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3.8 AVERAGE
3.8 AVERAGE
It's been a week or so since I finished this (December 2012), and I still find myself unable to work out the complicated mess of feelings caused by reading it. I therefore apologise for the disjointed structure of this review - for now, it's the best I can do.
The prose is beautiful, haunting, odd. There are no speech marks, which takes some getting used to but actually allows the story to flow even more smoothly.
The characters are constant contraditions - harsh and gentle, kind and cruel, aged and innocent. Temple is utterly heartbreaking as the solitary 15 year old seeking redemption for her sins.
There is no happy ending - there is no ending, there is no story, even, not in the usual sense of the word - it's a journey through the wornout psyche of humankind, and the near-dead pieces of a broken world.
The best moments are where the author takes time to show us the beauty and the wonder that remain in this apocalyptic nightmare. It manages to be uplifting, devastating and amazing all at once.
I have to admit, though - one thing that always bugs me about zombie novels is the rate of decomposition. I clearly don't know enough about it, but in books like this where the Event (always capitalised) happened approximately 20 or so years before, and there are still thousands of undead, undying - does the meat they "eat" actually sustain them at all? Because if not, surely with all the movement etc it would accelerate the decomposition process until the skeleton would simply fall apart and cease to be a threat - maybe it would take some time, 10 years or so but 20? Hmm, this was the only thing that jarred me out of the book. But as I've said, that goes for 90% of zombie stories where their undyingness stays unexplained...
June 2015: Right, so now it's been years and I still haven't come up with a good review for this book. Maybe time for a re-read?
The prose is beautiful, haunting, odd. There are no speech marks, which takes some getting used to but actually allows the story to flow even more smoothly.
The characters are constant contraditions - harsh and gentle, kind and cruel, aged and innocent. Temple is utterly heartbreaking as the solitary 15 year old seeking redemption for her sins.
There is no happy ending - there is no ending, there is no story, even, not in the usual sense of the word - it's a journey through the wornout psyche of humankind, and the near-dead pieces of a broken world.
The best moments are where the author takes time to show us the beauty and the wonder that remain in this apocalyptic nightmare. It manages to be uplifting, devastating and amazing all at once.
June 2015: Right, so now it's been years and I still haven't come up with a good review for this book. Maybe time for a re-read?
If Faulkner and Cormac McCarthy joined together to write a book about the zombie apocalypse, it would be this one. Beautiful and bleak.
Ok so this book was real good up to the ending. my favorite parts involved the abominations. Has this been optioned yet for a film..we all know that's coming right? Still not on the level of the forest of hands and teeth series. But I did enjoy it.
I have been reading a lot of what can probably quite accurately be referred to as "crap". As a result, some of the automated recommendations that pop up have been... interesting.
If were asked, I would probably say I am not a fan of zombie fiction, so I kind of scoffed when this book cropped up. But I love post apocalyptic wastescapes and isolation/survival fiction... so it actually seems like something I should really enjoy. The first half of 28 Days Later is one of my favourite movie experiences, where we wander around in an abandoned London trying to piece together where all the people went. And I rather enjoy The Walking Dead video game series from Telltale (not the TV show. I loathe the TV show and all its misogynistic melodrama), where you follow the heart-rending exploits of a little girl trying to survive post-zombies.
The Reapers are the Angels started out as a mix of the best parts of both of them - following a little girl (okay fine she's 15) trying to survive in an abandoned wasteland.
I was riveted and finished it in one sitting.
It's actually really well written. Miracle upon miracles - it uses present tense, and I think it is effective and not annoying as shit. It had to happen one day, I suppose. It helps that it is third person present tense, not first. First person present tense is just too awkward. It's like standing beside someone who is narrating their every thought, and that's just bizarre. Third person is like standing beside someone as they experience things, which ramps up the tension, and also allows the protagonist to die with a seamless handing of the storytelling to a secondary character, meaning anything could happen. There is also a lot of very vivid descriptions of wastelands and zombie decay which really put you there and bring it to life around you.
What it doesn't have is quotation marks. And for the life of me I cannot understand this decision. It adds nothing but annoyance. I also noted some other punctuation weirdness, like poor comma usage. It's nitpicky, but it's something that really jumped out at me when the rest of it seemed so well done.
Also unfortunately, the vivid descriptions are a bit lost behind tired zombie cliches. There wasn't much of a plot to begin with: "Temple" is just living her life, surviving, catching fish and smashing zombie skulls. She happens onto a colony of people living in a city and immediately there are shifty looks from the men and warnings from the women to avoid the area where all the single men hang out, because it can be "rough". "Oh good, we're going to get to the obligatory zombie-fiction rape scene really early in this one", I thought to myself. Sure enough, one of them wakes her up and shoves his cock in her face. She obliges by punching it, which made me happy, but the ensuing knife-fight results in her losing a finger and he losing his life. She goes on the run as his brother attempts to hunt her down, presumably to exact revenge. Ta-dah: plot.
