Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Z is for Zombies!





Welcome to Day 26 of the Blogging From A to Z April Challenge here at Reading on the F Train.  Today's topic is Zombies!


Because why not?  I've slowly but surely come around to the realization that, while I often don't love "creature" books, I'm a big fan of zombies.  I think what I like about zombies is their versatility.  They can feature in the classic horror stories, campy thrillers, quieter, character-driven pieces, post-apocalyptic nightmares, and even romances.  Here's a list of some zombie books I've enjoyed, and some on my TBR:

Mrs. S's bookshelf: zombies

The Weepers: The Other Life
3 of 5 stars
This is a book I plan to stock in my classroom. I enjoyed it, but I think it will really appeal to some of my students who aren't so crazy about reading. It's short and full of action and gore (not so much my thing, but I know I have s...
Something Strange and Deadly
4 of 5 stars
Oh man, I just finished this book, and my pulse is racing. I am slowly starting to come around to the idea that I think zombie books are pretty awesome. This one is a little different from others I've encountered, though, in that the z...
Undead
3 of 5 stars
This was a good old-fashioned zombie romp! Of the zombie books I've read--and they are becoming more numerous than I expected them to--this one is the closest to watching a traditional zombie horror movie. Now, my theory of horror movi...
This is Not a Test
4 of 5 stars
I heard a lot of people praise this book very highly, and I was definitely not disappointed. I read this one relatively slowly--not because it was paced slowly (exactly the opposite) but because I was busy, and because I didn't want it ...
Double Feature: Attack of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies/Bride of the Soul-Sucking Brain Zombies
4 of 5 stars
I don't want to ignore the first half of this book, which continues the story of Russel Middlebrook, but I was so excited when I got to the second half and discovered that it was narrated by Russel's friend Min. As scarce as YA fiction ...

goodreads.com

5 comments:

  1. I want to read at least one zombie book, not because I'm hugely into horror (which I'm not), but because I'm a writer and I'm interested in how zombie writers write zombie books. I'm sure there's something I could learn from a good zombie novel. I notice you have SOMETHING STRANGE AND DEADLY on your list. I've seen that crop up on a lot of peoples "favorite" lists, so that might be the one. Is that what you would recommend as a good representation of zombie lit, or is there something else I should try?

    Congrats on making it through the A-to-Z Blogging Challenge, Jess! :D

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    1. SSaD is a cool book, but the zombies are sort of non-traditional. I liked the old-timey elements of it best. That said, it's kind of hard to recommend a "traditional" zombie book. The one on my list that's the closest is probably Undead--bunch of kids who don't get along evading their classmates who've been zombified at a remote rest stop. But that's what I like about zombies--you can pick the style you like and find a zombie book there!

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  2. I'm only so-so on the zombie thing, I've discovered. I think I just can't past the image of skin hanging off of bodies in chunks, brain-eating and the like, and everything that comes along with zombies and makes me feel kind of queasy. :P It's weird, because Todd and I are big fans of The Walking Dead, so you'd think I'd be more into zombie books. Maybe I just need to read more. You know, get my zombie on or something. ;-)

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    1. Zombies are definitely pretty gross. I guess studying Night of the Living Dead in college and playing a LOT of Plants Vs. Zombies may have eased the way :) I feel like the story of Forest of Hands and Teeth might be up your alley, if you decide to give zombie books another shot. They are gross at times, though.

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  3. Stopping by from the #atozchallenge !
    @JLenniDorner

    Alice in Zombieland looks interesting.

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