lydiavsbooks's review against another edition
dark
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
3.5
Definitely enjoyed it. It had Walking Dead vibes but if it was written by Stephen King.
Didn't so much enjoy the weird descriptions of our main character lusting over (un)dead women. Otherwise I enjoyed our main character and following his pov, he was a very complex believable character that made you root for him, but also scared of what he might do.
The ending was pretty great, really interesting way to pick up the plot and keep you on your toes. I can definitely see why people love this, just good fun all round.
Didn't so much enjoy the weird descriptions of our main character lusting over (un)dead women. Otherwise I enjoyed our main character and following his pov, he was a very complex believable character that made you root for him, but also scared of what he might do.
The ending was pretty great, really interesting way to pick up the plot and keep you on your toes. I can definitely see why people love this, just good fun all round.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Mental illness, Grief, and Alcoholism
Moderate: Sexism, Suicide, Self harm, and Vomit
dora_w3's review against another edition
dark
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I'm glad I read this book, but I disliked most things about it: the prose was masculine and miserable, the pacing was slow, yet the few events that actually occur were sudden and short, Robert Neville was not a particularly likeable or interesting character, and the 50's attitude to people of colour and women was evident despite the narrative almost entirely following a white man. There were some enjoyable parts but they were few and far between, and there are many more points where Matheson thinks he is being clever and deep, compared to the amount of times when he actually succeeds.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Rape 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: Blood, Body horror, Cannibalism, Violence, Sexual content, Sexism, Misogyny, Mental illness, Gun violence, Gore, Death, Cursing, and Confinement
Moderate: Alcohol, Animal cruelty, Animal death, Torture, Terminal illness, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief
taylorraven's review against another edition
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
1.0
the main character is annoying and unlikable but the environment and the way that the author deals with already existing lore of vampires is interesting. There are better things to read though and I wouldn't recommend it.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal death and Death
Moderate: Sexism
Minor: Sexual assault
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