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3.52 AVERAGE
3.52 AVERAGE
While most stories are about the people who survived the zombie apocalypse, this story focuses on those who did not. Throughout the book we are introduced to several characters who have joined the ranks of the undead, and yet there's a part of them that's still aware. Trapped in the prison of their own minds, they have no choice but to obey their instincts to feed upon the living. If you've ever wondered what life might be like as a zombie, this book is a must read.
That was extremely intense. I don't think I'll ever look at zombies the same way again. I got this book as part of some pay what you want bundle. I never would have bought it on its own - I'm not a big zombie person. I read World War Z because everyone spoke about how incredibly good it was. And, just like The Walking Dead (pretty much the only other zombie story I consume), World War Z was about the people, not the zombies. Really the enemy could have been a contagion virus or out of control vampires like The Strain.
Well, I, Zombie flips the script - what if we could see what it's like to be a zombie? And what if we took it seriously instead of the parody one would be quick to imagine? Well, then you'd get this incredibly intense book.
I, Zombie is structured similarly to World War Z in that it alternates point of view with each chapter. But, unlike WWZ, it is split into parts and each part spends something like 3 chapters per character in that part. So Part 1 is characters 1-3. Chapters 1,3, and 9 are character 1 and so on. It allows him to shift from day to day and we watch as the characters go through hell. It works out well since we only have about three to keep in our heads at a time.
Interestingly, the germ of the story is similar to this year's John Scalzi book, Lock In. The author posits a world where the minds remain in tact while the bodies do zombie things. So the people are well aware of the horrors their bodies are committing, but can't do anything about it. It's absolutely terrifying and affected just as I feared Lock In might. There are real diseases that do similar things and there are those who are in vegetative states where we aren't sure if they're like this. It's interesting to see how the author has each character deal with this.
From a story-telling/meta point of view there are two things I really like that the author did. First of all, he had the characters compare their being trapped in their lives before and after being zombies. Sometimes the characters did this on purpose and sometimes through their reminiscing it was made clear to us. The metaphors worked incredibly well. Two that stand out for me are one man who had a catatonic mom and the child of immigrant parents. The man's mother was an obvious parallel for the zombies in this world, but her situation had driven him to drug addiction and there was a nice parallel between that and the unending hunger of the zombie. The immigrant felt trapped in this new world and was trapped in her zombie body and trapped where she turned. Another that stood out was a character he used to make a metaphor between date rape and zombie attacks. The second thing I loved was that he started the story with the characters in part 1 already turned. This allowed us to get immersed in the world he was creating rather than deciding whether to root for the heroes that were hiding and in danger of being turned. He hits those, and other great zombie tropes, in part 2 and beyond.
The book's dedicated to 11 Sept and is set in Manhattan. That has consequences for the story as well as the ending. I wonder if others interpret the ending the same way I did.
I heartily recommend the book to anyone who likes zombies thrillers and wants to think about them in a different way. I know there are other zombie point of view books and movies (one came out in the last couple years), but they're usually played for laughs rather than serious like this one. This is a pretty heavy book, though. So if you find that books affect you strongly - don't read this one when you need a pick-me-up.
I hope it's painfully obvious that this book is gory. Outside of that, there's profanity. It's actually not that excessive, but it's there. That's pretty much it for the stuff people shy away from other than the trigger warning that there's implied date rape. Well, probably a lot more than implied, but it's not graphic. Just a mention that a guy takes advantage of them both being drunk to convince the girl she wants to have sex even when she initially says no and wouldn't if sober.
Well, I, Zombie flips the script - what if we could see what it's like to be a zombie? And what if we took it seriously instead of the parody one would be quick to imagine? Well, then you'd get this incredibly intense book.
I, Zombie is structured similarly to World War Z in that it alternates point of view with each chapter. But, unlike WWZ, it is split into parts and each part spends something like 3 chapters per character in that part. So Part 1 is characters 1-3. Chapters 1,3, and 9 are character 1 and so on. It allows him to shift from day to day and we watch as the characters go through hell. It works out well since we only have about three to keep in our heads at a time.
Interestingly, the germ of the story is similar to this year's John Scalzi book, Lock In. The author posits a world where the minds remain in tact while the bodies do zombie things. So the people are well aware of the horrors their bodies are committing, but can't do anything about it. It's absolutely terrifying and affected just as I feared Lock In might. There are real diseases that do similar things and there are those who are in vegetative states where we aren't sure if they're like this. It's interesting to see how the author has each character deal with this.
