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Zone One

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'Zone One' by Colson Whitehead is a literary zombie novel set in post-apocalyptic New York City. The book follows the protagonist, Mark Spitz, as he navigates the aftermath of a zombie pandemic and struggles with Post Apocalypse Stress Disorder (PASD). The narrative weaves in and out of flashbacks, exploring themes of isolation, family dynamics, and the rebuilding of society in a world overrun by zombies. The writing style is described as cerebral, with a focus on character development and introspection, rather than typical horror elements.

Characters:

Characters are largely defined by their psychological trauma and relationships, particularly the protagonist Mark Spitz, who embodies a sense of mediocrity and survival.

Writing/Prose:

The writing displays a literary quality with complex metaphors and a non-linear structure, emphasizing character introspection and societal commentary.

Plot/Storyline:

The narrative unfolds in a post-apocalyptic setting where survivors navigate the consequences of a devastating zombie outbreak, centering around a reclamation project in Manhattan.

Setting:

The setting is dystopian Lower Manhattan, portraying a world in ruins where survivors are engaged in rebuilding efforts amidst the remnants of civilization.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow and deliberately contemplative, requiring readers to engage deeply with the text.
He always wanted to live in New York. His Uncle Lloyd lived downtown on Lafayette, and in the long stretches between visits he daydreamed about living in his apartment. When his mother and father drag...

Notes:

Colson Whitehead is an acclaimed author known for merging literary fiction with genre elements, particularly in his novel Zone One.
Zone One is set in a post-apocalyptic New York City that has been overrun by zombies due to a fatal pandemic.
The narrative of Zone One unfolds over three days and primarily follows the character Mark Spitz, who is part of a civilian cleanup crew.
Zombies in the novel are categorized into two types: the dangerous 'skels' and the passive 'stragglers' who are stuck in repetitive actions from their former lives.
The book explores themes of survival, memory, trauma, and the struggle for normalcy in a shattered society.
Whitehead tackles issues of consumerism and corporate culture, humorously depicting how even disasters are marketed and branded.
The style of the book is rich in metaphor and complex prose, often requiring careful reading and reflection.
Zone One has been described as having a powerful emotional resonance with the current cultural and political climate, reflecting on societal decay and recovery.
Despite being a horror story, many reviewers noted that the focus is more on the psychological impact of the apocalypse rather than traditional horror tropes like gore or action.
The novel has garnered mixed reactions, with some praising its literary quality while others find it slow and meandering.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Triggers include graphic violence, descriptions of death, trauma, and a bleak portrayal of post-apocalyptic themes.

From The Publisher:

From the author of the Man Booker longlisted The Underground Railroad

A pandemic has devastated the planet, sorting humanity into two types: the uninfected and the infected, the living and the living dead. The worst of the plague is now past, and Manhattan is slowly being resettled. Armed forces have successfully reclaimed the island south of Canal Street - aka 'Zone One' and teams of civilian volunteers are clearing out the remaining infected 'stragglers'.

Mark Spitz is a member of one of these taskforces and over three surreal days he undertakes the mundane mission of malfunctioning zombie removal, the rigours of Post-Apocalyptic Stress Disorder, and attempting to come to terms with a fallen world.

But then things start to go terribly wrong…

Ratings (13)

Incredible (3)
Loved It (4)
Liked It (3)
It Was OK (2)
Did Not Like (1)

Reader Stats (47):

Read It (13)
Currently Reading (1)
Want To Read (26)
Did Not Finish (1)
Not Interested (6)

1 comment(s)

Loved It
2 months

Zone One is an odd little duck of a book. It's something of a love/hate story to Manhattan, but also a commentary (as the best zombie books always are) on the listlessness of 21st century life. Mark Spitz, not the real name of our main character (we never learn his real name) has survived the zombie plague long enough to take part in reconstruction efforts. The government-military complex has re-grouped in Buffalo, with a few large settlements of survivors throughout the northeast. One big initiative is Zone One, the clearing of lower Manhattan. Marines have killed the "feral" zombies, what we would call actually-shambling-after-you-with-intent-to-eat zombies, and only "stragglers" are left behind. The stragglers migrate to certain places in their lives and freeze there: at the deli counter, over the copy machine, in the church pew. Mark Spitz and his team of other civilians are tasked with killing the stragglers, body-bagging them, and bringing them back to the incinerators.

So many things about this book. Mark Spitz has a hilarious hatred of Connecticut for no reason we are privy to (I actually share this hatred - drive from Boston to New Jersey enough times and you will too). He believes he has survived this long because of his mediocrity - no matter how hard he tried, he never managed more or less than a B in school. He has always wanted to live in New York, where his uncle lived with a rotating cast of beautiful young girlfriends when Mark Spitz was a child.

The concentration on New York - if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. But at the same time, the rise of "good enough," of "I've done just enough to get by," and the idea of that particular trait as the key to survival in the New World. The book is dense and not as fast paced as most zombie novels, but it's worth getting through.

 

About the Author:

COLSON WHITEHEAD is the author of The Intuitionist, John Henry Days, Apex Hides the Hurt, Sag Harbor, Zone One and The Underground Railroad, as well as The Colossus of New York, a collection of essays. A recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award and a MacArthur Fellowship, he lives in New York City. www.colsonwhitehead.com @colsonwhitehead

 
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