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karoline98's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
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? Yes
3.0
It is clear that it was written in the 50s. But it is a unique story of vampires.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Alcoholism
Minor: Mental illness, Misogyny, and Racial slurs
norwegianforestreader's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Chronic illness, Confinement, Death, Gore, Gun violence, Mental illness, Suicide, Terminal illness, Violence, Blood, Police brutality, Grief, Cannibalism, Car accident, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Abandonment, Alcohol, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
bearystarry's review against another edition
challenging
dark
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
I didn't realize this was half I Am Legend and half short stories when I bought it. I Am Legend was way too bleak for me. Some of the short stories had really interesting premises but weak execution, or I would have liked to be expanded. My favourite part of the whole book was The Funeral; just a fun little monster story! I thought it was cute, tbh.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Ableism, Addiction, Alcoholism, Animal death, Body horror, Child death, Death, Genocide, Gun violence, Mental illness, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Racism, Sexism, Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Violence, Blood, Grief, Car accident, Murder, Cultural appropriation, Toxic friendship, Alcohol, Sexual harassment, Injury/Injury detail, and Pandemic/Epidemic
Moderate: Drug use, Sexual content, Torture, Antisemitism, Cannibalism, and Car accident
Minor: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Rape, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide attempt
sassmistress's review against another edition
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.
ruthypoo2's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
This story is a sharp character study of how one person struggles to survive a world in which they find themselves the only living human, surrounded by others who've succumbed to a virus or disease that's made them like vampires... staying indoors during the day, repelled by garlic and maybe crosses, and roaming the streets at night often in a state of frenzy having attacked and killed the living and continuously returning to the house where the story's main character, Rober Neville, lives. The story begins with Neville a few months into the vampire plague, having acclimated himself to a ritual dictated by the habits of the threatening vampires and designed to fortify his dwelling and safe enclosure.
The first half of the story puts the reader in the mindset of Neville, going through his daily activities to find sustenance, supplies, and maintain his home. In addition, he also goes out into the community finding the slumbering vampires to kill them and throw their bodies into a fire pit, which has been determined as the only way to ensure they cannot return walk the earth. For much of the first half of the book, Neville struggles with loneliness and carnal desire, and facing a gradual mental unraveling. The story does an excellent job of portraying the monotony of day-to-day life as Neville tries to stay sane and find a potential cure for the vampire plague. His time has some peaks but is mostly about how he adheres to a strict schedule in order to survive.
In the second half of the book, as time has progressed, emotions and actions increase when Neville encounters another human being and dares to imagine there could be a future less bleak than the life he's been living for a number of years. However, being a survivalist, Neville questions if the solitary existence he's come to accept is worth risking if he decides to take a chance on the possibility of human companionship.
The author, Richard Matheson, does a stellar job creating the turmoil and fractured mindset of someone who may be the last living human alive. Though it's very small, the world building in the story is stark and desperate and easy to imagine as the outcome after a plague will have decimated the earth's population of living creatures. Matheson conveys multiple layers to Neville's personality, which is understandably a little off kilter but still exudes a will to survive in spite of the struggles he experiences. The book has a really good story arc that's engrossing as and gives the reader someone to root for from beginning to end.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Robertson Dean, did a fantastic job embodying the mind and soul of Robert Neville. Mr. Dean was just the right voice for this character and managed to exactly characterize the various mental avenues Neville goes down in his valiant effort to stay alive and stay sane... one day at a time.
The first half of the story puts the reader in the mindset of Neville, going through his daily activities to find sustenance, supplies, and maintain his home. In addition, he also goes out into the community finding the slumbering vampires to kill them and throw their bodies into a fire pit, which has been determined as the only way to ensure they cannot return walk the earth. For much of the first half of the book, Neville struggles with loneliness and carnal desire, and facing a gradual mental unraveling. The story does an excellent job of portraying the monotony of day-to-day life as Neville tries to stay sane and find a potential cure for the vampire plague. His time has some peaks but is mostly about how he adheres to a strict schedule in order to survive.
In the second half of the book, as time has progressed, emotions and actions increase when Neville encounters another human being and dares to imagine there could be a future less bleak than the life he's been living for a number of years. However, being a survivalist, Neville questions if the solitary existence he's come to accept is worth risking if he decides to take a chance on the possibility of human companionship.
The author, Richard Matheson, does a stellar job creating the turmoil and fractured mindset of someone who may be the last living human alive. Though it's very small, the world building in the story is stark and desperate and easy to imagine as the outcome after a plague will have decimated the earth's population of living creatures. Matheson conveys multiple layers to Neville's personality, which is understandably a little off kilter but still exudes a will to survive in spite of the struggles he experiences. The book has a really good story arc that's engrossing as and gives the reader someone to root for from beginning to end.
I listened to the audiobook and the narrator, Robertson Dean, did a fantastic job embodying the mind and soul of Robert Neville. Mr. Dean was just the right voice for this character and managed to exactly characterize the various mental avenues Neville goes down in his valiant effort to stay alive and stay sane... one day at a time.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Chronic illness, Mental illness, and Violence
Minor: Animal death and Death
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: Alcoholism, Confinement, Mental illness, and Grief
Moderate: Self harm, Sexism, Suicide, and Vomit
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