From a story-telling/meta point of view there are two things I really like that the author did. First of all, he had the characters compare their being trapped in their lives before and after being zombies. Sometimes the characters did this on purpose and sometimes through their reminiscing it was made clear to us. The metaphors worked incredibly well. Two that stand out for me are one man who had a catatonic mom and the child of immigrant parents. The man's mother was an obvious parallel for the zombies in this world, but her situation had driven him to drug addiction and there was a nice parallel between that and the unending hunger of the zombie. The immigrant felt trapped in this new world and was trapped in her zombie body and trapped where she turned. Another that stood out was a character he used to make a metaphor between date rape and zombie attacks. The second thing I loved was that he started the story with the characters in part 1 already turned. This allowed us to get immersed in the world he was creating rather than deciding whether to root for the heroes that were hiding and in danger of being turned. He hits those, and other great zombie tropes, in part 2 and beyond.
The book's dedicated to 11 Sept and is set in Manhattan. That has consequences for the story as well as the ending. I wonder if others interpret the ending the same way I did.
I heartily recommend the book to anyone who likes zombies thrillers and wants to think about them in a different way. I know there are other zombie point of view books and movies (one came out in the last couple years), but they're usually played for laughs rather than serious like this one. This is a pretty heavy book, though. So if you find that books affect you strongly - don't read this one when you need a pick-me-up.
I hope it's painfully obvious that this book is gory. Outside of that, there's profanity. It's actually not that excessive, but it's there. That's pretty much it for the stuff people shy away from other than the trigger warning that there's implied date rape. Well, probably a lot more than implied, but it's not graphic. Just a mention that a guy takes advantage of them both being drunk to convince the girl she wants to have sex even when she initially says no and wouldn't if sober.
We've seen a lot about a Zombie Apocalypse - but what about the perspective of the zombies, who are still human on the inside, still feeling pain and reacting as they are drawn to eat their loved ones? It's a bit horrifying to think about, actually. But I love this author!
Good zombie short stories set as an overarching narrative.
You never expect to read a book from the zombie's perspective. At least, a zombie that still occupies the thoughts, memories and feelings (including pain) from the human inhabitant. But Howey manages to do it, and do it well.
Rather than focus on just one zombie, we come across several zombies, and humans making the transition, as they stumble through post Zombie Apocalypse NYC. There were some instances where I laughed, and some very poignant moments where I felt sorry for the zombies.
Excellent book!
Rather than focus on just one zombie, we come across several zombies, and humans making the transition, as they stumble through post Zombie Apocalypse NYC. There were some instances where I laughed, and some very poignant moments where I felt sorry for the zombies.
Excellent book!
I'd rate it 3.5 really. The premise was intriguing, but like another reviewer said, there was a bit too much of the same thing--following zombies around being zombies until it ended. That said, it was well-written, and I enjoyed the idea behind it.
This book is too horrible for me.
Zombie books are usually post apocalyptic action adventures with bad guys that can be killed without remorse.
I, Zombie mixes the horror of Zombies with the horror of lock in syndrome. Placing characters with no control over their actions behind the eyes of the Zombified body as it commits its horrifying actions.
The compound psychological trauma suffered by the characters is too much for me.
I'm not enjoying myself and have decided to stop reading this book.
Zombie books are usually post apocalyptic action adventures with bad guys that can be killed without remorse.
I, Zombie mixes the horror of Zombies with the horror of lock in syndrome. Placing characters with no control over their actions behind the eyes of the Zombified body as it commits its horrifying actions.
The compound psychological trauma suffered by the characters is too much for me.
I'm not enjoying myself and have decided to stop reading this book.
This was a very difficult book to finish - not because it was poorly written but because of the unremitting despair and futility of the characters and their stories. I tagged it "unique mechanic'because the POV is from the zombie side (expect for a rare case or two). For me, it was amazing how much it changed the feel and weight of the story.
The book contains several major parts, each focusing on a specific zombie or group of zombies and how they arrived at their present state. It's this backstory that caused the horror and despair for me and is a fantastic way to tell the story of a zombie outbreak in New York City.
Highly recommended for Howey/zombie fans but NOT for the easily squeamish or those who like happy endings.
The book contains several major parts, each focusing on a specific zombie or group of zombies and how they arrived at their present state. It's this backstory that caused the horror and despair for me and is a fantastic way to tell the story of a zombie outbreak in New York City.
Highly recommended for Howey/zombie fans but NOT for the easily squeamish or those who like happy endings.
The only thing worse than being a dead, stinking, rotting, festering, flesh-eating zombie is to be a living, remembering, pain-feeling human trapped in a zombie body with no control over your actions. Truly sick and disgusting, this was a wonderful read.