuals called "collectors," and when Norman kills one, he finds himself on the run. A short read, both due to its small size and fascinating narrative, "Collectors" provides a surprisingly incisive look at the perceived senselessness of suicide, and the bravery and emotional toll it sometimes takes simply to go on living.