I've wanted to read this for a while but this perfect review has turned that into wanting to read it NOW!

And finally, sounds like a heroine who isn't useless and self deprecating. There is still hope in the literary world, perhaps!

Arielle, I'd love to hear what you think about the book. My reaction was... complicated, so I sat on this review a while. It is free of the usual young-adult angst. I admire Temple; she's self-reliant and open without being arrogant.

I never took this as a YA book. If it was I picked it up without realizing it was. But I did like Temple, even if I felt that her voice was older than it perhaps should have been. (admittedly, it's been a long time time sincI have been that age, and I have never lived through a zombie apocalypse).

I did find the prose beautiful. The homage to Cormac McCarthy, though, irritated me by its conspicuousness, but because of that I may have overlooked Bell's own Boise and message. At any rate, your review has given me pause to think about my own assessment of the book. While I liked it at the time, I am finding that the memory of the book is residing in my mind longer than most, indicating that it perhaps has had a much more significant impact on me than I previously thought. (BTW, forgive typos, pls...."typing" on an iPad..)

Bah! I meant "Bell's own voice," not "Boise." My finger's are too clumsy to type on an iPad....

Ha, Krycek, no problems on the typing.

I haven't read Cormac McCarthy because from what I've heard, it sounds too bleak for me. (and I might well have started reading it, pre-GR--I can't remember).

I found something in this book resided longer than it should as well. As a zombie-book fan, I pinned it on the overall mood and idea of the world as no worse, no better, but that's quite not it, either. Something about it seems folksy-classical. I welcome any more thoughts and discussion on it.

Certainly my familiarity with McCarthy probably had an influence in my opinion. I did read an interview with Bell once where he said that McCarthy was a big influence, so I appreciated that the similarity in style was more a nod to rather than a rip off. I mighty venture to say that Bell's thematic view as well is in line with McCarthy's bleakness (but he's not always so bleak-- and neither is Bell, I think)...

Sorry, this has just got me thinking! So I am rambling a bit. I believe there is going to to be a sequel to Reapers ( maybe its out already-- I don't keep up with things). I'm going to check it out and maybe re-read Reapers. I liked it overall, but something about it haunts me even now.... ( maybe it's just the title--- which is probably one of the best titles I can remember...)

Ramble away. I wasn't aware it was a big influence. I didn't think of this book as 'bleak,' which is why it stood out. There is indeed a sequel. I have not looked for it yet.

Yah, you're right, I may have misspoke when I said "bleak" because it isn't really, despite the milieu. It's not really what I meant, but I'm usually less articulate than I should be. I need to work on that.

Here is the interview (or conversation, rather) in which Bell speaks on his narrative style, if you care to check it out. I found it an interesting read.

Thanks, Krycek. That is an extremely interesting interview! I'm kind of proud I was able to pick up on the Faulkner--I stopped reading him after high school.

Best quote ever:
"And the zombies? To me, they’re like cilantro – if I can figure out a way to add them into the mix, I’ll do it."

Carol wrote: "Arielle, I'd love to hear what you think about the book. My reaction was... complicated, so I sat on this review a while. It is free of the usual young-adult angst. I admire Temple; she's self-reli..."

Books that make you think deeply enough that a response is hard to articulate are usually the most worth it! This is all just making me wait so so impatiently for it to be sent to my library where it can then be mine (for while)