Burnt Tongues - Chuck Palahniuk

I rated this book 8/10
First published in July 2014

Burnt Tongues is a collection of transgressive stories selected by a rigorous nomination and vetting process and hand-selected by Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club, as the best of The Cult workshop, his official fan website.

These stories run the gamut from horrific and fantastic to humorous and touching, but each leaves a lasting impression.

Some may say even a scar.

Quick, sick and addictive tales...

A collection of twisted short stories, collated and edited by Chuck Palahniuk. As expected, anything that Palahniuk puts his name to is going to be dark, disturbing and should be approached with caution!

This book is nowhere near as disgusting as 'Haunted' by the man himself, but the stories all have the ability to make you recoil in horror. At one point (somewhere near the middle) I had to put the book down for a few hours and collect myself (I think it involved a chicken satay stick...). There were one or two more tame additions that allowed time to breathe - and one story near the end I skipped altogether because it just wasn't interesting. The last tale is as good as the first, and will definitely leave a lasting impression!

Chuck Palahniuk's introduction was very interesting, in particular the quote "Young people want mirrors. Older people want art." The more I think about his comments on reading and re-reading, and growing to love the impression of a book that you didn't enjoy when you actually read it; the more I believe his comments to be true.

If you like the bizarre fiction that Palahniuk throws at us, then you're going to like the short works that he's pulled together for us here too.

Available at Waterstones

The Girl with all the Gifts - M. R. Carey

I rated this book 10/10

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh.

'The Girl with all the Gifts' is a zombie novel with a big twist, and the stereotypes that are assumed from the phrase 'Zombie Novel' should be overlooked in this instance. It's not your usual 'shopping centre siege' type of horror, and it doesn't really try to be.

This is more haunting and emotional, as it centres around children in particular. Set 20 years after the end of the world, Melanie is the young girl at the heart of this book, and her character is a strong one. The relationship between her and her teacher is disconcerting and eerie - the whole story has a strange feel to it that grips the reader all the same.

I would love to see the screenplay of this in the future. I think that Carey will do a great job of bringing his characters to life.

Chaos - John O'Brien

I rated this 1/10

This hard-hitting, action-packed series begins with Jack Walker being suddenly thrust into a world where the infrastructure which cherished Armani suits, night clubs, fast and expensive cars and watching the daily stock market are gone. Left in its place is the material world mankind built but a majority of the population has vanished; replaced by a new, savage, unrelenting, cunning, animalistic species which hunts and operates at night.

Read from my iPhone.

I was mostly attracted to the jacket of this book, it's high impact; really well presented and gave me the urge to buy. I had mega expectations because I love apocalyptic adventures!

The first thing that struck me upon reading, was the fact that the narrative was jarring - first person present tense "I do this, I say that" just doesn't lend itself to writing unless it is really special, and this just wasn't. There were so many uncomfortable elements to the writing style that I just couldn't finish it.

O'Brien had the tendency to over explain everything... (ie: "Windows staring emptily" instead of "Empty Windows") This made it difficult not to skip through prose at times, but I really didn't want to read a full page on a door being opened. Sometimes when the narrator is thinking to himself, O'Brien adds it in as part of his usual narrative, and other times he uses italics instead. Again, this jarred the text and made me aware of his writing style.

It seems to me an inconceivable coincidence that everyone except the protagonist's family and his son's girlfriend have vanished or turned into zombies. And even the zombies are extremely sparse. The characters are robotic and lacking in personality. The narrator's children are perfect and agree with everything he says...

"Don't you want me to come with you and cover you?" Robert asks.
"No, just stay here. You have my back," I answer.
"Okay, Dad."

On top of this, there is a lengthy cut away flashback to the main character flying a military aircraft and I have absolutely no idea what it was there to achieve!

I'm sorry to say that I only managed to read 20% of this book (or 50 pages), but I'm not one to put a book down easily and I do usually try to make it to 100 pages at least. I tried but just couldn't do it here. I loved the idea of the story, but I think it could have been executed better.

