Puntabulous

World War Z – Review

I finished World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War the other day and I can’t recommend it enough! It was such a well written, unique book that really kept things interesting through and through. It’s a book told in interviews by people who survived a world-wide zombie epidemic. From the doctor who treated “Patient Zero”, to the computer geek who had to get out from behind his computer to escape the city, to the dog trainers who trained the dogs to hunt zombies down, to the astronauts who were stranded on the International Space Station while chaos was breaking out on the world below, no facet of how the world would truly have to face a zombie epidemic was left untouched, and the book was that much richer of an experience for it. My one complaint would be that the ending lacked a certain edge (you don’t know how hard it was for me not to make a zombie pun and say “bite”) because you already know the storytellers all survived, so the climaxes aren’t as tense as you would expect. But that’s just a minor quibble, and it just enforces the fact that this isn’t your standard adventure book, but a chronicle of the human spirit.

But now I wanted to read something really light, so I picked up Diary of a Wimpy Kid, which is a young adult novel told in a journal format with lots of fun cartoons.

I’ve turned into a crazy person on the train who laughs out loud, but I can’t help it. This book is loads of fun and completely hysterical because it’s all just so dang true. It was a New York Times bestseller even! Which of course means it has led to a few sequels. I suspect I’ll be done by the end of the week, and will need to resist the urge never to read a big person book ever again.

BOOKS, REVIEWS | Craig | January 27, 2009 5:19 am

22 Comments

By Dave S., January 27, 2009 @ 6:39 am

Excellent!! I’ve heard some good things about this book and now I’ll definitely run out and pick it up. I love love love Zombie stuff, so this is right up my alley.

And since your review of “Hero” was dead-on (excellent book, btw), I’ll definitely pay attention to this one!

But reliving my days as a wimpy kid? Yeesh… I’ll have to think about that one…
By Dave S., January 27, 2009 @ 6:43 am

Ugh — not to get off-topic — we’re having that midwest snowstorm here in Ohio now too. Cold as a Zombie’s tit. (see! segue back into the topic!) Or maybe — Cold as the reception of a geek going stag to the prom… (ooo, double seque!)
By Tam, January 27, 2009 @ 6:51 am

Well, I’m not really a zombie kind of girl but the second one sounds fun. I’ve laughed out loud on airplanes, a tad embarrassing but I figure I’ll never see them again anyway.
By Craig, January 27, 2009 @ 7:08 am

Dave S: Don’t “run out and pick it up”! Click the links I give you and order on Amazon so I get a referral fee!
By Hayden, January 27, 2009 @ 7:19 am

Love the book reviews Craig, keep them coming…
By Dave S., January 27, 2009 @ 8:00 am

Craig: That’s good to know!
By Ryan, January 27, 2009 @ 8:57 am

Thanks for the recommendation. I’ve turned in to a hardcore reader lately and it’s always good to have a book suggested to me that I would otherwise probably never pick up.
By Craig, January 27, 2009 @ 9:15 am

Ryan: Glad I could help!
By Jonah, January 27, 2009 @ 9:43 am

Craig, why not just review everything that goes on in your life? today for example could probably go like this:
shampoo and soap review
english muffin and orange juice review
radio station review
blogsite review
Review of dave s comments
on and on…all Craig, all the time…
By Hayden, January 27, 2009 @ 9:45 am

Jonah: Does the sun ever shine in your world? Why is your glass always half empty? I prefer to live my life with my glass half full (of alcohol, of course)…
By Meg, January 27, 2009 @ 9:46 am

Craig! I just finished World War Z as well, and liked it quite a bit. Did you know the author is Mel Brooks’s son?
By Nicole, January 27, 2009 @ 9:49 am

I’m so scared of Zombies!!! But I’ll have to recommend this book to my brother, he loves Zombies
By Craig, January 27, 2009 @ 9:52 am

Jonah: “Read Jonah’s comment. Chuckled slightly, then drank some more.” How was that for a review?

Meg: I didn’t know that. That’s really funny and unexpected! Glad you liked it too!
By Jonah, January 27, 2009 @ 9:56 am

Hayden: Stop kissing Craig’s ass, there is a long line and Polt won’t leave it.
Craig: thanks for the shout-out!
Zombie Update: Michael Jackson’s Thriller video is coming to Broadway
By polt, January 27, 2009 @ 10:03 am

Jonah: Um, actually I’ve moved on from Criagger’s ass to more….pleasant surroundings…around front. And yes, THAT I won’t leave.

I’ll check this book out as well. Sounds right up my alley.

HUGS….
By Dave S., January 27, 2009 @ 10:29 am

Jonah’s Comment Review: Well, it didn’t really deliver compared to it’s self-hype. Granted, I was hoping to be entertained, but wasn’t really expecting it. Though the writing was creative, the content was minimal and fell a bit flat.
By Rob, January 27, 2009 @ 10:39 am

This is definitely on my top ten! It’s a great book and such and outstanding literary work.
By Enrico, January 27, 2009 @ 11:23 am

My roommate last year had this book. But I don’t know if he ever read it. As soon as he picked up a book he fell asleep immediately.
By brad, January 27, 2009 @ 11:31 am

Craig, I liked the book as well. Although I preferred The Descent (which I read right before World War Z better). It’s similar, told from the points of view of several different characters, about a whole world of satanic creatures living beneath the earth. Not as well written, but I think it was much more entertaining.
By Adric, January 27, 2009 @ 12:35 pm

I was just thinking yesterday, while listening to my Modern China history teacher ramble about this or that, if you had finished World War Z and yay you have! I’m glad you enjoyed it and I definitely agree with you re: the ending. The aspect of the book that really gave me chills was the global reach of the tale and the amount of similar stories from every corner of the Earth coupled with the unique tales (like that from the space station or the submarine) that seem sort of plausibly outlandish. My favorite account in the bunch was the one about the pilot who crash landed in southern swampland. I remember getting some severe chills reading that one.

I’m adding Diary of a Wimpy Kid to my list of things to check out. That cartoon is awesome.
By M. Nicodemus, January 27, 2009 @ 1:39 pm

Thanks for the review, I will have to add World War Z to my reading list and since I only have one more book on my nightstand I will be putting in an amazon order soon. And don’t worry Enrico, I will finish The Gunslinger first and MAYBE get The Drawing of the Three too.
By Michelle M., January 27, 2009 @ 8:33 pm

Okay – just put Diary and Workd War Z on hold at the library (My neighborhood has the most awesome library).

Right now I’m reading Night Work about a guy who wakes up to a world where everyone has disappeared. It’s too soon for an opinion. http://www.amazon.com/Night-Work-Novel-Thomas-Glavinic/dp/1847671845

The Sloane Tanen “chick” books make me laugh out loud:
http://www.amazon.com/Bitter-Baggage-Seeks-Same-Chickens/dp/B000BARD6S/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1233106339&sr=1-1