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kailyn616 's review for:
I would give this book 4.5 stars if I could - it was fantastic, save for the third act that dropped off a bit and then picked up again right at the very end. I strongly suggest listening to the audio book by Nick Podehl. He brings these characters to life in a way that I knew my imagination couldn't, and he injects the appropriate amount of life and humor that a story such as this needs from its narrator. I will definitely be looking for his name in audio books again in the future.
That being said, I found Spiders to be worlds better than John Dies at the End; though, in all fairness, I am listening to the audio book version of John Dies right now (not read by Nick Podehl, unfortunately), and I have only the film version of John Dies to go on. So I may change my tune once I complete the actual book, but Spiders just felt more cohesive.
Wong makes the plot of Spiders (while ridiculously unbelievable) seem like it could actually happen, and I hate to say that this tale is a "brilliant commentary on modern society," but, well, it is. As I was listening to the description of those who were infected, and the rationale for not killing them because anyone could turn monster at any point and you have no idea of knowing exactly who, all I could think of were school shooters. You wouldn't bomb a high school full of kids in order to weed out those who *might* be serial killers, and that's the point that I felt Spiders was trying to drive home. You can't kill off society simply because there might be monsters among us. You just keep fighting for the option that isn't murder, to paraphrase Amy.
Plus, you just can't beat the humor and camaraderie of David and John, save for the occasionally juvenile humor when penises get involved. That always feels like lazy writing to me.
After two stories with Amy in them, I'm still not quite sure how to feel about her. I can't really tell if she's more of a damsel in distress, or if she's just along for the ride. She doesn't really "kick ass," but she doesn't really "need saving" either. For a female character, I find her to be kind of meh, and even as a female, I find myself identifying more with David than anyone else.
All tolled, I love Wong's writing, and I am looking forward to picking up "Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits" when that is also released as an audio book. The audio experience really adds a layer of fun to his work.
That being said, I found Spiders to be worlds better than John Dies at the End; though, in all fairness, I am listening to the audio book version of John Dies right now (not read by Nick Podehl, unfortunately), and I have only the film version of John Dies to go on. So I may change my tune once I complete the actual book, but Spiders just felt more cohesive.
Wong makes the plot of Spiders (while ridiculously unbelievable) seem like it could actually happen, and I hate to say that this tale is a "brilliant commentary on modern society," but, well, it is. As I was listening to the description of those who were infected, and the rationale for not killing them because anyone could turn monster at any point and you have no idea of knowing exactly who, all I could think of were school shooters. You wouldn't bomb a high school full of kids in order to weed out those who *might* be serial killers, and that's the point that I felt Spiders was trying to drive home. You can't kill off society simply because there might be monsters among us. You just keep fighting for the option that isn't murder, to paraphrase Amy.
Plus, you just can't beat the humor and camaraderie of David and John, save for the occasionally juvenile humor when penises get involved. That always feels like lazy writing to me.
After two stories with Amy in them, I'm still not quite sure how to feel about her. I can't really tell if she's more of a damsel in distress, or if she's just along for the ride. She doesn't really "kick ass," but she doesn't really "need saving" either. For a female character, I find her to be kind of meh, and even as a female, I find myself identifying more with David than anyone else.
All tolled, I love Wong's writing, and I am looking forward to picking up "Futuristic Violence and Fancy Suits" when that is also released as an audio book. The audio experience really adds a layer of fun to his work.