Lindsey C. (abaisse) reviewed on 10/13/2012 + 21 more book reviews

The title says it all: this is an ORAL history of the zombie war. The book is composed of many short "chapters," each of which is supposed to be a direct transcription of a recorded interview with a survivor. There are two problems with this format. First, it makes the book somewhat difficult to follow. The interviews tell a story that is essentially in chronological order, but they jump from Canada to China to India to Cuba, from a battle to a government meeting to a group of survivors camped in the woods. Add to this the fact that most of them are very short - only a few pages - and it's very easy to get lost when you put the book down for awhile.

Second, while the prose is excellent, it is exactly that - prose. We do not speak in the same way that we write, and these interviews do not read like someone talking, they read like someone writing. If you read them aloud, they do not sound like natural conversation, which is what they are supposed to be. As I read the book, I tried to imagine myself giving the interview and listening as the interviewee spoke, but Brooks's prose kept getting in the way.

Overall, the story was exciting, interesting, and engaging, and clearly Brooks did a great deal of research to make it as accurate and believable as possible. The format is unique - you must give him credit for that - but I can't help but think that I would have enjoyed the book more if it had been written as a straight novel.

Back to all reviews by this member
Back to all reviews of this book
Back to Book Reviews
Back to Book Details