World War Z

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 World War Z; an oral history of the Zombie war was written by Max Brooks, the son of comedian, director and actor Mel Brooks. It was inspired by  The Good War, an oral history of World War II by Studs Terkel.Like the  The Good war, World War Z  is a collection of first hand accounts and stories of
various people who were affected by a Zombie apocalypse.

 

The book is a well written synopsis of a possible and not so implausible reaction in a fictional circumstance from various perspectives; civilian, military and corporate all over the world. From the wall around Israel to the South African triage system, Brooks posits conflicting agendas, government cover ups, military blunders and simple people trying to survive, and he does it in a simple interview style which adds to the plausibility of the stories. Brooks creates credible circumstances that we can believe in. He doesn't stray in to the crazy mutant world like  the resident evil franchise has made, he sticks to the basics. And for me it really works.

The book is an easy read, but in a subtle way you do find yourself being drawn into the stories. I understand why this book has become such a cult classic. I can also understand the trepidation and the criticism of the fans for the up coming movie  here.

 

This trailer  seems an extraordinary departure form the book. I will probably see it anyway but I am not confident as it seems like a dog. 

But the book is excellent and I really recommend it. 7.5 Zombie monkeys from me

Of Morphine and Hunger

There are two silver linings to my recent predicament:

1.  While I am a terrible patient it is nice to have some quiet time with my Lady.
2. I can catch up on some reading.

 I have finally got around to finishing The Hunger Games the other day so thought ti would make a good post. While you may already know the plot here is a brief synopsis:

In a dystopian post apocalyptic future the state of Panem sits on the ruins of what was once the USA. Panem consists of thirteen districts each with a economic speciality; agriculture, horticulture, lumber, fishing etc. And the capital is the city state that rules them. Seventy five years before the setting of the book, all the districts rebelled against the authoritarian rule of the capital and lost. District 13 was firebombed out of existence and the other districts quickly surrendered. In retribution every year the capital holds the 'hunger games', A high tech gladiatorial battle between tributes from each of the districts.

Katness Everdeen is a young girl from district 12 whose twelve year old sister is selected for the 74th hunger games. Katness volunteers in her sisters stead leaving her family behind to battle for her life for the entertainment of the capital. As  she fights not only to survive, but also against the capital her strength and humanity becomes a symbol for a a growing discontent amongst the districts.

Ensue gladiatorial death hijinx!

Suzanne Collins is a compelling author. She writes an engaging story with quite flawed characters. And when I mean flawed I mean human. Katness is a teenage girl who is forced into the position of caring and providing for her mother and little sister from age 11. And to do that she is effectively a criminal, poaching game from capitol land. Katness has severe trust issues and, is well a bit of a bitch. But that is good because don't we want human, relatable characters with flaws. Well I do. And whether you may now be doubting whether you will relate to a fifteen year old girl with trust issues I think you will be surprised by how engaging the story is. Collins has a easy writing style that I found entertaining and hard to put the book down.

I enjoyed it very much, and also enjoyed observing her inspirations from ancient Greece and Rome. And while this has been done many times before this isn't some trite post apocalyptic story reinventing history under the guise of science fiction, and certainly no Battle Royale.  While I do enjoy that movie, this story is a little more sophisticated.

Interesting point for me coming from watching the film first before reading the novel is that I think I prefer the film over the book. That is probably a terrible crime some where, but I do. I think that the actors in the  movie add a humanity and a complexity to the supporting characters that I found a little lacking in the novel. But then the novel is entirely from Katness's point of view so this is understandable and doesn't detract from the novel at all.

Woody Harrelson creates empathy for his portrayal of Haymitch

Over all I understand why these books are so popular and I am glad that they are. It is also refreshing to have a young woman who is a strong protagonistin a novel.

Give it a try, it is good.

6.5 Monkeys

It's not Porn!

Grammer.

