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I felt like I got just a glimpse into the overall possibilities.That said, the writing is good, and I love the way he's merged international relations, and multiple non-English speaking voices into the mix of stories. And sometimes a lot less.
I'm half-way between liking it and really liking this book.First off, it's not a comedy. This is one of those times when I really wish there was three and a half stars.
Overall, I'd say the storytelling works fairly well, but there are times when I really wanted more from a particular character. His previous zombie effort was written in a tongue-in-cheek tone, and sometimes even funny, but this is a work of serious fiction.
(I mean, as serious as any book with zombies in the title can be).Instead of telling the story with a standard narrative, Brooks goes for an "oral history" -- not even short stories in some cases, but interviews with the historian compiling the oral history. And in the end, I found the story quite unsatisfying.
Worth a read.
To simply call "World War Z" a zombie novel is a disservice to the literature itself, to the writer and the readers. "World War Z" is so much more than a zombie novel. Yes, there is some gore, but not much, and the focus is much more upon the human element than that of the horror and the walking dead.Told as a series of recorded tales, "World War Z" is the story of not only a zombie apocalypse, but more importantly the human will to survive such. To this extent, this book has a much more positive outcome than do most other books in the genre.If only more modern fiction were nearly this good.
1) It's a guide for how to survive a zombie outbreak (pretty funny idea) and 2) this is Mel Brooks' son. I eagerly look forward to any future work you have as you are not just a great horror writer, not just a great comic writer, but a great writer. Here goes"I, Anthony Rodriguez, do formally and profusely apologize to you Mr. So that sets me up for my apology to Max Brooks. There is an emotional connection here that Brooks taps into in his choice of medium.
knock out of the park. It is a deceptively simple but incredibly effective medium and has the power similar to reading soldiers letters from the Civil War or WWII. I read the ZSG as it was pigeonholed, as humor. I found myself in the presence of a great writer creating a great work of fiction.So, Mr. Real good.
Here's why. But.The ZSG was (and, as of this afternoon's trip to the bookstore, still is) in the "Humor" section of most bookstores. It instantly connects the reader with the character. First, the format is a recording of oral narratives of individuals who survived the zombie wars. I particularly regret thinking that the zombies would be vanquished by Bill Pullman and John Candy using the Schwartz while coming down in their Winnebago. But, I have to admit that I, myself, am guilty of that mental relegation.
Let me explain. Brooks for thinking WWZ was going to be `fluff' that capitalized off your success from the ZSG. Although it is not necessary to read the ZSG to get the full effect of World War Z (WWZ), it definitely doesn't hurt. This is just one of many talents that showcases his true writing ability which was muted in the ZSG. This is not an accident. With a cast of dozens of characters this is crucial for a work of this magnitude (spanning literally the entire world across several years). Please accept this apology and know that I will never doubt you again."That having been said, my one sentence summary of WWZ was that it was a [.]. To put it there is to relegate it.
(This muting was not due to any fault of Brooks but to the relegation of the ZSG to the "humor" section).There are several facets to this work that make it a truly outstanding piece of fiction. I read the Zombie Survival Guide (ZSG) and it was good. Brooks achieves this emotional connection almost effortlessly. I've seen other, lesser writers attempt this format and fail miserably. WWZ is categorized as horror but is a flat out work of art. For me, the one that stands out is Brooks' ability to create a convincingly real world. Brooks I apologize once again for my close mindedness and promise never to again commit that sin (ya, like I can keep that promise). Easy to see why.
I found myself hating them, loving them, pitying them, and celebrating them. There are some humorous parts in it (like the different body type classifications), but it is not ONLY humor. If anything, the ZSG is a straight work of horror fiction. As the narrator wished, Brooks TRULY captures the "human element." From Todd Wainio to Sensei Tomonaga Ijiro to, of course, Paul Redeker, Brooks creates devastatingly beautiful and real people, people who have all the nuances and depth of truly great literary figures. Period.
I got this book with high hopes because of all the positive reviews. It is just a collection of characters telling their story with the living dead(I actually fell asleep on some of the stories). When I first started reading the book I was immediately addicted. But half way through the book I lost interest in it very quickly. Could have been a lot better. I don't recommend it, don't waste your money.
Let's face it: Zombies are not exactly intellectual. Memorize it. Max Brooks has laid the foundations for a bridge across that divide with this book.If you love the survivalist nature of zombie apocalypse stories, if you come up with your own plans on how you would secure food, protect yourself and your family, and make your home defensible, this is your book.Told from the perspective of survivors with all the rich, marvelous, glowing detail and backstory that we hunger for in movies and video games, Brooks takes us through the near-fall of humans to their undead brethren, how it started, how we reacted, how we survived, and how we triumphed.
We all love how zombies are the one enemy we may slaughter wholesale with no remorse whatsoever. Buy it. We all love George Romero's work and the way zombie-apocalypse stories play to our basest fears and survival instincts.
Virtually no question is left unanswered in Brooks' smoothly written and fiercely entertaining "history" of the war. We all love how easily zombie stories swing from horror to comedy and back. But it's not something you can easily talk about and feel proud of with people outside this marvelous sub-genre.
Read it. Afterward, if you hear warning sirens outside and raspy moaning noises from the yard, you'll know what to do.
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