Reviews tagging 'Animal death'

Zone One by Colson Whitehead

6 reviews

apersonfromflorida's review against another edition

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dark reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

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travisppe's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark funny tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

I liked it, CW is an amazing writer, but the narrative jumps around a lot and it was hard to keep pace. Intentional, I’m sure, but be forewarned. Also, prose is pretty dense for a zombie novel. Lost forward momentum a few times but worth the slog. 
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tinathedrifter's review against another edition

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dark reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.75

I was impressed by the world-building of a post-plague New York. But, every few pages the author elbows his way in and rants on about his angsty ruminations of the past. It could have been a lot shorter.
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rynstagram's review against another edition

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3.5

This is an introspective zombie book, so it moves a little slowly, but Colson Whitehead has an ability to choose exactly the right diction and the main character's self-confessed mediocrity in an extraordinary world. Even if I had to look up a lot of word definitions... And a lot of the descriptions are visceral, especially when describing the sounds and sights of the zombies' bodies. 

I mostly gave this a lower rating because the plot seemed to drag in a lot of places. This is just the nature of a novel like this, that takes place over only three days and thus involves lots of recollections and thoughts rather than more action. 

It's not quite hopeful, but it's not quite hopeless. Somewhere in the middle. This is a world in which detachment from reality and an ability to not care too much are assets. 

I think Whitehead creates a great satire of our current society by using this zombie plague to discuss mental illness & the wellness industry (PASD--post-apocalyptic stress disorder), corporate sponsorships of the human race's survival (including alcohol and other unnecessary indulgences), how everything has become an act & everywhere a stage (large-scale public relations that trick those involved and those who are watching), and how fitting in & skating by in life can be a defense mechanism (Mark Spitz's talent for flying under the radar, not too good or too bad at anything). 
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impeachnixon's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

While the writing style did sometimes take me out of the book, Zone One was a fascinating book and a fresh and interesting take on zombies!
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allyofshalott's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.5

Probably my least favorite Whitehead I’ve read thus far, though I did ultimately enjoy this. A bit slow, and the anti-capitalist critique is a bit on the nose sometimes, but I did tear up! 
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