Books so good they could raise the dead
Ever since I was little, I have been infatuated by zombies. I am fascinated by the concept of survival in a post apocalyptic world filled with the undead. Zombies provide the perfect stage for moral dilemmas, innovation, science and how people react to fear. I love all things zombie and I love reading, so of course zombie novels are a favorite of mine. Since coming to college, zombie novels have been my escape from the stressors of school. They have given me a fun way of relaxing without constantly staring at a screen. If you enjoyed The Walking Dead, The Last of Us, Train to Busan or if you just want to try a new de-stressor, here are my five favorite zombie novels in order.
1. The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Once I picked up The Girl with All the Gifts, I couldn’t put it down. It is told from the perspective of a young girl named Melanie who is kept in a prison cell until she is brought to a classroom to be taught by her favorite teacher Miss Justineau around 20 years after a zombie outbreak. I love this book because of how unique it is. Even in a genre like the zombie apocalypse that has been imagined in so many different ways, it still feels completely original. It is my favorite zombie novel because Carey does such an interesting job of exploring the science behind the apocalypse, while incorporating fascinating moral dilemmas. The characters and their relationships are extremely compelling and I did not see the ending coming at all. It was also made into a movie, which I am extremely excited to watch.
2. Dread Nation by Justina Ireland
Dread Nation is one of my all-time favorite comfort books. It is written for a young adult audience, but I still find myself rereading it. Dread Nation imagines a world where the dead rise after the battle of Gettysburg. It follows the story of a young black girl named Jane who is training to be an Attendant at a finishing school mixed with combat training academy. Dread Nation incorporates America’s deep history of racism and oppression through its discussion of colorism, the Black Attendants’ role as body guards for White women and sending Native American children to boarding schools to be “educated.” I love the main character so much and she comes across as likeable and funny. I also really loved the portrayal of a powerful female friendship and the excellent character development. Aside from just being well written overall, the actual plot of the book is fantastic and the book is fast paced.
3. World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War by Max Brooks
World War Z imagines a modern world decimated by a global zombie pandemic. There was also a movie released with the same title, but they follow very different plots. It is structured as a collection of first hand accounts of different people across the world as the virus is introduced and then spreads. Brooks introduces us to soldiers, doctors, parents and children all trying to navigate and survive in a zombie-infested world. By following so many different people, World War Z provides many different dimensions to a zombie outbreak that the classic single narrative typically doesn’t. World War Z is extremely well written and a very creative take on the classic zombie novel. The structure of the book as a “historical” collection of testimonies and documents sucked me in and kept me invested throughout the whole book.
4. Survivor Song by Paul Tremblay
Survivor Song follows the journey of a doctor and an infected pregnant woman trying to save her baby. It is set in Massachusetts right after it is hit by a rabies-like virus that affects both animals and humans. Survivor Song focuses on the immediate aftermath of a zombie apocalypse and the beginning of a societal breakdown. It takes place over a very short period of time, which is somewhat unique to the zombie novel genre, but incorporates a lot of key elements including how fear, panic and misinformation can create very dangerous people. It follows a predictable storyline, but the relationships between the characters are extremely compelling.
5. Feed by Mira Grant
Feed by Mira Grant focuses on the world of news and information decades after an initial zombie outbreak. Feed follows two sibling bloggers who have been invited to report on the presidential campaign, but find themselves involved in a dangerous conspiracy. My favorite part of this contribution to zombie literature is its focus on the disease itself. Mira Grant does an excellent job of diving into every detail involving the outbreak and the rebuilding of society after. I also found her imagining of a world where news is reported on by bloggers to be interesting, especially given the changing landscape of news through social media. Despite all of this, the mystery surrounding the conspiracy is easily predictable and the dialogue was a bit cheesy. Overall, a very interesting premise, but the book as a whole slightly missed the mark.
Next time you need a break, put down your phone and sink your teeth into one of these!