Ex-Heroes - Peter Clines

I rated this 1/10

The first in a spectacularly genre-mashing adventure series that pits a small group of courageous, flawed, terrified superheroes against hordes of undead.

(Reading copy very kindly sent to me on request by Mike from Random House) 

I couldn't finish this book I'm afraid (I seem to be getting better at putting books aside if they're not doing it for me). After expecting something really spectacular, I was very disappointed with it and just couldn't carry on.

My main gripe was with the characters. There wasn't a single protagonist that felt well-rounded to me, maybe because there were so many to describe, and all of the female characters seemed over-sexualised or cliched. The bad guys were also one dimensional, and I just couldn't connect, sympathise or feel any kind of emotion towards anyone. I think that if Clines had reduced the amount of characters down to a smaller group in the first instance and spent a little more time allowing me to get to know them, I might have felt a bit more of a connection.

The final factor in my decision to put the story down was that I didn't like Clines' writing style, to me it lacked personality and flavour. The plot felt flat and I couldn't see it going anywhere exciting.

I'm sure that others might have had a better reading experience of this one, but although I really loved the concept of superheroes and zombies - there was nothing here that got me hooked!

I think the cover art of this book is ace by the way, it instantly caught my eye and made me want to read.

Flu - Wayne Simmons

Date Finished: 3rd December 2011

There's a nasty flu going round. An epidemic, they call it. The posters say to cover your mouth when you sneeze, and throw away the tissue.

But such simple measures won't help.

Because when you catch this flu, armed police come and lock you in your house to die alone.

When you catch this flu, it kills you in days.

And two hours after it's killed you, your eyelids snap open again...

My Thoughts: I really did like this. It kept me on edge in the way that a good horror film would, and was well written - enough blood and suspense to keep me happy. The pages turned quickly and I was gutted when I misplaced the book for a few days right in the middle of reading!

The story is less about the flu virus (you don't get to find out any of the scientific details surrounding how it started) and more about survival - which was a major plus for me as I love survival tales.

There seemed to be a few things brushed over, and the odd bit that felt misplaced; but nothing that put me off reading at all.

I did have one major hang up with it. The female characters in this novel seemed so cliche. Neither of them initially knew how to work a gun (on the other hand, every male character instinctfully picks up a weapon and is a brilliant shot). They fall flat (and often fall over at the most inappropriate of times) and rely on the men to look out for them or to teach them how to look out for themselves.

I'm not usually one to go off on a rant about people portraying the stereotypical woman, as normally I wouldn't even notice. But this one had me a bit irritated because it was so blindingly obvious, otherwise it would have definitely been very high on my list of favourite apocalyptic thrillers.

All in all a great read! Just ignore the fact that the ladies are a bit of a nightmare situation.

I RATED IT 6/10

Feed - Mira Grant

Date Read: August 2011

In 2014, two experimental viruses—a genetically engineered flu strain designed by Dr. Alexander Kellis, intended to act as a cure for the common cold, and a cancer-killing strain of Marburg, known as "Marburg Amberlee"—escaped the lab and combined to form a single airborne pathogen that swept around the world in a matter of days. It cured cancer. It stopped a thousand cold and flu viruses in their tracks. It raised the dead...

My Thoughts: This book was not worth ploughing through and unfortunately I gave up after 190 pages. Too much political tedium and information on teenagers blogging for me. There wasn't much action at all and I didn't care for any of the characters. It's a real shame because the front cover is pretty awesome and the blurb read pretty well.

I RATED THIS 1/10

Outpost - Adam Baker

Date Read: February 2011

Kasker Rampart: a derelict refinery platform moored in the Arctic Ocean. A skeleton crew of fifteen fight boredom and despair as they wait for a relief ship to take them home. But the world beyond their frozen wasteland has gone to hell. Cities lie ravaged by a global pandemic. One by one TV channels die, replaced by silent wavebands. The Rampart crew are marooned. They must survive the long Arctic winter, then make their way home alone. They battle starvation and hypothermia, unaware that the deadly contagion that has devastated the world is heading their way...

