
In 'Warm Bodies' by Isaac Marion, readers are introduced to a unique twist on the typical zombie apocalypse narrative. The story follows R, a zombie who unexpectedly develops feelings and a sense of protectiveness towards a living girl named Julie after consuming her boyfriend's brain. This unconventional romance sets off a chain of events that challenge the boundaries between the Dead and the Living, exploring themes of humanity, love, and self-discovery. Through R's introspective narration and the engaging plot filled with humor and depth, the novel offers a fresh take on the zombie genre, blending elements of romance, comedy, and social commentary in a post-apocalyptic setting.
The writing style of 'Warm Bodies' is praised for its ability to humanize the zombies and delve into their inner thoughts and struggles. The narrative is described as engaging, light-hearted, and thought-provoking, offering a balance of humor, introspection, and action. With nods to classic stories like Romeo and Juliet, the book weaves a compelling tale of transformation, exploring what it means to be alive and the power of love to transcend boundaries even in the most unexpected circumstances.
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Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings
Content warnings include violence, some gore, discussions of death and decay, and strong language.
Has Romance?
Romance is a significant aspect of the story, primarily focused on the developing relationship between R and Julie.
From The Publisher:
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER, NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE
"Gruesome yet poetic…highly original." -The Seattle Times
"Dark and funny." -Wired
"A mesmerizing evolution of a classic contemporary myth." -Simon Pegg
"A strange and unexpected treat…elegantly written, touching, and fun." -Audrey Niffenegger, author of The Time Traveler's Wife
"Has there been a more sympathetic monster since Frankenstein's?" -Financial Times
In Warm Bodies, Isaac Marion's New York Times bestselling novel that inspired a major film, a zombie returns to humanity through an unlikely encounter with love.
"R" is having a no-life crisis-he is a zombie. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse, but he is a little different from his fellow Dead. He may occasionally eat people, but he'd rather be riding abandoned airport escalators, listening to Sinatra in the cozy 747 he calls home, or collecting souvenirs from the ruins of civilization.
And then he meets a girl.
First as his captive, then his reluctant house guest, Julie is a blast of living color in R's gray landscape, and something inside him begins to bloom. He doesn't want to eat this girl-although she looks delicious-he wants to protect her. But their unlikely bond will cause ripples they can't imagine, and their hopeless world won't change without a fight.
Ratings (27)
Incredible (8) | |
Loved It (11) | |
Liked It (3) | |
It Was OK (3) | |
Did Not Like (2) |
Reader Stats (51):
Read It (28) | |
Want To Read (18) | |
Did Not Finish (1) | |
Not Interested (4) |
4 comment(s)
There's one word I never thought I'd use to describe a zombie novel; poetic. But Isaac Marion has somehow managed to pack this novel so full of beautiful metaphors and waxing philosophical moments that by all rights it should come out as trite, pretentious, and unreadable. But it doesn't, its beautiful, hilarious, and heart-warming. Read it.
R is not your regular zombie. He thinks, he cares, he got married, and after eating a young man's brain he falls in love with a living girl. Julie is not sure what to make of the corpse that took her to his home. What happens when they get together?
I am going to start off by saying I HATE zombies. I would never have bought this book if I had not watched the movie first and even that was because I had no options. Yet somehow this story is not about zombies it's about change and life.
I love how Isaac Marion has introduced this world we live in if we had to look at it at the end. How he describes the most basic item as if we have never seen it before or looking at it for the first time in years and it's some new model. The whole narration is done from inside a mind that is trapped and unable to always convey what it wants.
This book is a refreshing read and one I almost can't wait to dive into again. I loved every moment and cannot recommend this book enough.
So....I think this is an existential zombie novel. Everyone puts the spotlight on the love story aspect, because who could love a rotting corpse? But for me, this isn't about the love story itself but the question of love in the post-apocalyptic world. Is love even important anymore when it becomes harder and harder to survive? As humanity huddles into sports stadiums for shelter, things like literature and art and music fall further into the rearview. But are those things important? More important than collecting shotgun shells that might save your life or the life of your child?
Marion also comes at the zombie myth as a way to break down different kinds of living. Clearly there is no longer a binary of living and dead; there is at least one more category, undead or zombie. I have never seen another zombie story that considers this facet of the myth. Most zombie novels/films/shows use the zombie plague as signifier of something in our society; this book uses the individual zombie experience as a signifier for something in individual human existence. In other words, I really liked it.
So why only three stars? Well, the love story. The mythology that emerges at the end of the novel felt sketchy to me, although I look forward to reading more about it in the sequel.
Also, I had to read the book before the movie came out. I have no idea how Nicholas Hoult is going to pull off R's dialogue but I can't wait to find out.
I will summarize so nobody else has to waste any more of their time or brain space reading this: Manic pixie dream girl named Juliet saves the world by looking pretty to a zombie named R(omeo) with no explanation whatsoever as to how anyone became zombies or why her cute pixie-ness manages to bring the dead back to life. The End.
About the Author:
Isaac Marion grew up in the mossy depths of the Pacific Northwest, where he worked as a heating installer, a security guard, and a visitation supervisor for foster children before publishing his debut novel in 2010. Warm Bodies became a #5 New York Times bestseller and inspired a major Hollywood film adaptation. It has been translated into twenty-five languages worldwide. Isaac lives in Seattle with his cat and a beloved cactus, writing fiction and music, and taking pictures of everything. Visit IsaacMarion.com for more on these endeavors.
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