ashleybreader's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
izaklights's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
I finished this book on a plane in the middle of the night. It was so good I had to immediately rant to my poor, unsuspecting dad about it who could not escape me. An absolute ride of a book that switches between perspectives constantly and still manages to get you attached to every single character. In my top 5 books ever for sure.
wyrmbergmalcolm's review against another edition
4.0
The significant thing about this book is that, although there is a clearly defined sequence of events, they're told via a multitude of police reports, diary entries, office memos, newspaper articles, texts, tweets and other first-person accounts - all written by different authors. This all kept what could be argued to be a slightly tired genre an interesting and very easy to read chronicle of an end of a world. Excepting one or two recurring diary entries by specific characters, each character exists purely within the scope of a single segment of the book so there's no long-range scope for individual characters and their development. The characters are there to provide their perspectives and thoughts to the increasing zombie threat and then go on to succumb to the inevitable or survive.
What was also refreshing was the mythology built up around this particular zombie break-out. There's a quasi-believable cause to the infection with a scarily conceivable series of events leading to its outbreak and spread. The zombies themselves also have a gradated level of what they once were in that some will still attempt to drive cars, some can parrot speech and some will seek out familiar locations. There’s also one account revealing a possible cure with an outcome that was very satisfyingly dubious. What works well with the book is that the story is told in an effectively chronological way, starting with the first accounts of fighting the building development that goes on to unearth the disease and concluding with accounts of the plague reaching the shores of Australia and America and the subsequent infections spreading from there.
Great stuff.
What was also refreshing was the mythology built up around this particular zombie break-out. There's a quasi-believable cause to the infection with a scarily conceivable series of events leading to its outbreak and spread. The zombies themselves also have a gradated level of what they once were in that some will still attempt to drive cars, some can parrot speech and some will seek out familiar locations. There’s also one account revealing a possible cure with an outcome that was very satisfyingly dubious. What works well with the book is that the story is told in an effectively chronological way, starting with the first accounts of fighting the building development that goes on to unearth the disease and concluding with accounts of the plague reaching the shores of Australia and America and the subsequent infections spreading from there.
Great stuff.
charlottet21's review against another edition
4.0
Really enjoyed this book. The concept of having several different accounts was really fresh and interesting. I especially liked the diary entries and the texts. I enjoyed the way it made you feel both scared for the humans' lives, but also made you laugh with the witty accounts and tongue in cheek events. Especially liked the end though. I was hoping it would end with some sort of cure, but the actual ending was pretty fitting and quite hilarious.
joillian's review
dark
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
2.5
some of the stories were good, some were boring and many scared me half to death
sandrus_'s review against another edition
2.0
I'm still not sure what to think of this book. It is entertaining, but after several pages I just got lost, the fact that it doesn't have page numbers makes it way longer than it is.
If you have the time and nothing better to read just give it a shot.
If you have the time and nothing better to read just give it a shot.
paulopaperbooksonly's review against another edition
4.0
This is a colection of short stories about a zombie apocalypse. Several authors wrote for it. Some only had some couple of pages and others had more. There is a timeline here and each story tells the tale in a period of time and each follwoing story continues the previous even if with different characters and settings.
It grab me from the beginning. Quite interesting tale and with an interesting concept.
In my opinion, after reading this tale I must say that there isn't a darn thing you can do if a zombie apocalpyse outbreaks....
It grab me from the beginning. Quite interesting tale and with an interesting concept.
In my opinion, after reading this tale I must say that there isn't a darn thing you can do if a zombie apocalpyse outbreaks....
hk848's review against another edition
2.0
started out really well, liked the styles and the story. got a little boring towards the end, some entries were dull or just not very good. got stupid towards the end, zombies sending texts and emails? zombie burgers? the queen and president zombies and writing speeches? zombie music? just wasnt needed and ruined it a bit for me. don't think i will be reading the next book.
orasmis's review against another edition
4.0
I picked up this book from a used bookstore near me not too long ago and I'm glad that I did. I've never read a book in his format before and I read enjoyed it. The different stories in the book did a great job of fleshing out the world that the book happened in and did a lovely job of giving you the backstory. Some of it is a lot more well written than other parts to be honest though. When it gets into technicals it tends to slog along and the "screenplay" at the end of the book was downright insufferable. But I really did like this take on the zombie genre overall. I highly recommend this to fans of the horror genre and zombie fans in general
mjmoore's review against another edition
4.0
Despite reading and watching a lot of horror, I’ve always avoided Zombies, as they were the one thing which really made me, well, scared. Having gotten into The Walking Dead recently, I seem to have overcome that fear, and now seem to be making up for lost time!
Zombie Apocalypse was one of my recent purchases, along with World War Z, which I haven’t yet read. Both of these books seem to be made up of various accounts of events, using transcripts etc, but I have a feeling they are rather different in their approach. Obviously I can’t say for sure until I read it, but I get the impression that World War Z is meant to be more serious, whereas Zombie Apocalypse has a rather dark humour running through. I’ve seen reviews comparing them, but they really need to be assessed in their own strengths.
Zombie Apocalypse is a ‘mosaic’ book, made of various accounts, taking us from before the zombies, to it’s outcome. There are news reports, diary entries, police reports etc, but it’s been bought up to date with twitter conversations, emails and blog entries. Although it follows a rough timeline, the stories don’t connect – it does read like a collection which has been pulled together.
These accounts have different authors, and that does show. It also means that the different styles will be liked or disliked by various readers. I for one found the blog entries caused me the most amusement (people really will blog about anything!) and the diary entries from a 13 year old girl were my overall favourites. I also enjoyed the setting, which is mainly London – it’s always good for us UK readers to see something set where we know.
Reviews appear mixed for this one, and I guess I can see why. Personally speaking, I found it highly enjoyable, and loved the unusual style. It’s not to be taken seriously, and you’re bound to have sections which you prefer over others. There’s a lot to recommend it though, and I shall be looking out for the second book, Zombie Apocalypse Fightback.
Zombie Apocalypse was one of my recent purchases, along with World War Z, which I haven’t yet read. Both of these books seem to be made up of various accounts of events, using transcripts etc, but I have a feeling they are rather different in their approach. Obviously I can’t say for sure until I read it, but I get the impression that World War Z is meant to be more serious, whereas Zombie Apocalypse has a rather dark humour running through. I’ve seen reviews comparing them, but they really need to be assessed in their own strengths.
Zombie Apocalypse is a ‘mosaic’ book, made of various accounts, taking us from before the zombies, to it’s outcome. There are news reports, diary entries, police reports etc, but it’s been bought up to date with twitter conversations, emails and blog entries. Although it follows a rough timeline, the stories don’t connect – it does read like a collection which has been pulled together.
These accounts have different authors, and that does show. It also means that the different styles will be liked or disliked by various readers. I for one found the blog entries caused me the most amusement (people really will blog about anything!) and the diary entries from a 13 year old girl were my overall favourites. I also enjoyed the setting, which is mainly London – it’s always good for us UK readers to see something set where we know.
Reviews appear mixed for this one, and I guess I can see why. Personally speaking, I found it highly enjoyable, and loved the unusual style. It’s not to be taken seriously, and you’re bound to have sections which you prefer over others. There’s a lot to recommend it though, and I shall be looking out for the second book, Zombie Apocalypse Fightback.