My Thoughts: I read this as a proof read and I loved it! The main character is honestly told, she has her flaws but is a very strong character in a way that I haven't really happened across before. It's atmospheric and chilling, you really get a feel for the icy, metallic conditions that the book is set right in the middle of.

Sometimes this thriller had me thinking about what it would look like on the big screen or in a video game. Really gritty and edgy stuff - a fantastic debut. I can't wait to read more from Baker.

I RATED THIS 10/10

Patient Zero - Jonathan Maberry

Date Read: April 2010

When you have to kill the same terrorist twice in one week there's either something wrong with your world or something wrong with your skills...

My Thoughts: Once the introduction to Joe Ledger was over and done with, this book just captivated me. I love tough hard guy action heroes and zombies - and this didn't go easy on either of them!

The characters are ace and the action doesn't let you rest at any point, with a unique spin on viral terrorism - this was great. A real race of a read and the perfect book for me to get my kicks from. I'm worried about reading the sequel in case it doesn't meet up to the standards of the first.

I RATED THIS 10/10

Pride and Pejudice and Zombies - Seth Grahame Smith + Jane Austen

Date Read: January 2009

“It is a truth universally acknowledged that a zombie in possession of brains must be in want of more brains.”

So begins Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, an expanded edition of the beloved Jane Austen novel featuring all-new scenes of bone-crunching zombie mayhem. As our story opens, a mysterious plague has fallen upon the quiet English village of Meryton—and the dead are returning to life!

My Thoughts: This book, after reading the first few pages, seemed to me to be a little flat. The idea of zombies appeared as merely a side-story, an afterthought. I have never read the original Pride and Prejudice, but you could put the words 'And Zombies' at the end of any book title and I'd pick it up.

My first impressions, in hindsight, took a huge smack in the face as I became drawn into the plot, the tongue-in-cheek humour and occasional innuendo that laced the story. Along with the odd bit of violence and diversion from reality, the characters are well written and very likeable. Elizabeth appears as a ninjaesque heroine alongside her zombieslaying sisters. This novel really did not put a foot wrong and merged the idea of a classic tale with a twist almost seamlessly. PPZ has everything you're going to need - comedy, action, romance and ZOMBIES!!!!

P.S: Although I am not one to be drawn into tale of romance usually, I definitely want my own Mr Darcy.

Recommendation: If you are willing to read something that needs a little more concentration and attention than some other books, love zombies, or haven't read Pride and Prejudice yet - you might be pleasently surprised.

I RATED THIS 10/10

Zero Hour - S. D. Perry

Date Read: January 2004

Sent to investigate a series of grisly murders in Raccoon City, S.T.A.R.S. Bravo Team scrambles into action. On the way to the scene, Bravo's helicopter crashes. Although everyone survives, what they discover next is gruesome: an overturned military transport truck riddled with corpses -- and that's only the beginning of their nightmare. Bravo Team is about to discover the evil that is growing all around them, and rookie member Rebecca Chambers is beginning to wonder what she's gotten herself into.

My Thoughts: It goes without saying that anyone who loves the Resident Evil games will get more out of this than those who don't. The book is easy-read and puts all of the cheesy charm from the game onto paper, laced with puzzles that Rebecca and Billy seem to solve all too easily. They know exactly what to do straight away, hardly any questions asked. If (like me) you find yourself going round in circles trying to complete some of the games, you will wonder where they managed to draw all of this magic intuition from.

The characters in RE are so well known, and on paper they just seemed to fall flat. The scenery is also not well described (although if you've played the games, this won't be much of a problem).One thing that brought me round a little towards this book is that the action is constant, and you are never bored with it.Not too bad, but could have been so much better!
I RATED IT 4/10

World War Z - Max Brooks

Date Read: Unknown

The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors from those apocalyptic years, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years.

My Thoughts: I love Max Brooks' ability to slip effortlessly into the minds of different characters in different situations with different narrative styles. An addictive and easy-to-read thriller that definitely deserves it's place on the big screen. Let's just hope that this is one of those rare occasions in which the film does the book justice.

I RATED THIS 10/10