Summary:
R is having a no-life crisis—he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he’d rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.
And then he meets a girl.
First as his captive, then his reluctant guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R’s gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn’t want to eat this girl—although she looks delicious—he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can’t imagine, and their hopeless world won’t change without a fight.
My thoughts:
I admit that I read this book because I'm dying to see the movie and I prefer to read the book before I see the movie adaptation. Having said that, I wish I would've read the book before I saw the movie trailer. Why? I love the trailer. It cracks me up. I thought the book would be more comedic than it is. Having said that, I did really enjoy the book.
I remember people saying zombies will never be big because they aren't sexy. Enter R. Even though I was grossed out by him describing the body parts he was eating, I still fell for him. He is trying to hold on to his humanity and be more like the living. How can you not swoon over that? I did. I wasn't crazy about Julie's character though. She was really mean to R's best friend M, and I didn't see a reason for it. He was helping to protect her. If she could see the humanity in R, I felt she should've seen it in M, too.
The dynamic between R and Julie was very well done though. There's plenty of conflict but I rooted for them despite everything they had working against them. I have to admit the ending was predictable, but even though I knew how the book was going to end, I still enjoyed it. It was the logical ending for them in my mind.
Just for fun: Can a zombie be sexy?
R can be sexy... in his own way. Especially since he is played by Nicholas Hoult :)
ReplyDeleteR is definitely sexy in the book too. I really liked his character.
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ReplyDeleteNicholas Hoult could make a paper bag look sexy! I'm not big into zombies, but I was attracted to your review. Good one. I want to see this movie. It sounds like a good Saturday afternoon escape.
ReplyDeletecheers
Gwynn
http://gwynnethwhite.blogspot.com/
I agree. I've ben wanting to see this but haven't yet.
DeleteNo! Zombies are gross
ReplyDeleteBeth, R is gross and sexy at the same time. It's hard to explain but he is.
DeleteI'm in the same boat as you. I want to see the movies so this one is on my TBR list.
ReplyDeleteSarah, I'd read the book first if I were you.
DeleteI think anything can be sexy because it' snot really about the sex,it's about the emotional reactions and connections between the characters. If well-written, you could probably believe in a romance between a character and a cactus -- hoping they could overcome the little "prickly" issue. lol
ReplyDeleteLOL You're probably right, though.
DeleteI would say that zombies are more creepy and repulsive than sexy. So far anyway.
ReplyDeleteI take it you haven't read Warm Bodies then?
DeleteI think sexy has a lot more to do with attitude than looks, but still, a zombie to me will never be sexy just because of their very nature. It's like trying to tell me that someone who eats feces is sexy. Not gonna happen! lol
ReplyDeleteLOL. R is totally sexy though and he eats brains.
DeleteGosh, I can't wait to see this movie!! I was considering reading the book first. Still think I should?
ReplyDeleteIf you're going to do both, I'd read the book first. It seems like they are very different, and I think I would've been disappointed if I'd seen the movie first.
DeleteHa. I felt the same as you Kelly. I thought the book was going to be funnier based on the movie ads. I admit I wasn't that thrilled with the book, not that it was bad, but I kept waiting for it to get funny and I don't think it ever really did.
ReplyDeleteI was waiting for it to get funny, too. I love the line in the movie preview where R says he lost and then he says, "No, really. I've never been in this part of the airport before." Too funny! That line wasn't in the book though.
DeleteSome of the best lines from the movie weren't in the book. ;-) Though the movie also wasn't as funny as I thought it was going to be - based on the ads.
DeleteAh, so the previews kind of showed all the funny parts?
DeletePretty much. There are a few spots like a reference to Pretty Woman that wasn't in the ads (which is pretty darn funny).
DeleteHmm, now I'm trying to remember if that was in the book. I can't remember. I've read a few books since this one so it's not coming to me at the moment.
DeleteI don't remember the Pretty Woman joke being in the book, but that doesn't mean it wasn't. Been a while since I read it.
DeleteI remember a reference I just can't remember to what. It might have been Pretty Woman. Not sure. I may have to look it up. ;)
DeleteI don't know about sexy, but I did find R kind of beautiful. He's very poetic for a dead dude. I handed my heart over gladly. I liked the way the eating of the brains worked. Zombies keeping left overs, brilliant!
ReplyDeleteHaven't yet seen the movie. I'm a bit afraid that I won't like it as much as the book, because I LOVED the book.
~ Lindie
Yes, he's definitely poetic. I really enjoyed being inside his head.
DeleteIt is kind of a tough sell, right? Trying to make a reanimated corpse into a heartthrob. Good point! :-)
ReplyDeleteYes, but Isaac Marion pulls it off.
DeleteThis is a new book for me. I'm not crazy about zombies, but this one sounds promising. Maybe I'll watch the movie. Thanks for a nice review.
ReplyDeleteSome parts are a little graphic as far as eating people, but the story is solid, so if you can get past that you'll be good.
