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thingsronireads's review against another edition
5.0
I dug it, different than any other zombie book. (In a good way!)
jojoreads89's review against another edition
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? No
2.5
The very last chapter gives it potential to get better but over 70% of the book seemed more like a book about racism than about zombies.
jennc's review
4.0
This book surprised me. A large part of it was way more a social commentary than a horror book. Interesting and horrifying.
mehsi's review
5.0
Wow, just wow. The book was amazing.
It all starts with zombies attacking a small village in Ireland. Very gruesome things happen (and it doesn't help if you are already sick) and then we switch to another city, Londen.
On the news and internet there is all kinds of news about zombies attacking, soldiers fighting them off and more. No one believes it, and I can't blame them. With the technology these days you can do a lot.
B (we will find their name out later in the book) just continues their live. Not that it is a fun life for a lot of the time. Having a dad who is often drunk, is a racist/fascist and who beats his child and his wife. School is no fun. Luckily B has good friends, a nice tight group with nicknames fitting to them.
For the most of the book there are no zombies. Only mentioned occasionally when the group is viewing some youtube clip, or when it is mentioned on the news or internet.
Most of the book is about B and how they react to their dad. B feels pressured, loves dad but yet also hates him for the views he has, the beatings and the way he pushes his views on B.
B makes mistakes, fights and argues with people who are of a different colour. I still think B is a good kid, even when they make mistakes you can see clearly they don't want it, they are struggling.
Then at about page 100 we get zombies entering the school. Chaos spreading. Truly Darren Shan does his best again, the details of how people turned to zombie or how they got eaten (and the pictures don't really help) made me even sicker then I was. I almost felt like I was there.
My biggest shock came when the remaining group found 2 gunmen, B's dad and someone else. I always thought B was a guy, but actually B is a girl. But the way she reacted, the way she acted and other things clearly let me think she was a guy. I can't find any other hints about B being a girl. But at the end of the book, B's dad says people should move because it is his daughter. B actual name is Becky.
I was kinda sad that B died (and such gruesome way to go).
I recommend this book to everyone who can handle gore and who are fans of Darren Shan, you won't be disappointed. It is a great book and I can't wait until the second book comes out.
It all starts with zombies attacking a small village in Ireland. Very gruesome things happen (and it doesn't help if you are already sick) and then we switch to another city, Londen.
On the news and internet there is all kinds of news about zombies attacking, soldiers fighting them off and more. No one believes it, and I can't blame them. With the technology these days you can do a lot.
B (we will find their name out later in the book) just continues their live. Not that it is a fun life for a lot of the time. Having a dad who is often drunk, is a racist/fascist and who beats his child and his wife. School is no fun. Luckily B has good friends, a nice tight group with nicknames fitting to them.
For the most of the book there are no zombies. Only mentioned occasionally when the group is viewing some youtube clip, or when it is mentioned on the news or internet.
Most of the book is about B and how they react to their dad. B feels pressured, loves dad but yet also hates him for the views he has, the beatings and the way he pushes his views on B.
B makes mistakes, fights and argues with people who are of a different colour. I still think B is a good kid, even when they make mistakes you can see clearly they don't want it, they are struggling.
Then at about page 100 we get zombies entering the school. Chaos spreading. Truly Darren Shan does his best again, the details of how people turned to zombie or how they got eaten (and the pictures don't really help) made me even sicker then I was. I almost felt like I was there.
Spoiler
We find out that the hooded mutants(?) who B encountered earlier are planning this, with a whistle they control the hordes of zombies. They locked up the school so that no one can ever leave.My biggest shock came when the remaining group found 2 gunmen, B's dad and someone else. I always thought B was a guy, but actually B is a girl. But the way she reacted, the way she acted and other things clearly let me think she was a guy. I can't find any other hints about B being a girl. But at the end of the book, B's dad says people should move because it is his daughter. B actual name is Becky.
I was kinda sad that B died (and such gruesome way to go).
I recommend this book to everyone who can handle gore and who are fans of Darren Shan, you won't be disappointed. It is a great book and I can't wait until the second book comes out.
sharonsm_28's review
2.0
I am kind of disappointed in the way the book turned. I had such expectations for the book because the description sounded interesting. However, it was not for me. The characters were lacking for me.
The writing style was lacking as well. Also, it was confusing and boring. It is the kind of story that does not retain someone's attention. Overall, a dull and boring read.
The writing style was lacking as well. Also, it was confusing and boring. It is the kind of story that does not retain someone's attention. Overall, a dull and boring read.
shubba_the_emo_reader's review against another edition
2.0
2/5.
And that's me being generous. The main character.....is just a horrible person with no redeeming qualities at all. The plot.....was so slow and god damn boring and the big "twist";? wasn't a twist at all. It was easy to figure out. The only reason it gets 2stars is because the last 30odd pages are actually not too bad. But doubt I'll read any more of the books. Unless I come across them super cheap. Or free. Lol.
To read my real review: http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/book-review-zom-b-zom-b-1-by-darren-shan.html
And that's me being generous. The main character.....is just a horrible person with no redeeming qualities at all. The plot.....was so slow and god damn boring and the big "twist";? wasn't a twist at all. It was easy to figure out. The only reason it gets 2stars is because the last 30odd pages are actually not too bad. But doubt I'll read any more of the books. Unless I come across them super cheap. Or free. Lol.
To read my real review: http://totally-bookalicious.blogspot.co.uk/2013/04/book-review-zom-b-zom-b-1-by-darren-shan.html
rosemwood's review against another edition
challenging
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.0
Let's start with what I liked. The possibilities. The plot and the gory discreptions. This is a quick, easy read with gruesome details befitting a zombie story. Ok, what made this only a 2 star read. The author tried to tackle racism and it backfired so bad. The main character is a bully, just like their father, who is the biggest racist white supremacist bully. For this to be the first book in a series with that type of issue in the readers face. It doesn't matter how well the story is. This one issue took it all away. No way would I recommend this story to a young adult. The best part of the story was the preface.
cornmaven's review against another edition
4.0
Darren Shan tackles zombies along with the current event issue of immigration, especially the tensions that exist in Britain. His depictions of zombies and their attacks are pretty gruesome, very graphic. These zombies are a little weirder than most, have characteristics you won't find in the usual zombie novel, with good reason. Their apocalypse has been unleashed by an unknown group.
I thought that Shan did a decent job of portraying the conflicting emotions of B, her desire for her father's approval and love in spite of his abuse and his clear and overt racism. She toggles back and forth in that world even though she doesn't really believe and feel as he does. Shan takes up most of the novel setting the stage for her decision at the end, which of course sets up novel #2.
Fans of Shan's earlier vampire series will like this. There are even some very creepy B/W illustrations sprinkled throughout that serve to heighten the drama and hook the reader on the mystery figures surrounding the zombies. Some attention must be paid to the Britishisms; while most will be understandable, some are not. But it doesn't detract too much from the story.
I thought that Shan did a decent job of portraying the conflicting emotions of B, her desire for her father's approval and love in spite of his abuse and his clear and overt racism. She toggles back and forth in that world even though she doesn't really believe and feel as he does. Shan takes up most of the novel setting the stage for her decision at the end, which of course sets up novel #2.
Fans of Shan's earlier vampire series will like this. There are even some very creepy B/W illustrations sprinkled throughout that serve to heighten the drama and hook the reader on the mystery figures surrounding the zombies. Some attention must be paid to the Britishisms; while most will be understandable, some are not. But it doesn't detract too much from the story.