The next place she runs to is a little oasis of normal life surrounded by electric fences. Within the barricades, everyone lives life as if nothing untoward has ever occurred in the world. They wear nice clothing, they have a butler, they play the piano, they have proper meals and sit at the table. Oh but father will not be joining us - he's been sick. I wrote a note saying "There is no way he is not a zombie who they sealed up in the basement out of denial." Spoiler alert: You'll never guess what happens next! Can't we do anything new in this genre?
We can, actually. Those were the only two real blights on the unravelling story of the book. We follow Temple as she travels across the country, and along the way we meet novel dangers and reveal snippets of past events that really enrich the characters and world. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, although I was a little worried that the religious undertones might ramp into high gear and get preachy. They stayed sufficiently out of my way, however.
That was a really excellent little book, and I'm sure whatever drek I will pull out of my recommended pile next will probably be a little bit worse for being compared to it.
If were asked, I would probably say I am not a fan of zombie fiction, so I kind of scoffed when this book cropped up. But I love post apocalyptic wastescapes and isolation/survival fiction... so it actually seems like something I should really enjoy. The first half of 28 Days Later is one of my favourite movie experiences, where we wander around in an abandoned London trying to piece together where all the people went. And I rather enjoy The Walking Dead video game series from Telltale (not the TV show. I loathe the TV show and all its misogynistic melodrama), where you follow the heart-rending exploits of a little girl trying to survive post-zombies.
The Reapers are the Angels started out as a mix of the best parts of both of them - following a little girl (okay fine she's 15) trying to survive in an abandoned wasteland.
I was riveted and finished it in one sitting.
It's actually really well written. Miracle upon miracles - it uses present tense, and I think it is effective and not annoying as shit. It had to happen one day, I suppose. It helps that it is third person present tense, not first. First person present tense is just too awkward. It's like standing beside someone who is narrating their every thought, and that's just bizarre. Third person is like standing beside someone as they experience things, which ramps up the tension, and also allows the protagonist to die with a seamless handing of the storytelling to a secondary character, meaning anything could happen. There is also a lot of very vivid descriptions of wastelands and zombie decay which really put you there and bring it to life around you.
What it doesn't have is quotation marks. And for the life of me I cannot understand this decision. It adds nothing but annoyance. I also noted some other punctuation weirdness, like poor comma usage. It's nitpicky, but it's something that really jumped out at me when the rest of it seemed so well done.
Also unfortunately, the vivid descriptions are a bit lost behind tired zombie cliches. There wasn't much of a plot to begin with: "Temple" is just living her life, surviving, catching fish and smashing zombie skulls. She happens onto a colony of people living in a city and immediately there are shifty looks from the men and warnings from the women to avoid the area where all the single men hang out, because it can be "rough". "Oh good, we're going to get to the obligatory zombie-fiction rape scene really early in this one", I thought to myself. Sure enough, one of them wakes her up and shoves his cock in her face. She obliges by punching it, which made me happy, but the ensuing knife-fight results in her losing a finger and he losing his life. She goes on the run as his brother attempts to hunt her down, presumably to exact revenge. Ta-dah: plot.
The next place she runs to is a little oasis of normal life surrounded by electric fences. Within the barricades, everyone lives life as if nothing untoward has ever occurred in the world. They wear nice clothing, they have a butler, they play the piano, they have proper meals and sit at the table. Oh but father will not be joining us - he's been sick. I wrote a note saying "There is no way he is not a zombie who they sealed up in the basement out of denial." Spoiler alert: You'll never guess what happens next! Can't we do anything new in this genre?
We can, actually. Those were the only two real blights on the unravelling story of the book. We follow Temple as she travels across the country, and along the way we meet novel dangers and reveal snippets of past events that really enrich the characters and world. I thoroughly enjoyed all of it, although I was a little worried that the religious undertones might ramp into high gear and get preachy. They stayed sufficiently out of my way, however.
That was a really excellent little book, and I'm sure whatever drek I will pull out of my recommended pile next will probably be a little bit worse for being compared to it.
Overall, I did like this book, but I was somewhat disappointed. Parts of it are beautifully written, and it is easy to become fond of Temple, the main character. However, there is a section of this book that just ruined the entire story for me. I realize it is important to suspend disbelief when one is reading a book about zombies, but when an author sets the framework for a book like this, and then drops something in the middle that is completely outside of this framework and just seems too fantastical, even with a willing suspension of disbelief .... well, it ruined the entire story for me. It went from good story to bad B (or C) movie back to decent story -- only made less decent by the descent into cartoonish violence. So, I couldn't rate this more than a three because of that but, overall, it's not a bad read.
Seriously. This review has spoilers. I will give away the ending. And that would be a real shame for anyone who hasn't read it yet but would like to.
