Helpful Score: 2
So being a fan of zombie books and movies I just couldn't pass up this book. It was a pretty darn good book and I really enjoyed it. It has some heart, a somewhat sweet love story, zombies dismembering people, and rotting body parts...all in all a pretty complete zombie experience.
Andy Warner wakes up in the funeral home just recently embalmed. He is one of the undead. He is not taking it very well; his wife died in the car accident that took his life and his daughter has been sent to live with relatives. His parents pick him up at the zombie pound and for months he is kept in their basement watching TV and drinking their expensive wine on the sly. That is until he goes to an Undead Anonymous meeting and meets Rita, a sexy suicide victim, and Jerry, a car crash victim that likes to let people touch his exposed brain. Rita especially helps Andy see the positive in his undead existence. When another zombie introduces the group to the joys of..err...venison, things start to change and full-out zombie mayhem ensues.
This was actually a very well done book. It is darkly humorous but touches on issues of racism (or is it species-ism?) and what it means to be alive. There are a number of human elements such as Andy dealing with the loss of his family, his parents' rejection of his condition, and society's cruelty to zombies. That's not to say that it's all serious. Browne doesn't shy away from pieces of brain flying out of noses, cigarettes being put out in empty eye sockets, or any of that gory goodness.
To those who think the book starts out a little tame (with Andy picketing for zombie rights), just hold on eventually the book gets to a point of total flame-throwing zombie mayhem. What fun it is when it does!
I really enjoyed this book. All zombie lovers should give it a go. I think this would be a great book for everyone to read (except for the younger age set) it really helps to brooch the topic of what would happen if zombies entered human society. Oddly enough the next book on my list to read is "Kiss of Life" the next book in the zombie series "Generation Dead" by Daniel Waters...so onto more zombie reads for me.
I will be watching out for future books by Browne, I liked his writing style and the way everything flowed in this book...definitely a writer to keep an eye in the future.
Andy Warner wakes up in the funeral home just recently embalmed. He is one of the undead. He is not taking it very well; his wife died in the car accident that took his life and his daughter has been sent to live with relatives. His parents pick him up at the zombie pound and for months he is kept in their basement watching TV and drinking their expensive wine on the sly. That is until he goes to an Undead Anonymous meeting and meets Rita, a sexy suicide victim, and Jerry, a car crash victim that likes to let people touch his exposed brain. Rita especially helps Andy see the positive in his undead existence. When another zombie introduces the group to the joys of..err...venison, things start to change and full-out zombie mayhem ensues.
This was actually a very well done book. It is darkly humorous but touches on issues of racism (or is it species-ism?) and what it means to be alive. There are a number of human elements such as Andy dealing with the loss of his family, his parents' rejection of his condition, and society's cruelty to zombies. That's not to say that it's all serious. Browne doesn't shy away from pieces of brain flying out of noses, cigarettes being put out in empty eye sockets, or any of that gory goodness.
To those who think the book starts out a little tame (with Andy picketing for zombie rights), just hold on eventually the book gets to a point of total flame-throwing zombie mayhem. What fun it is when it does!
I really enjoyed this book. All zombie lovers should give it a go. I think this would be a great book for everyone to read (except for the younger age set) it really helps to brooch the topic of what would happen if zombies entered human society. Oddly enough the next book on my list to read is "Kiss of Life" the next book in the zombie series "Generation Dead" by Daniel Waters...so onto more zombie reads for me.
I will be watching out for future books by Browne, I liked his writing style and the way everything flowed in this book...definitely a writer to keep an eye in the future.
Helpful Score: 1
Breathers is a crazy, romantic, satirical gem. Its an absolute smorgasbord of ingenius bits of everything from Kafka to Orwell to George Romero melded together into a fun, finely stitched tale.
Breathers follows the plight of Andy Warner, who one day had it all- a loving family, a happy home, a functioning circulatory system- and the next day was reduced to an ambulatory corpse living in his parent's basement with two missing limbs, no legal rights, no friends, and nothing to look forward to but his weekly Undead Anonymous meetings with other hapless zombies.
Andy and his undead pals try to re-piece together their lives (zombies are not recognized as human and are universally despised and discriminated against by the living) and their bodies (stealing limbs has become a popular method of hazing among frat boys). They struggle with the moral dilemma of devouring the brains of the people who treat them as second-class citizens and with the more mundane worry of how not to smell like a decomposing corpse (bathing in Pine-sol works wonders). And still, Andy manages to find time for romance with zombie-babe Rita.
Breathers: a Zombie's Lament is a subversive, sweet, funny take on life, death and the American Dream.
Breathers follows the plight of Andy Warner, who one day had it all- a loving family, a happy home, a functioning circulatory system- and the next day was reduced to an ambulatory corpse living in his parent's basement with two missing limbs, no legal rights, no friends, and nothing to look forward to but his weekly Undead Anonymous meetings with other hapless zombies.
Andy and his undead pals try to re-piece together their lives (zombies are not recognized as human and are universally despised and discriminated against by the living) and their bodies (stealing limbs has become a popular method of hazing among frat boys). They struggle with the moral dilemma of devouring the brains of the people who treat them as second-class citizens and with the more mundane worry of how not to smell like a decomposing corpse (bathing in Pine-sol works wonders). And still, Andy manages to find time for romance with zombie-babe Rita.
Breathers: a Zombie's Lament is a subversive, sweet, funny take on life, death and the American Dream.
Helpful Score: 1
This book is easy to read and even fun to read. The description are vivid but not graphic. So unless you are very easily squicked you shouldn't worry.
Andy Werner got into an accident with his wife and they both died. Unfortunately, Andy came back. Now he can't see his kid, in fact, he can't do anything at all. Zombies have no rights and will end up someplace horrible if they aren't very careful. So Andy attends therapy and a zombie support group to come to terms with his new life or unlife.
This book made me laugh and even stop to ask questions of my partner. I won't say what the questions were so I don't spoil (no pun intended) any of the plot. But following Andy through his undead adventures was a great ride.
Andy Werner got into an accident with his wife and they both died. Unfortunately, Andy came back. Now he can't see his kid, in fact, he can't do anything at all. Zombies have no rights and will end up someplace horrible if they aren't very careful. So Andy attends therapy and a zombie support group to come to terms with his new life or unlife.
This book made me laugh and even stop to ask questions of my partner. I won't say what the questions were so I don't spoil (no pun intended) any of the plot. But following Andy through his undead adventures was a great ride.
