Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion
Emily Bestler Books, 2011. 241 pages.
Romeo and Juliet’s love story get a paranormal makeover in this surprisingly poignant and funny zombie romance. Meet R, a brain-eating zombie with no memories, no identity, and no pulse. But he has thoughts. He dreams of a better life. He enjoys collecting things and listening to old records (mostly Frank Sinatra). And he hopes to one day find meaning to his otherwise lifeless existence.
Enter Julie. Julie is a living human being, and the most interesting person R has ever met. When R rescues Julie from a zombie attack, the two form a special friendship. Through this relationship, R becomes more human, leading the couple to believe that maybe there is a cure that can transform their lifeless world.
What really makes this story work is the inner dialogue of the endearingly adorable R. Often funny and witty, sometimes bordering on the existential, this is a perfect heart-warming romance for those that like a little gory side-action. If you enjoyed the 2013 John Malkovich movie of this story, the book will give you all the same happy and lovey feels, just in time for Valentine’s Day!
ALL
1 comment:
R has no memories of his life before he was a zombie. He can't even remember his name beyond the first initial. When on a hunting raid with a pack of other zombies, he sees a human girl named Julie and is compelled to keep her safe. As their bond grows, they sow the seeds of change in their hopeless world.
I am one of those people who saw the movie before reading the book, and I have to admit I felt the movie told a tighter story. But the book does have a little more insight into the characters' inner perceptions, so it can be worth your time if you're a fan. I listened to the audiobook and didn't appreciate that the narrator sounded decades older than the main character, but he did do a great zombie voice.
BHG
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