mzdeb's review against another edition
4.0
When “Brains” begins, the zombie apocalypse is already underway. It even reaches the door of Jack Barnes, literally, and so when he’s bitten by a zombified neighbor who crashes through the living room window (Barnes is distracted while bickering with his wife), the transformation begins. An English professor at a small college in rural Missouri, Barnes fares better than his mindless cohorts in that he remains sentient, and so he begins to focus on the two goals in his life: find others like him, find Dr. Howard Stein, the creator of the zombie virus, and find brains to eat. (All right, THREE goals.) Barnes can write but can’t speak, hence the book we are now reading. His pop culture and literary references (including, of course, George Romero) keep coming rapid fire, even in his undead state, making this a wry and witty read. At 182 pages, I devoured this book (pardon the pun) in one day. If the squeamish can keep some of the more graphic and disturbing passages out of focus (as a parent, I try not to envision the passages of Barnes and his “super” zombies eating the occasional child), they can even find themselves smiling and feeling some empathy. I can’t wait to see what Becker comes up with next.
mirandahay's review against another edition
5.0
I read it all in less than 24 hours. I did have to read it for a class but I am glad I did. I really liked it. It makes you think about living dead and dead and alive. The ending made me sad a little but I liked how it ended. It was a happy and sad ending.
In the end, the crew of zombies became a family. They all had there roles. I was getting worried when the military got involved and started to bomb the city. I thought they were going to die then but they didn’t. I’m upset that their creator was an asshole. And that they killed guts and ros. And that Joan, the nurse, killed herself. Jack and Annie did find Isaac. It kinda left it open at the end.
In the end, the crew of zombies became a family. They all had there roles. I was getting worried when the military got involved and started to bomb the city. I thought they were going to die then but they didn’t. I’m upset that their creator was an asshole. And that they killed guts and ros. And that Joan, the nurse, killed herself. Jack and Annie did find Isaac. It kinda left it open at the end.
constant_reader's review against another edition
4.0
It was the grossest book I ever read but I like the premise of zombies with special talents. It was kind of like Walking Dead from the zombies point of view. Would be an enjoyable movie.
mirandahays's review against another edition
5.0
I read it all in less than 24 hours. I did have to read it for a class but I am glad I did. I really liked it. It makes you think about living dead and dead and alive. The ending made me sad a little but I liked how it ended. It was a happy and sad ending.
In the end, the crew of zombies became a family. They all had there roles. I was getting worried when the military got involved and started to bomb the city. I thought they were going to die then but they didn’t. I’m upset that their creator was an asshole. And that they killed guts and ros. And that Joan, the nurse, killed herself. Jack and Annie did find Isaac. It kinda left it open at the end.
In the end, the crew of zombies became a family. They all had there roles. I was getting worried when the military got involved and started to bomb the city. I thought they were going to die then but they didn’t. I’m upset that their creator was an asshole. And that they killed guts and ros. And that Joan, the nurse, killed herself. Jack and Annie did find Isaac. It kinda left it open at the end.
kit666's review against another edition
2.0
It started out fun and even funny at times, but the MC's God complex got quite annoying around half way. There was no character development whatsoever.
I still like the concept though
I still like the concept though
maekd's review against another edition
1.0
I started out kind of liking this book and gradually began to realize I hated it, so much so that I actually gave up on it when I was more than half way through. I don't mind a bit of snark or arrogance, I'm a sucker for pop culture references, and I'm even an English Lit enthusiast. But each line was packed so tightly with little remarks and puns and the type of self-deprecating humor that seems to be preempting the joke rather than joining in on it that I just started to feel exhausted. This book's not nearly as funny as it thinks it is.
I thought maybe after the initial chapters, once the plot got going, the desperate irony and sarcasm would give way to a less hollow story line, but it just never did. It's a shame.
I thought maybe after the initial chapters, once the plot got going, the desperate irony and sarcasm would give way to a less hollow story line, but it just never did. It's a shame.
debi246's review against another edition
4.0
It was a fun, silly, well-written, Sunday afternoon read. Loved it!
beledit's review against another edition
4.0
Great twist on the standard zombie story. I didn't want it to end. And well written too! I thoroughly enjoyed it.
fantasyfairy's review against another edition
Far too silly I don’t mind humour but this borders the realms of ridiculous.
chwaters's review against another edition
4.0
OK, so I'm friends with the author and that might bias this review a bit. But this book is so much fun! The Zombie Apocalypse has occurred, leaving the vast majority of the country in ruins (bloody, grisly ruins) and the remaining survivors are holed up with shotguns. Jack Barnes, former English professor, now sentient zombie wants to find a way for humans and zombies to live in peace. So, he does what any sentient zombie would do: gathers up other sentient zombies and seek out their creator. But it's not just the zombies that make this book fun, it's the brilliant skewering of pop-culture, academia and the zombie genre itself.