What's the Name of That Book??? discussion

I read this book back in the 80's, it was about a girl and this male person she comes across, or finds or is found by who is very tall and perhaps a mutant? I think there is a love interest (although maybe not) The book was set in a post nuclear war US. I can remember almost nothing about this book. I remember reading it after I saw the movie the Day After (which scared the bejezus out of me) If you can help, thanks!

Do you remember anything about the cover of this book?

Maybe "Z for Zachariah" by Robert C. O'Brien, has the girl and the man, but he's not a mutant. Very popularly read by younger teens around that time.

No, that's not it, looks good though, I may have to try it!

No, that's not it either. The girl was young like 16 or 17 and the guy/mutant was older. Thanks for trying though!

Did this book have a cover with a teenager with spiky hair and a motorcycle?

I don't remember the cover very well, possibly but I don't think machines were used in the book at all? I am so foggy on most of the details. You guys are my last hope. I've been looking for this book for 10 years!

No suggestions, but LOL @richard for the "next best thing" comment!

False Dawn by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

The girl is young and is a mutant (as many are) and the man is older, but it is US near future, so maybe???

No, that's not it, but boy does that sound like a good book! I am putting in a request at paperback swap for it.

I really enjoyed it. Good luck with finding the correct book.

is pretty similar to what you're describing. I haven't reread it in a while, but it's a possibility.

No, not that one either, but man how did I miss all these great sounding books?

It doesn't really sound like it, but maybe Emergence by David R Palmer? It was the girl who was the mutant, but since she was 11 or 12 years old the adult male she ends up traveling with was much taller than her. Did the main character have a parrot? If so, that's got to be Emergence.

Could it be Fire by Alan Rodgers?

No, it was not a horror book. More like the current post-apoc/dystopian YA novels that have been coming out lately.

Hmr28, are you still looking for this book?

Yes~

If you come back once a month or so and bump the thread it will stay in people's minds for when they are out and about picking up new books Hmr28

Thanks!

Possible: Green Angel by Alice Hoffman

Hi Kate,
No, I'm afraid that's not it. It came out in the 80's. But that does sound like a good book!

a stretch, but Obernewtyn
Was it part of a series?

Hi Tab,
No that's not it. Thanks though!

How about John Wyndham's The Chrysalids. It's set in a post-apocalyptic world. There is a girl who has an extra toe in it, the term mtuants is used, she meets an impossibly tall man who is called Spiderman and she ends up becoming his wife. She's not the main character of the story though.

Hi Raz,
No that is not it. The girl in this book was the main character.
Thanks for trying though!

Still looking?

Yup!

Swan Song - Robert McCammon?

The Day After came out in 1983, if that helps narrow down the publication date. You might take a look at this list and see if anything rings a bell.

No,
Swan song is not it although that sounds like an interesting book.
The day after scarred me for life. I spent the rest of the 80s convinced we were all 1 sec away from nuclear annihilation!

Hmr28 wrote: "No, it was not a horror book. More like the current post-apoc/dystopian YA novels that have been coming out lately."

To clarify, you ruled out both

Emergence and

Fire?

Maybe A Gift Upon the Shore?

No, that looks good though. It was written in the 80's.

I've not read it yet, but it may be Neena Gathering

Edit - I'm just reading this, pretty sure it's the book you were after.

Still looking now?

Yes still looking!

We've got to find this. You posted in 2011!

I know!!!

Do you think it was published for teens or adults?

Dark is the Sun - by Philip José Farmer

Still looking?