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sassmistress's review
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Very much not my usual speed, but I see why it's genre-defining. It must be a *really* early take on zombie apocalypse literature. It's a solid mix of psychological horror and zombie thriller, with a dash of that classic sci-fi introspection. Extremely gripping, at points, like The Walking Dead (sorry to relate it to something newer!) Choc-full of content concerns, though, so I can't rate it any higher. But I really enjoyed the read and want one for my classics shelf.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Violence, Grief, Alcohol, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Animal death, Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Blood, Medical content, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Drug use, Rape, Self harm, Death of parent, and Fire/Fire injury
- Very graphic depiction of alcoholism and heavy alcohol use, from the mind of the user. We're constantly watching strong drinks spill, smell, burn going down, numb emotion, etc.- POV is regularly on the verge of a mental breakdown.
- Memories of his wife wasting away and dying, then having to dispose of her body. The grief is graphic. His child dies, too, though this is less prominent.
- Dog content:
- He is an atheist, but prays twice out of desperation. Religion is otherwise depicted as frenzied madness.
- Lots of lustful gaze and objectification. This is viewed as the inevitable result of a man's "deprivation" / isolation. One passionate embrace/kiss.
- Blood, obviously, and some violent "vampire" deaths, but most of it is kept at a moderate emotional distance. Most deaths are the MC bleeding out the sleeping "vampires", not described too graphically, but a few are more violent.
- Brief mention of rape, and a few suicidal thoughts.
bookwormteacher's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Misogyny and Sexism
Moderate: Alcoholism and Animal death
Minor: Sexual assault
mconroy9137's review against another edition
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism, Death, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, Suicide, Violence, Blood, Murder, and Alcohol
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Body horror, Kidnapping, Grief, Sexual harassment, and Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Child death, Vomit, and Medical content
rogackia's review against another edition
dark
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Misogyny, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
sofipitch's review against another edition
dark
slow-paced
2.5
This was so incredibly tropy, the man manly man who is all alone, he's tough and smart, he has a fridged wife and daughter, he is tormented by sexual desire for the female vampires bc he doesn't know how to jack off, he'll do anything to survive but contemplates suicide constantly. Either this bad already been done before a million times or this laid the groundwork for a certain kind of "tough good guy" character. The only part I really liked was the dog. I also give this book credit for an attempted scientific explanation for vampires, it sucked and would never hold up, but I appreciate when science fiction actually does the science part
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Blood
Moderate: Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Minor: Misogyny and Racism
cnohero's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Not really comparable to the movie. This actually may be a case in which I prefer the movie.
<Spoiler>Pros:
This was really well written and gripping. I read well past my bedtime.
I'm impressed by it's scientific discussion especially for it's time (1960's).
Excellent world-building and just enough horror for my taste but not too much.
This book did bring me to the edge of tear and could be very moving in some parts
Cons:
I did not like the main character. Maybe he supposed to be unlikeable?
I hated the way the author discussed lust and sex. I really have a hard time with the discussion that the main character was so sexually deprived he was tempted to have sex with the living dead.
Overall I was not comfortable with the discussion of women they are not treated well or regarded well through the book. There was too much emphasis on women's bodies and sex. </Spoiler>
<Spoiler>Pros:
This was really well written and gripping. I read well past my bedtime.
I'm impressed by it's scientific discussion especially for it's time (1960's).
Excellent world-building and just enough horror for my taste but not too much.
This book did bring me to the edge of tear and could be very moving in some parts
Cons:
I did not like the main character. Maybe he supposed to be unlikeable?
I hated the way the author discussed lust and sex. I really have a hard time with the discussion that the main character was so sexually deprived he was tempted to have sex with the living dead.
Overall I was not comfortable with the discussion of women they are not treated well or regarded well through the book. There was too much emphasis on women's bodies and sex. </Spoiler>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Body horror, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual content, Violence, Blood, and Cannibalism
Moderate: Animal cruelty, Animal death, Suicidal thoughts, Terminal illness, Torture, Grief, and Alcohol
stormwise's review against another edition
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This was an interesting one to read in a COVID-19 world! This was my second read of this novel, the last time being over 10 years ago, and it definitely hit different in 2021 👀
I am Legend takes place entirely in the mind of its main character, Robert Neville. Well, no, it mostly takes place in a North American town that has been overwhelmed by the living dead. But the story is entirely from Robert's perspective as he grapples with his situation.
I adored the writing in this book - everything Matheson portrays feels so vivid. The monotony of Robert's survival routine, his tension and anticipation each evening as the sun sets, the frustration and grief he experiences...it all felt very real.
The true antagonist of this story, in my opinion, is Robert's own mind. Trapped in his house, trapped in his own head, his struggle to remain human drives him to inhumanity and is ultimately his downfall as he is unable to adapt to the new world.
I enjoyed the science sections - they were quite digestible compared to, say, Solaris which I found quite stodgy when I read it last year! Robert Neville himself isn't particularly likeable - his numerous comments on women made me squirm - but I don't think you're supposed to like him, really. Overall I really like this book - I'd describe it as a psychological horror that turns the vampire narrative on its head.
I am Legend takes place entirely in the mind of its main character, Robert Neville. Well, no, it mostly takes place in a North American town that has been overwhelmed by the living dead. But the story is entirely from Robert's perspective as he grapples with his situation.
I adored the writing in this book - everything Matheson portrays feels so vivid. The monotony of Robert's survival routine, his tension and anticipation each evening as the sun sets, the frustration and grief he experiences...it all felt very real.
I enjoyed the science sections - they were quite digestible compared to, say, Solaris which I found quite stodgy when I read it last year! Robert Neville himself isn't particularly likeable - his numerous comments on women made me squirm - but I don't think you're supposed to like him, really. Overall I really like this book - I'd describe it as a psychological horror that turns the vampire narrative on its head.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Alcoholism and Suicide
Moderate: Animal death, Death, and Blood
Minor: Child death, Gun violence, Misogyny, Medical content, and Grief