The Blondes

The Blondes: A Novel (Emily Schultz, 2015)

How I stumbled upon it: In the Strand bookstore on the recommended table.

What it's about: It's an apocalyptic scenario where blonde hair has triggered a pandemic and those who are blonde (bottle or not), are at risk of infection and even death in the sweeping disease that is infecting women around the world and causing them to go insane.  The protagonist is living in the midst of these troubling times while also dealing with a complicated relationship with a married man. It's part horror story, part satire, and part commentary on the value we place on appearance in our society.

What I thought: The idea was so original that I had to pick it up.  I wanted it to be like "I Am Legend" or "War of the Worlds," but the story focused a lot more on the way that we perceive women and beauty in our society than on any actual scientific explanations or investigation into how the government was able to put infrastructure in place to deal with a massive health crisis (I know, I'm a nerd).  The actual idea was really interesting, but the story didn't quite satisfy with the ending -- especially because you have to fully suspend any belief in science to be able to accept how this could be happening.  It's still worth reading because Schultz is such a fantastic writer!

You can get it here.