I do not think grammer  is wonderful, but it is nessesary.  I once went to a letter writing course through work. Now I have completed pretty much all of the "learnings" that my department can offer, however these courses are mandatory so a colleague and I went along. It was possibly the best course that I have ever been on. Admitedly a loony came and sat next to me, as always. But it was informative and fun. 

The reason I am bringing this up is because in my post about 50 Shades of Grey I recomended  Midnight Riot. I may have inadvertantly inferred that it was erotic literiture. 

Well it's not. 

I would like to apologise toanyone who ran out and brought it on that premise. You may have been disapointed with the lack of steamy licenciousness/ But hopefully not with the story.

So what it it about?

 Peter Grant is a young policeman in the London met. He is ambitious, intelligent and doomed to a life of paperwork. But while working a murder case in Covent gardern his life is changed after he finds an eyewitness to the crime. But Peters problem is that the witness is also dead.  Peters encounter with the ghost also introduces him to Inspector Nightingale and the world of paranormal investigation. 

Ensue mysterious hyjinks.

I liked this book very much.  I was reading this while I was meant to be reading Fifity shades of Grey.  But this was more fun, and the writing is considerably better

Ben Aaronovitch the author has done extensive research into police procedure and also research into jazz, mythology and African English culture. The character Peter Grant is African and this aspect of the narrative is well written into the story. I used to live in South London and I had quite a few Nigerians as neighbors, and reading about his mum brought back fond memories of Elephant and Castle for me.

The characters are believable and the story is well told.  Ben Aaronovitch is a highly experienced writer who mainly writes teleplays. He is well known for writing Doctor Who stories, and this is his first book. But it is a good one. He balances Peters (and our) introduction to this paranormal London with the mysteries this London contain without losing pace with the investigation.

You could make some comparisons to Jim Butchers  Dresden files but I think this book is much better.  While both being about urban fantasy, Aaronovitch has created a more plausible and likeable character and world.

If  you think this might be your sort of thing then try it.

Eight magical Monkeys

P.S. IT IS NOT PORN

Fifty Shades of Grey (some sexual references)

The most common question I have been asked by people when they found out I was reading this book is "why?"

Well mostly because my girl read it and she was interested in my opinion. Also I thought it was high time I reviewed a book. Fifty shades of Grey is the latest literary zeitgeist. Call it "mummy porn" or "dark erotica" its international success is evident.

Anyway a Synopsis:

Anastasia Steele is a literature student about to graduate from Washington State University. Her life of Thomas Hardy and Jane Austin is interrupted when her best friend Kate falls ill. Kate has an important interview for the school paper with Christian Grey, a major financial contributor to the university. Ana agrees to interview the young billionaire on behalf of her friend, but is surprised when the interview with the enigmatic Mr. Grey creates an opportunity for romance. Their powerful mutual attraction not only introduces Ana to not only her first love affair but also the world of bondage and discipline.

Ensue spanking hijinx

OK from here on out there are some SPOILERS!

First a wee rant to the haters. The two biggest criticisms of this book are that it is "just fan fiction" or "it's mummy porn for bored housewives."

Firstly I know a lot of mothers and I am fairly sure that the comment about this booking being "mummy porn" is pretty condescending. Some of the mothers I know are highly educated, well travelled sophisticated women who love great porn.  Being a mother, even a bored mother doesn't mean they have poor taste in their books, porn or otherwise.

Secondly any one that has written fan fiction and has been snapped up by a publisher should be lauded.  Who cares how a writer got their start as long as they write well.

That aside onwards to my review. This sort of book is not really my cup of tea. However I decided to give it a fair chance. 

I found the character of Ana exceptionally unbelievable.  She is meant to be a highly attractive educated young woman who several men in her life are pursuing. But she has never had any sort of a relationship before. She has not even been attracted to anyone before. Ever? Her mental state seems more of a sixteen year old girl than a young woman about to graduate from college.  An emotionally and sexually repressed girl with the mental age of a teenager. Her internal monologues are filled with shock expletives such as; "What!  Crap!, Holy Crap and the ever present Oh My.  

