Scan barcode
thepermageek's review against another edition
adventurous
challenging
funny
mysterious
reflective
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
I was a little skeptical at first that Mira Grant could write a new zombie-based world that was wholly distinct from the Newsflesh series. But wow I should never underestimate her brilliance because she’s done it again!
Read this if you love zombie stories, Mira grant, or both. It’s amazing!
Read this if you love zombie stories, Mira grant, or both. It’s amazing!
magikspells's review against another edition
3.0
If I had to describe this book, it would be 'eh'. It wasn't good, it wasn't bad, it was just there. I'm totally with the idea that Mira Grant is like my modern day [a:Michael Crichton|5194|Michael Crichton|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/authors/1359042651p2/5194.jpg], with all sorts of hospitaly medical biological background to her stories. I live for that! And it makes it fun and interesting. But her ability to create characters with this one just didn't reach out to me as much as they did with the [b:Feed|7094569|Feed (Newsflesh Trilogy, #1)|Mira Grant|https://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1335958027s/7094569.jpg|7351419] series. I wasn't bored at all, I just wasn't at all surprised by the end. Once it got to about the midway point of the book, I think we'd all just about figured it out. But I'll probably keep reading, I think I'm more interested in the world building than anything else. We shall see.
saritaroth's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a novel in the science fiction genre and takes place a decade in the future, 2027 to be exact. The book is the first in the Parasitology trilogy, the second being Symbiont and the third being Chimera. Several members of society have opted to ingest a tapeworm that is said to take care of every medical issue from diabetes to birth control. The parasites, though, have found a way into their hosts' brains and have taken over their bodies in disastrous ways. Sal, a woman who had gotten into a car accident six years earlier and now can't remember her former life as a girl named "Sally," must find a way to save humanity from this danger that threatens within.
I found this book did hit a little close to home, considering the craziness that is occurring in the world today, brought about by the Coronavirus. For example, at one point, Sal's dad says, "We’re already getting reports of runs on water and canned goods at the local grocery stores.” There are, of course, many differences between the health crisis in this book and the crisis going on in our own lives. For one thing, when someone comes down with the Coronavirus, they're not trying to attack their neighbors, friends, and loved ones.
Despite the parallels to real life, I did really enjoy this book. There were some boring parts, such as the lengthy scientific explanations of the tapeworms, but just when I had about decided to give up on the book, it would get really exciting again. All in all, I'm glad I stuck with it. I may even continue reading the series.
I found this book did hit a little close to home, considering the craziness that is occurring in the world today, brought about by the Coronavirus. For example, at one point, Sal's dad says, "We’re already getting reports of runs on water and canned goods at the local grocery stores.” There are, of course, many differences between the health crisis in this book and the crisis going on in our own lives. For one thing, when someone comes down with the Coronavirus, they're not trying to attack their neighbors, friends, and loved ones.
Despite the parallels to real life, I did really enjoy this book. There were some boring parts, such as the lengthy scientific explanations of the tapeworms, but just when I had about decided to give up on the book, it would get really exciting again. All in all, I'm glad I stuck with it. I may even continue reading the series.
kristie_beth's review against another edition
dark
informative
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ap2009's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
informative
mysterious
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
iceangel32's review against another edition
4.0
I was going to rate this book a three however the amount I talk about it I feel it should be a four. I has a great story line. It just took a while to read, but they could also be life getting in the way. I will pick up book 2 because I am invested now I want to know what happens to Sal next and what it means for Nathan. I do have to admit that Sal founding out what was going on was a little drawn out but it also for because she needed the time to figure it out and as she did at the end did she know and just not want to believe. There ate homes of that though out tune book too.
badseedgirl's review against another edition
1.0
In the spirit of complete honesty, I have to admit that although I read this novel for the “2014 I Just HAVE To Read More of That Author WWE Challenge” I have never actually finished one of Mira Grant’s novels before. I have started her debut novel Feed at least three times and have never gotten past page 104. But I am not one to hold one novel against an author. I felt that maybe because I am 40 years old and I only own a Nook HD+ (hey don’t judge me, I love my Nook), and I just bought my first “smart” phone last year, and it is such a cheap model I have christened it my “slightly stupid phone” and I don’t “Blog” or have a Twitter account, and the only news I get on-line is my entertainment news, that maybe I’m just getting old and it was all the technology and blogging references that were turning me off. So I decided to give her new novel Parasite book one in her new series “Parasitology” a try.
So I am going to have to do something I hate to do in my reviews, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING REVIEW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
With Parasite, Mira Grant was able to rip off both Frankenstein (which I have read) and The Body Snatchers (which I have not read, but have seen all 4 movie versions). She did not even do it in a good way. By the 5th chapter I realized that the parasites were taking over their human hosts, and that Sally or Sal as she preferred to be called was a parasite. And then there was the Doctor Shanti Cale. The only thing missing from her “mad scientist” lab was the conductors for the lightning bolts. She even had her maniacal assistant in “Tandy”. As the genetic engineer that designed the parasite, she spent much of the novel defending and explaining her actions which she knew were wrong at the time but did it anyway just because she could. In one of the few honest moments in the novel, she admitted to her son, who she abandoned by faking her own death, that if it had not been the parasites, something else would have pulled her away from him because her drive for scientific knowledge was just that great. As a character, Dr. Cale’s insanity when she was speaking was a glorious light of entertainment in what was otherwise a completely forgettable novel.
Well at least now I can honestly say that I have given Mira Grant a fair shake and I don’t like her writing. I’m sure this novel will go on to do well, if the reviews on Goodread.com are any example. As I stand in front of my bathroom mirror berating myself and giving my face the occasional smack I will tell myself for the 100th time “Being on the New York Times Best Sellers List DOES NOT make them a good author, just a popular one.” Now forgive me as I go to my bedroom and write that sentence 101 times, maybe it will finally sink in!
So I am going to have to do something I hate to do in my reviews, THERE WILL BE SPOILERS IN THE FOLLOWING REVIEW. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!
With Parasite, Mira Grant was able to rip off both Frankenstein (which I have read) and The Body Snatchers (which I have not read, but have seen all 4 movie versions). She did not even do it in a good way. By the 5th chapter I realized that the parasites were taking over their human hosts, and that Sally or Sal as she preferred to be called was a parasite. And then there was the Doctor Shanti Cale. The only thing missing from her “mad scientist” lab was the conductors for the lightning bolts. She even had her maniacal assistant in “Tandy”. As the genetic engineer that designed the parasite, she spent much of the novel defending and explaining her actions which she knew were wrong at the time but did it anyway just because she could. In one of the few honest moments in the novel, she admitted to her son, who she abandoned by faking her own death, that if it had not been the parasites, something else would have pulled her away from him because her drive for scientific knowledge was just that great. As a character, Dr. Cale’s insanity when she was speaking was a glorious light of entertainment in what was otherwise a completely forgettable novel.
Well at least now I can honestly say that I have given Mira Grant a fair shake and I don’t like her writing. I’m sure this novel will go on to do well, if the reviews on Goodread.com are any example. As I stand in front of my bathroom mirror berating myself and giving my face the occasional smack I will tell myself for the 100th time “Being on the New York Times Best Sellers List DOES NOT make them a good author, just a popular one.” Now forgive me as I go to my bedroom and write that sentence 101 times, maybe it will finally sink in!