Book Club: Leah reads Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

The cover: My copy was the other one, but when I saw this UK cover on Goodreads, I gotta say, I like this one way better. It fits the story perfectly.

From Goodreads: R is a young man with an existential crisis--he is a zombie. He shuffles through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, and the mindless hunger of his undead comrades, but he craves something more than blood and brains. He can speak just a few grunted syllables, but his inner life is deep, full of wonder and longing. He has no memories, no identity, and no pulse. Just dreams. 

After experiencing a teenage boy's memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice that begins a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship with the victim's human girlfriend. Julie is a burst of vibrant color in the otherwise dreary and gray landscape that R lives in. His decision to protect her will transform not only R, but his fellow Dead, and perhaps their whole lifeless world.

Initial thoughts: Before reading this, I hadn't heard much about it. I knew it was popular and that the movie was coming out soon, but that's about it. I hadn't even seen the movie trailer. I knew it was a "zombie love story" which, in all honesty, didn't really appeal to me, because EW!

My thoughts now: What were you thinking, Initial Thoughts Leah?! I was hooked after the first paragraph! After the first few pages, I knew I wasn't putting this sucker down until I turned the last page. And that's exactly what happened. Marion's writing is phenomenal! You know how everyone in the publishing industry talks about voice this and voice that? Well, this book is a study in unique voice. So, if you're confused about what critique partners or agents mean when they say, "I need more voice in your writing" then go buy this book and devour it today!

What Meyer says in her blurb there on the cover is spot on. I never thought I could actually care this much about zombies. Not only was I rooting for R the whole way, I was also really concerned for the other zombies in the hive. Plus, I found the relationship between R and Julie to be very real (or as real as a relationship can be that involves a zombie).

I could go on and on about this book, but I really don't want to spoil anything. This book speaks for itself.

Quick Quote: This quote is not representative of the vibe of the book. It's really not as sad as all that, but when I read it, all I could think was, "Damn, I wish I'd written that!"

"I don't want to hear music, I don't want the sunrise to be pink. The world is a liar. Its ugliness is overwhelming: the scraps of beauty make it worse."

Extra Stuff: After finishing the book, I immediately watched the trailer, of course, and the first 4 minutes which were released on YouTube. I also told my husband (who I only recommend the best of the best to) to just read the first paragraph and tell me what he thought. He didn't stop until page 31 and that was only because he had to get up early for work.

Have ya'll read WARM BODIES? What did you think? Do you have any recommendations for us?