1. is extremely hateful towards fat people -not the character's POVs, the writer and the actual writing of fat people If you disregard that this book:
1. is extremely hateful towards fat people -not the character's POVs, the writer and the actual writing of fat people is horrendus and constantly demeaning -all fat people are vile, even random airplane seatmates, (except the one that becomes thin later on of course) 2. is extremely fond of decribing intense physical violence against women with a gleeful attention to detail 3. is extremely fond of informing us as to the whereabouts of women's nipples at any given time - oh didn't you know girl's and women's nipples act like radars? sure, like penises do. if you get aroused, cold, frightened, excited, curious, or have a paranormal experience, and are female, your nipples will surely harden and you will note the fact. Of course. Ask any woman, she'll tell you it's true. 4. uses it's main female protagonist as a love interest and bond between the rest of the children - they can't be friends if they don't fancy her, they can't have strong bonds if they don't want to bone each other, nevermind they're 11 years old. she exists to be the love interest. 5. justifies the girl offering her body so others feel comforted and applauds it as the right thing to do. The applauding part is extremely important. A girl grown up in an abusive household, where she's learned that sacrificing her wants and her needs so she can take care of others is the only path a good girl can take, may very well act this way and be justified. Because that's what patriarchy always demands of women to do. But when the author applauds it as the correct thing to do, then we have a problem. 6. secretly brings in the idea of the divine and a godly force opposed to all evil.
Then it's an amazing book. It analyses small american town mentality and creates vivid environments and believable characters. It even manages to have great horror scenes that are both imaginative and iconic.
But I can't ignore my previous 6 points, that are very important to me, so I cannot in good conscience rate it anywhere above 3 stars. Those of you who have done so, maybe re-read it mindfully?...more
Since this is a collection of short stories I'll write my thoughts separately for each one.
1. Countdown (Pre-rising) How everything began. Normally, thiSince this is a collection of short stories I'll write my thoughts separately for each one.
1. Countdown (Pre-rising) How everything began. Normally, this would be the beginning of a zombie movie. We learn exactly how the virus was formed and spread. Interesting and exciting. I remember when I first read it I was annoyed with the olde trope of "damn hippies go and free the monkeys and everything turns to shit". I still am tired of it.
2.Everglades (Pre-rising) It was so short I barely remember it. It had memories of a grandpa and alligators. Not bad.
3.San Diego 2014 (Pre-rising) Good old geek fun. Is also good as a standalone story. Zombies at ComiCon, full with cosplay and shit. Yeah!
4.How Green This Land How Blue This Sea (Post-rising) Mahir goes to Australia and sees zombie kangaroos. Interesting ideas - Australian security is very different - which is nice since we (at least we as Europeans) always criticize american media's use of fear on their citizens. Nice to see Mira taking this approach.
5.The Day The Dead Came To Show And Tell (Post-rising) How cool is this title? Even if it's a lie, because it wasn't "show and tell" day. At first I was a bit annoyed with the emotional milking of the tragedy that is when kids die. The story is so fast paced though, and filled with excitement and agony, that I quickly forgot about it. Did not care for the protagonist before reading this, now I do.
6.Please Do Not Taunt the Octopus (Post-rising) Meh. Companion to the previous story. I enjoyed the action scenes but not much else. Very little octopus also.
7. All the Pretty Little Horses (Pre-Post-rising) A story exclusive to this volume. Where we learn all about the Masons. Grant wrote them as total monsters for the duration of the Newsflesh series, and now we get to learn why they became that way. Couldn't care less really. Got the chills however at the last chapter, when they decide to adopt.
8.Coming To You Live (Post-rising) Also a story exclusive to this volume. An epilogue of what happened to the protagonists. I did not need this. The whole feeling of the story was much darker than that of the books. Reminded me of novels like The Road, and movies like Winter's Bone. Alone in a wasteland, post-apocalypse type of thing. Could have done without. Wasn't bad though. ...more
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