The  Oh My's  were a particular bug bear as I foolishly mentioned to a friend that one of the characters kept saying it. he then did a George Takei   "oh Myyyyy!"  After that every time I read those two words I saw George poking his head around some corner. 

 Anas Step father Ray was also particularly annoying. portrayed as the father she never had, Ray is a taciturn craftsman with a love for sports. A mans man who dearly loves his step daughter as if she was his. But presented with her very first boy friend who is rather 'intense' Ray instantly accepts hims as he knows about fly fishing. That's it? That's is all it takes to be a good guy in Rays books? What a dick head. 

So no the quality of the writing was not what I would expect from a best selling novel, but what possibly disturbed me more was what a freak Christian Grey is. No I am not talking about the bondage and discipline side of things, there wasn't too much of that really despite the premise. No it was the fact that he was a controlling stalker. 

He ordered her to get rid of her car, and bought her a new one which I found rather disturbing. Christian had to know where she was 24/7 and when Ana took a few days off to see her mother and think about the relationship. She was to be gone for a week, but Christian decided to fly over from Seattle on the edge of the west coast to Savannah on the opposite side of the country. 

Also there was a scene where Ana and Christian had a fight. So he raced over to her place, pushed past her flat mate and burst through the door. Now I get that in bodice rippers there is that clichéd scene where the woman is fighting her desire for the man, and locks herself away from him. He bursts in and crushes her to his manly breast and she gives in to desire. The difference is power and violence. In the cliché the door is an obstacle to their union, a metaphor. But to enter a house uninvited pushing physically past a girl to get to another, that is an entirely different kettle of domestic abuse.  He dictates how she eats, what she wears and who she spends time with. The guy is a creep. 

But if he is a deranged creep she is a needy child in the body of a woman. She meets this guy and he says "This is who I am, this is what I want." quite honest about it. But she wants more, not down the track, but right now! And magically he does seem to change for her. Not the crazy parts, just the commitment parts. This is all over a couple of weeks as well.

As I read this rather disturbing book I saw elements of Austin’s Pride in Prejudice, but only in the flimsiest way. They refer to each other as "Miss Steele and Mr. Grey.", and in the depiction of Christian I can see him as a contemporary shade of Mr. Darcy, but he has traded his sophistication for a sack full of crazy. Also I can see echoes of  Twilight  as well, but as the original fan fiction this was based on was Twilight that is hardly surprising. 

So is this good girl porn? Sure but not in the sense that it is full of sex, but in the sense that a girl finds a man who is handsome, intelligent, sexy and rich but just damaged enough so she can save him. Yay I found the perfect man, now I can change him.  

I know that it not my thing, and perhaps as a holiday read it might be ok, but the highly disturbing behaviour of the Edward Cullen Christian Grey character is really not healthy. I got quite bored with the characters "inner goddess" emerging every other page, and by the last fifty pages I had lost interest in the light of young Ana. She's an idiot, and he's a psycho so maybe it isn't all that farfetched at all.

As for the erotica? meh I found it kind of tame. She was so naive and insecure and he was such a loony I found it difficult to get engaged into the scenes. Also with writing like "Holy cow a penis!" can you blame me?

Personally if you want porn go on line, or buy some decent steamy erotic fiction. If you want a good book for women try Purple Dandelion, the true story of Farida Sultana. Or something lighter I am loving Ben Aaronovitch's Midnight Riot. 

As this book goes I barely made it to the end, and I am not wasting my time on the rest of them. I rate it two and a half Monkeys. 

P.S. In regard to my anti-haters comments earlier, while they still stand I have made an interesting observation.  While I still don't think fan fiction becoming a novel is automatically bad, I do note that the authors Twilight fan-fiction story  Master of the Universe has vanished, and any link to it has been replaced by a link to  Fifity Shades of Grey.  Interesting and stink. I could talk more about this but that is a post all on it's own.