Zone One is a zombie novel. I probably shouldn't even admit this up front but I am one of those folks who cannot hide anything. BUT, it is one of the best written zombie novels I've ever read...not that I've read that many. Zombie novels badly written will never grab me. This is a "literary" zombie novel. But it really is a allegory of contemporay Manhattan an America, as one reviewer pointed out. The survivors trade "Last Night" stories and sturggle with PASD or Post-Apocalyptic Stress Disorder while the new central government advertises hope in the form of "America Phoenix Rising" campaign.
In an interview the author talks about having zombie dreams since he saw Dawn of the Dead in seventh grade. He had a dream one night when he had guests over that prompted the thought, "Once you put civilzation back together, what do you do with all these zombies? So the book grew from there."
The novel is about one man, whose nickname is Mark Spitz (we never learn his real name) is on a team that removes stragglers in Manhattan's Zone One, a walled off part of the city that the Marines have cleared of the active, dangerous zombies. The stragglers are the afflicted who are stuck in daily life activity...caught like stones in mundane tasks such as fry cook at a Mcdonalds.
The novel is full of dark humor and acute observations of modern life or what is left of it in the light of death and a civilization that may not make it....
It was a bit of slog in parts but the final pages are amazing. Any more said would give too much away. Read it and we'll talk!
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Sunday, January 1, 2012
One Good Turn by Kate Atkinson vs PBS's Case Histories
One Good Turn is the second in Kate Atkinson's Jackson Brodie series. PBS's Masterpiece Mystery just took a stab at the first three books of the series, the third episode my DVR unceremoniously erased before I could watch. The series is named after the first book in the series, Case Histories. I enjoyed this first book but didn't love it. But I have loved the title of the fourth book in the series: Started Early, Took My Dog.
I usually hate reading a book after seeing the movie/television show. But I must say, I loved One Good Turn even after seeing the Masterpiece Mystery version of the novel. What I like about Atkinson's writing is that it is layered with interesting character development and employs delightful humor. Case Histories was called a genre bending literary novel and I think it is a good description. The novel, One Good Turn, was a delightful page turner with wonderful characters. Gloria was a character I wish I could have had tea with even though sharing some conversation over tea would not reveal Gloria's real thoughts as did Atkinson's writing. Gloria will be one of my favorite heroines for some time to come. She, in her middle years, has come to some great conclusions with a sense of humor, calm resignation and pointed insight.
The book begins with Jackson living without working by the benefit of the unexpected money he inherited in the first book. He has followed, really financed, his girl friend's theater production in Edinburgh, part of the "Fringe Festival". The girlfriend is Julia from the Case Histories. I tried to start this book a couple times but couldn't get past the first couple of chapters with the focus on Julia who I never liked as a character...why the heck did Jackson take up with her??? I also hate the first scene but still, it does become an interesting riddle for the rest of the book. Seeing the PBS production pulled me into the rest of the story, though they took huge creative license in how the PBS structured Jackson's personal life with money (he didn't inherit in the television production), where he lives and his situation with his daughter. In many ways the PBS show was nothing like the novel except for the central mystery. I always love the book more as in this case...the book is much better, though the actor who plays Jackson is quite attractive.
I now have the next book in the series, When Will There Be Good News? waiting for me on my Kindle. So many books, must go read...
I usually hate reading a book after seeing the movie/television show. But I must say, I loved One Good Turn even after seeing the Masterpiece Mystery version of the novel. What I like about Atkinson's writing is that it is layered with interesting character development and employs delightful humor. Case Histories was called a genre bending literary novel and I think it is a good description. The novel, One Good Turn, was a delightful page turner with wonderful characters. Gloria was a character I wish I could have had tea with even though sharing some conversation over tea would not reveal Gloria's real thoughts as did Atkinson's writing. Gloria will be one of my favorite heroines for some time to come. She, in her middle years, has come to some great conclusions with a sense of humor, calm resignation and pointed insight.
The book begins with Jackson living without working by the benefit of the unexpected money he inherited in the first book. He has followed, really financed, his girl friend's theater production in Edinburgh, part of the "Fringe Festival". The girlfriend is Julia from the Case Histories. I tried to start this book a couple times but couldn't get past the first couple of chapters with the focus on Julia who I never liked as a character...why the heck did Jackson take up with her??? I also hate the first scene but still, it does become an interesting riddle for the rest of the book. Seeing the PBS production pulled me into the rest of the story, though they took huge creative license in how the PBS structured Jackson's personal life with money (he didn't inherit in the television production), where he lives and his situation with his daughter. In many ways the PBS show was nothing like the novel except for the central mystery. I always love the book more as in this case...the book is much better, though the actor who plays Jackson is quite attractive.
I now have the next book in the series, When Will There Be Good News? waiting for me on my Kindle. So many books, must go read...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)