Started out great, really enjoyed the apocalyptic telling of a disease outbreak, following several characters through this horror. The story fell flatStarted out great, really enjoyed the apocalyptic telling of a disease outbreak, following several characters through this horror. The story fell flat soon after though as we delved into magic, gardening, churning butter and people choosing apartments based on kitchen appliances in their newly formed town. Redeemed itself somewhat towards the end and has me curious about the second book.
This was fantastic. At first I wasn't sure I'd be able to get through all the science and math...and yeah there is that but somehow its interesting. JThis was fantastic. At first I wasn't sure I'd be able to get through all the science and math...and yeah there is that but somehow its interesting. Just an excellent story. Funny, thrilling, thought provoking, sad, heroic, all the emotions. The best parts were Grace's evolving relationship with Rocky. Amaze! This would make a great movie. Oh and Ray Porters narration via Audible added so much emotion to the story, perfect.
Interesting and thought provoking especially in the first half with the fall of London and a crumbling, blind society. (I now know where the Walking DInteresting and thought provoking especially in the first half with the fall of London and a crumbling, blind society. (I now know where the Walking Dead got its idea for Rick waking up in hospital to a very changed world) This Wyndham classic gives you pause to think on many different subjects, genetically modified crops...
I'll be honest, I struggled a bit with the middle chapters, lots of preaching, religion and politics but the beginning and ending are excellent. ...more
Really enjoyed this. Surprisingly it felt very much like a modern YA story even though it was written in 1955. The Hunger Games comes to mind, many siReally enjoyed this. Surprisingly it felt very much like a modern YA story even though it was written in 1955. The Hunger Games comes to mind, many similarities of a messed up dystopian society and young people fighting their way out. I loved going into this with no real idea what it was about and then figuring out things like post nuclear war along the way. If I guessed the names right this actually takes place in Canada. Have no recollection of reading it in school....more
Opening Line:“Before she became the Girl From Nowhere --the One Who Walked in, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years—she was just a Opening Line:“Before she became the Girl From Nowhere --the One Who Walked in, the First and Last and Only, who lived a thousand years—she was just a little girl in Iowa, named Amy."
I wanted to give this 5 stars because it is pretty damn fantastic; the complex story, the imaginative and often beautiful writing, the suspense, the hopelessness but oh my god it’s long. At around 900 pages it took me over a month to read and towards the end became more of a goal to finish than anything else. I was so ready to move onto something else but didn’t want to miss a thing either.
The Passage also reads like two totally different books with the first part taking place pre-apocalypse, as the virus/cure is discovered, developed, tested on several subjects and followed through it’s epidemic. It then jumps several hundred years into the future and several generations of survivors later as we follow them in their new scary world.
There is a huge cast of characters to follow in both ‘parts’ (very Stephen Kingish that way) and I enjoyed them equally. Along those lines I would categorize this as an apocalyptic masterpiece reminiscent of Stephen Kings The Stand, or Robert McCammon's Swan Song including suggestions from 'Salem's Lot, Cormac McCarthy's The Road and a bit of The Walking Dead thrown in for good measure.
It’s definitely worth reading but you’re going to have to make a commitment.
Opening Line: “I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.”
I absolutely loved the first half of Warm Bodies. Meeting "R" was just a Opening Line: “I am dead, but it’s not so bad. I’ve learned to live with it.”
I absolutely loved the first half of Warm Bodies. Meeting "R" was just a joy, I mean he's hilarious in an unassuming and very undead sort of way and I can't say that I've ever read anything quite like him or this before. Dubbed a "Zombie romance" my initial thought was come-on how the hell is that going to work? I mean ewww but it does, in an innocent and sweet sort of way.
We meet "R" in an airport hangar, riding the escalator up and down (when the power is on) and doing pretty much nothing the rest of the time. He has no name, no memories and no pulse, but lately he has been feeling a bit different from his fellow dead, having thoughts and dreams and speaking with more than 6 syllables.
One day R and the rest of his groaning, stumbling hoard go out for lunch in the city and its there that he meets Julie. Julie is different and for reasons he can't understand, he decides not to eat her but to save her and take her back to his place. (he does however eat her boyfriend and his delicious brain begins to change everything)
So Julie and R get to know each other and the plot takes on a bit of a Romeo and Juliet vibe as the "Boneys" (evil leader zombies) don't like this arrangement. Julie and R decide to go back to her place (a survivor city in one of the sports domes) but that's not exactly a great idea either. Julie’s dad wants to kill him and the makeup he's forced to wear keeps coming off, plus he still can't walk or talk very well but he is changing, slowly coming back as something new.
It was about here that the story lost me a bit. It just seemed to lose its sense of humour and get a little out there for my tastes, as the two worlds collided and a new future was born. I enjoyed the vision of the world inside the dome but R’s connection with Perry and all his dreams lost me. The Boney's didn't make much sense either and it just kinda went into fantasy land, not that a zombie romance isn’t there to begin with. Can’t wait to see the movie. Cheers