I'll be the first to say I'm a lightweight when it comes to horror books. Since I read one maybe once a year (and that's only in recent years), it's not really my place to say where an author or book stands in the genre, but dang, I must say that this book was great. It stressed me out, but I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. It reminded me of The Road meets The Grapes of Wrath meets I Am Legend, but it wholly held its own as well. I liked that the book is a right balance of contemplation and action and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Man, those discussions especially between Temple and Moses Todd. It's great when a zombie apocalypse novel can really make a genuine stretch into discussions of humanity that ask you to regard these notions in the context of your life and not just of this particular world. Of course, I couldn't help thinking of The Walking Dead comics, which I thoroughly enjoy, but dare I say got me thinking in terms of my reality.
There were a couple spots that upset me, at least initially--the mutant "inheritors" for one. For an inexplicable reason I'm super picky about sci-fi/fantasy to a point where I can accept flesh-eating cadavers, but not 10-foot-tall skeletal semi-zombies. Bell didn't give me chance, though, to dwell on that point because the story kept on moving and shit got REAL. And I am still SO MAD that Temple freakin' died at the end! What the what?! I love that girl from the bottom of my heart. And by Minnie? I can't tell yet whether that ending will work itself out for me after it's had some time to settle...whether it's ludicrous in a good way or a bad way. It appears that perhaps this is the start of a series. However, as much as Moses Todd was a great foil to Temple, I feel cheated that Temple won't be in a potential sequel. I mean, don't get me wrong, Alden Bell is a great writer and I'm going to absolutely read his next novel (apparently, yes, following Moses and Abraham), but I just wish Temple could be there for it.
I'm so glad that this book won an award--it should win more awards--though seeing as it's an Alex Award, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be giving it to a teen considering the type of violence and sex contained here. At least a younger teen. Or the repercussions of their parents finding out that it was my doing putting it in their hands. It certainly is moving though, and I'm pretty sure I would have loved it when I was 17 as much as I do now. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a doozy and well worth it.
I'll be the first to say I'm a lightweight when it comes to horror books. Since I read one maybe once a year (and that's only in recent years), it's not really my place to say where an author or book stands in the genre, but dang, I must say that this book was great. It stressed me out, but I couldn't put it down and I didn't want it to end. It reminded me of The Road meets The Grapes of Wrath meets I Am Legend, but it wholly held its own as well. I liked that the book is a right balance of contemplation and action and that the two are not mutually exclusive. Man, those discussions especially between Temple and Moses Todd. It's great when a zombie apocalypse novel can really make a genuine stretch into discussions of humanity that ask you to regard these notions in the context of your life and not just of this particular world. Of course, I couldn't help thinking of The Walking Dead comics, which I thoroughly enjoy, but dare I say
There were a couple spots that upset me, at least initially--the mutant "inheritors" for one. For an inexplicable reason I'm super picky about sci-fi/fantasy to a point where I can accept flesh-eating cadavers, but not 10-foot-tall skeletal semi-zombies. Bell didn't give me chance, though, to dwell on that point because the story kept on moving and shit got REAL. And I am still SO MAD that Temple freakin' died at the end! What the what?! I love that girl from the bottom of my heart. And by Minnie? I can't tell yet whether that ending will work itself out for me after it's had some time to settle...whether it's ludicrous in a good way or a bad way. It appears that perhaps this is the start of a series. However, as much as Moses Todd was a great foil to Temple, I feel cheated that Temple won't be in a potential sequel. I mean, don't get me wrong, Alden Bell is a great writer and I'm going to absolutely read his next novel (apparently, yes, following Moses and Abraham), but I just wish Temple could be there for it.
I'm so glad that this book won an award--it should win more awards--though seeing as it's an Alex Award, I'm not sure how comfortable I'd be giving it to a teen considering the type of violence and sex contained here. At least a younger teen. Or the repercussions of their parents finding out that it was my doing putting it in their hands. It certainly is moving though, and I'm pretty sure I would have loved it when I was 17 as much as I do now. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It's a doozy and well worth it.
Oh wow. My very last review I was complaining about missing punctuation making a book hard to read, and then I picked this up. Nothing hard to read here, this book was pretty stellar, even with the missing punctuation.
It's a tale of a 15-year-old girl living in the after, after the zombies came. The modern world was already long gone when she came around, and she has known nothing but this. Pain and surviving. Yet there is so much optimism and good and beauty in what she finds.
Ending? Grrrr. But good, so good.
This is what talented writing does, it transcends.
It's a tale of a 15-year-old girl living in the after, after the zombies came. The modern world was already long gone when she came around, and she has known nothing but this. Pain and surviving. Yet there is so much optimism and good and beauty in what she finds.
Ending? Grrrr. But good, so good.
This is what talented writing does, it transcends.