Genre: Coming of Age/Thriller
Disclaimer: Reading is all about exploring, but this Book Review does not shy away from spoiling specific scenes as this is more of a look inside the good and bad of a book.
The Analysis:
I went into this book blind. I don’t even remember why I bought it lol. Great for an unbiased review, I guess, let’s see.
Heres the Blurb:
The family hides the child—whom they name Stony—rather than turn him over to authorities that would destroy him. Against all scientific reason, the undead boy begins to grow. For years his adoptive mother and sisters manage to keep his existence a secret—until one terrifying night when Stony is forced to run and he learns that he is not the only living dead boy left in the world.
Now The Story:
Book Info:
Pages: 450
Author: Daryl Gregory
Available: On Google Play Books
So, every once in awhile in book review groups, you’ll hear a reader say: for once, I’d just like to see a writer of the horror zombie genre introduce me to something new. They then proceed to list out every trope that makes the genre what it is and then end it with: I hate those tropes so much, this genre has so much more to offer.
Part 1,
is an answer to those people. I am not a member of that group, as such, I found this part, hella boring. Here’s my tip to readers facing, trope fatigue: Stop reading those books, take a break, heck a year off.
Binge eating chocolate would make any person sick. It doesn’t automatically mean it tastes bad. Binge reading your favorite topic by hundreds of different authors gets you reader fatigue. You don’t need to see a zombie spouting Shakespeare to reinvigorate the genre. (Did not happen in the book just using it as an example. Let’s get back to the review.)
This story is a zombie coming of age novel and not a particularly interesting one if you go by part 1. I was like:
The most peculiar part of it, is Stoneys attempts at trying to figure out if he can die. Which he admits leaves his body in Frankenstein mode because of the scarring. Now, if you already look visibly weird in skin tone and perhaps eyes. Why turn your body into a jigsaw puzzle ontop of it. Info or no info.
Make no mistake that parts not even as interesting as I’m making it sound.
I would have DNF’d if I hadn’t put myself on a DNF ban.
Part 2-3,
the middle of this book might just bring this story up to a 3 star. Usual annoyances occur, no story is perfect. But I liked it much better.
Favorite part, “Dr. Blunt (whose human) is a good guy, but he can’t bring himself to close his eyes around us.” The only thing I thought, was neither would I. Id freely help, but I’d never close my eyes. If one thing these smart zombie stories has taught me as that they can be as problematic as the flesh eating zombies. It’s just their motives aren’t blind instinct and more closely related to the very human trait of selfishness and ego.
Least favorite character, Delia. She displayed all the signs of that selfishness and ego that would make one unsympathetic to their cause. But proved to be the lesser of some very real evils.
Truth is these type of stories, do introduce the reader to an inner war of being sympathetic versus not wanting to be at the mercy of a superhuman who can randomly find you unworthy. And ruin your life and life as you know it, as imperfect as it is.
However, none of these stories going back to Planet of the Apes has offered up any suitable solution. Outside of giving the planet over to the more powerful beings, turning the world by hook or crook into something unsuitable for humans. Essentially the very thing the “government” was trying to avoid.
This story was no different. In fact, I was given more cause for concern when they admitted that being a zombie causes personality changes and permanent memory loss. As well as the fact that there was so many different factions of zombie, a utopia of sorts would be impossible.
The example of Thomas alone was proof enough that the question of whether they should exist, is ambiguous at best.
I appreciated the authors take on the mad scientist doctor. He wasn’t immediately played as a monster with no soul. An admittance that if society is going to find a cure, you’ve got to go a little mad to do it. However, my heart broke for Stony in prison where little kindness was doled out and he couldn’t speak to his mother.
Part 4,
soldified my new ranking of a 4. I was thoroughly enthralled by how it would end. Stony is a great person (mostly thanks to his human upbringing) who deserved to live. I couldn’t say I’d be passing out Free The Zombie fliers for everybody else though.
And F that to the zombies using Stony as some sort of shrine to the mess they’ve thrown the world into. Great, you can walk in the Sun now. Now it ain’t nothing worth seeing left.
Story At A Glance:
Recommendation: 4 out of 5
The Ratings:
Book Cover Appeal:
🍓🍓
Story & Narration:
🍓🍓🍓🍓
Romance:
N/A
Character/(s) Personality:
🍓🍓🍓🍓🍓
