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maddie_reads_stuff's review against another edition
4.0
A zombie sparks change in Living-Dead interactions when he spares the life of a teenage girl.
This is my first zombie book, but I am fairly certain in my belief that it is atypical for its topic at the very least. For one, it is written from the perspective of a zombie and occurs years after whatever apocalyptic event occurred. We don't even run into any living humans until after learning about our zombie's daily life. It is a quirky and interesting read. Things get a bit more philosophical when R kidnaps a human girl and we learn more about the human side of things. R begins changing (how, exactly, is unclear as we are limited to R's understanding of events) and a revolution (of sorts) begins.
Overall, I liked the book, but there was a major obstacle in my enjoyment of it: The obvious parallels to a certain overrated Shakespearean play. *cough cough* Yes, it took a balcony scene about 53% of the way into the book before I realized what Marion had done, but then I spent the remaining 47% fighting my brain as it searched for every other allusion and worrying whether it would end the same way as that story of woe. What bothers me even more, having finished the book, is that Warm Bodies is not actually that similar in plot at all. Yes, we have 2 young (well, we don't know R's age) star-crossed lovers (except not really, for most of the book they're tentative enemies or allies) who want to live in different circumstances. But that's it. These random (in my opinion) allusions just take away from the more interesting questions Marion raises about the state of the world and the dark side of human nature.
This is my first zombie book, but I am fairly certain in my belief that it is atypical for its topic at the very least. For one, it is written from the perspective of a zombie and occurs years after whatever apocalyptic event occurred. We don't even run into any living humans until after learning about our zombie's daily life. It is a quirky and interesting read. Things get a bit more philosophical when R kidnaps a human girl and we learn more about the human side of things. R begins changing (how, exactly, is unclear as we are limited to R's understanding of events) and a revolution (of sorts) begins.
Overall, I liked the book, but there was a major obstacle in my enjoyment of it: The obvious parallels to a certain overrated Shakespearean play. *cough
Spoiler
Romeo and JulietSpoiler
It doesn't. Thank god.Spoiler
I mean, I wish my brain was a little less preoccupied about whether M was supposed to be Mercutio and focused more on the fact that the Grigio became a Boney almost immediately and was clearly already considered a heartless zombie by his daughter before he even died.katykelly's review
3.0
3.5 stars I think.
I did enjoy this book, I did think it both imaginative and smart. In places, especially at the start.
R is a fantastic creation, an erudite and witty zombie, different to the rest of his kind. The setting and story I also liked - he falls in love with a living human girl, Julie, and protects her from the other zombies trying to eat her brain.
It's the end of the book that left me disappointed, with a big 'why?!' (No spoiler here, I promise). It just didn't make much sense HOW certain things happened.
Apart from that really, it was a refreshing take on the usual zombie story from the unusual perspective of the brain-eaters. I loved how they talked and thought, what zombie life is like.
Really, I wanted to read this before seeing the film. I expect it to transfer well, it's got a cinematic feel.
I did enjoy this book, I did think it both imaginative and smart. In places, especially at the start.
R is a fantastic creation, an erudite and witty zombie, different to the rest of his kind. The setting and story I also liked - he falls in love with a living human girl, Julie, and protects her from the other zombies trying to eat her brain.
It's the end of the book that left me disappointed, with a big 'why?!' (No spoiler here, I promise). It just didn't make much sense HOW certain things happened.
Apart from that really, it was a refreshing take on the usual zombie story from the unusual perspective of the brain-eaters. I loved how they talked and thought, what zombie life is like.
Really, I wanted to read this before seeing the film. I expect it to transfer well, it's got a cinematic feel.
magikspells's review against another edition
5.0
I almost didn't read this book. I'll be honest, I've never been a huge zombie fan. But I saw the movie, so I thought, what the hell, I'll give it a try. It's not a long book, so why not.
Perhaps I've spent too much time in anthropology over these years, but somehow I want to describe this book as an ethnography of zombies, which in itself isn't a proper depiction. Isaac has taken the most unlikely character, a zombie, and wrote an entire book around his point of view. There are a lot of potential disasters with this idea. But it works. Because essentially R is this existential creature fighting what he is because he wants to be better. It's hard to think of him as a zombie, he's more like an amnesiac who is trying to remember what it's like to be human. It's impossible not to feel something for him because of all the struggles he endures to better himself.
Admittedly, I think I like book Julie a little better than movie Julie. But I understand the toning down of some things for the sake of a PG-13 rating for the movie. Julie curses a lot, she's opinionated, but she's vulnerable and has her own issues with herself and the world she lives in. She's the perfect person to show the flaws of humanity's last efforts to stay alive because she wants there to be something more than just survival.
Lastly, there's Perry. Oh Perry. You are so downplayed in the movie, but you are so magical and so vital to this all. The conversations between Perry and R I think are some of the better parts of book because you get to see the character development between both of them. I'm a sucker for flawed tragic characters, it's my downfall.
I didn't really have an issues with this book. Having seen the movie first, I had no problem picturing the settings and the characters and the world they live in. The movie is very close to the book, which surprised me. Obviously there's a few major differences. All in all, I think if you loved one, you'll love the other.
Perhaps I've spent too much time in anthropology over these years, but somehow I want to describe this book as an ethnography of zombies, which in itself isn't a proper depiction. Isaac has taken the most unlikely character, a zombie, and wrote an entire book around his point of view. There are a lot of potential disasters with this idea. But it works. Because essentially R is this existential creature fighting what he is because he wants to be better. It's hard to think of him as a zombie, he's more like an amnesiac who is trying to remember what it's like to be human. It's impossible not to feel something for him because of all the struggles he endures to better himself.
Admittedly, I think I like book Julie a little better than movie Julie. But I understand the toning down of some things for the sake of a PG-13 rating for the movie. Julie curses a lot, she's opinionated, but she's vulnerable and has her own issues with herself and the world she lives in. She's the perfect person to show the flaws of humanity's last efforts to stay alive because she wants there to be something more than just survival.
Lastly, there's Perry. Oh Perry. You are so downplayed in the movie, but you are so magical and so vital to this all. The conversations between Perry and R I think are some of the better parts of book because you get to see the character development between both of them. I'm a sucker for flawed tragic characters, it's my downfall.
I didn't really have an issues with this book. Having seen the movie first, I had no problem picturing the settings and the characters and the world they live in. The movie is very close to the book, which surprised me. Obviously there's a few major differences. All in all, I think if you loved one, you'll love the other.
gatoraly's review
4.0
Warm bodies surprised me. It was captivating within the first paragraph. The author had a great style of writing that keeps you on your toes. I liked that I got to know Perry and R. I'm kinda curious as to if there will be a sequel because the ending leaves it going either way.
chelseaspence18's review
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25