A review by mikariah
Zombie by Joyce Carol Oates

challenging dark tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.25

While the book starts off pretty high-octane violence and grossness, it never really manages to go further. I found myself desensitized to Quentin's sexual psychopathy, waiting for something that never came. Unlike our protagonist, unfortunately.

I've had my true-crime phases, so the subject matter wasn't as novel to me as it might be to others. I'm of the opinion that extreme horror needs to justify itself with extreme purpose, extreme 'something to say,' if I'm to like it, and I don't know if Zombie really had anything to say other than shock value, gross-out horror. And even that blew its load way too soon (I'm sorry).
Expand filter menu Content Warnings