DeleteSexy zombies? Not so much. Not at all. Ugh. Now I HAVE to read this book to see how on earth that got pulled off. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing the review!
LOL. I know, right?
DeleteWow, this sounds absolutely "edible!" LOL. Sorry but I don't see how a zombie can be sexy, nope, now way. But the book and movie sound interesting!
ReplyDeleteI didn't think they could either, but I was wrong.
DeleteI'm a big zombie fan but I haven't read this book. There was that whole Marion hates YA thing back in 2012 (when he would say he didn't want his book marketed as YA because he didn't feel he wrote a YA and he thought it would limit his audience but never said anything like YA is inferior or he hates it) and then people started to say he said he hated YA and it was just a huge mess and I thought ... I'm a YA girl, if he didn't write a YA and doesn't want to market it as a YA, then it's probably not for me.
ReplyDeleteBut that aside, I think what Lexa said is true. It's less about the appearance of a character in a book than the emotional connection you make with them. Because unless the writer is constantly reminding you how they look, you kind of forget and connect with who the character is instead of what. While before this book I would have never thought of a sexy zombie, I think it could be done. Maybe I'll actually read this now :)
I love YA, but I didn't think this book was YA at all. I pegged it as New Adult.
DeleteR pulls off being sexy even when he's eating brains. It's unbelievable if you don't read it, but I swear it's true.
I didn't read the book but saw the movie. I am not a zombee fan but I liked the movie. I liked R and Julie and I'm so glad it had a happy ending!
ReplyDeleteI really need to see it.
DeleteI have never found a zombie to be sexy- but I haven't read many books with zombies. It sounds like is it possible from your review. :) I have been hearing a lot of good things about this book.
ReplyDeleteYes, believe it or not, it's actually possible.
DeleteConsidering I saw the movie--why yes...a zombie can totally look sexy--at least R did. They were also very strategic about their first kiss. R got a shower first! LOL
ReplyDeleteLOL. Yup, he gets a shower in the book too.
DeleteI think "grossed out" is a good description about how I feel about zombies, but it looks like you adapted.
ReplyDeleteMost zombies do gross me out, but some are different. Like R.
DeleteI love zombie stories but I can't get with them being sexy. They're just too terrifying! It would definitely take a skilled writer to get me to feel otherwise. :)
ReplyDeleteHave you read Warm Bodies?
DeleteOh my golly, I didn't know the movie originated from a book. That makes it all the cooler. I tell ya, I want to see the movie too. I may have to pick up the book first. Thanks for the review.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm.... Zombie=Sexy I'm on the fence there. Maybe once I read this book and meet R. I will be able to make a better, more educated, decision on this question.
Definitely read the book first, Julia. :)
DeleteOf course! If he's quirky & bada** enough. :) The movie is showing in Singapore. The poster, text and synopsis make me laugh though I still haven't decided if I'd be watching it.
ReplyDeleteI laughed at them too. I definitely want to see it.
DeleteAbsolutely, he could be. Him being socially awkward was freaking adorable
ReplyDeleteI'm the same way. Whenever possible, I try to read the book before I see the movie come out (and like a complete dork, I have a habit of jumping on the bandwagon when a series is being made into movies... I had zero interest in "Percy Jackson" and "The Hunger Games" until I heard they were making the movies).
I haven't read this one yet, but because I see the movie, I probably won't. The way they shot it and the way the story is in general, I don't think it'll get much better :-P
I love Percy Jackson and read those before the movie came out. I was actually worried the movie would ruin the books because it looked so different in preview. But... while different, I still enjoyed the movie.
DeleteNice review, Kelly. I really want to watch the movie, but will read the book first. :) The Zombie book I've read so far are pretty scary, MC not sexy at all. So glad this one has a sexy one..LOL
ReplyDeleteYes, it's very different and I like that.
DeleteSounds good on paper, and even after seeing the recent love story of zombies being turned by love on the big screen, then maybe. However, all I can see in my head are the ones in Walking Dead.. then not so much. :-)
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean. That's all I saw too until I read this.
DeleteRecently I've some disconnect between covers and the stories inside them--sort of the same thing you're saying about the trailer and the story.
ReplyDeleteAs to sexy zombies . . . not so much. I like warm bodies and, if a guy eats raw brains, please don't tell him to call me.
LOL, Lee.
DeleteI listened to the audio version. I am stuck with the voice of the narrator, but I guess to a female he could come off as being sexy. Even the audio voice made him sound cool and laid back. I really liked the book, but will wait for the DVD to see the movie.
ReplyDeleteIt was fun. Can't wait to rent the movie.
I'm waiting for the DVD too. We don't go to the movies much at all. Too expensive. I'd rather spend that money on books. ;)
DeleteExcellent review, Kelly. I`ve heard of the movie, but didn`t know there was a book.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know at first either.
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