Scott Kenemore

from James:

I know, I know. Zombies have been done. I agree, but being from and living in Ohio, the title grabbed me. Zombie, Ohio is actually a well-crafted book told from the point of view of a zombie.

Quick synopsis: the protagonist is a professor at Kenyon College who dies in car crash at the exact moment of a zombie outbreak. He doesn't immediately realize he's a zombie; in fact, he's the only zombie with reasoning and awareness. During the course of the book (since he is dead), he show more continues to frustratingly decompose. It's really quite an existential tale. What's left when you're already undead? Highly recommended.

Zombie, Indiana falls more squarely in the typical zombie range of literature. Entertaining, but not questioning of one's philosophy. Kenemore (an Indiana native) is rather down on Hoosiers and their seemingly laissez faire attitude towards politics and science. It's a bit distracting. I found the first half of the book much more entertaining (especially the cavern scenario) and the denouement a little "okay, how do I get out of this?"

Despite that criticism, it won't deter me from reading the third in the series, Zombie, Illinois. The books are not continuing tales, by the way, but take place concurrently. You can read them as stand-alone novels. show less

Are you unsatisfied with your life? Have you read ever self help book out there an still haven't achieved the success of their beautiful, smiling authors? Well, you're in luck. Achieve a state of zen and all the success you want by emulating zombies. Scott Kenemore, in his revolutionary self-help book The Zen of Zombie, lists all the attributes and characteristics of zombies that can help you with the reasoning behind it. Then, in the second half of the book, guides you through a 12 week show more process in which to take on these characteristics so that you can become the person you want to be.

Don’t listen to all the slander of the media, saying that zombies are mindless creatures who must be destroyed. Zombies are to be envied. Their extreme focus and drive is often mistaken for mindlessness. Don’t you wish you could go after something as intently as a zombie going after brains? Zombies have it worse than any other group. What other group gets attacked, verbally and physically, instantly without any repercussions? Zombies don’t let this get them down.

Scott Kenemore is hilarious. Every page is funny and stays to the point. I learned about how I can apply his theory to many situations in my life: in my job, my love life, and my life in general. I have never read a book where being a zombie or zombie-like was a positive. He covered all types of zombies: slow moving, higher functioning, fast moving, etc. My favorite part of the book is when he reasoned that Jesus is a zombie. I know many people might be offended by this, but it’s really funny. Have a sense of humor about your faith once in a while. Plus he has a point.

The Zen of Zombie is a great addition to anyone’s zombie library. I would recommend this to anyone with a sense of humor. show less

An interesting take on the traditional zombie. No, really. It is sort of the zombie equivalent of "The Universe Doesn't Give a Fuck About You," a treatise on getting off your butt and living your best type-A life. Because even zombies can achieve greatness, right?

Professor Peter Mellor comes to consciousness after an apparent car crash. Strangely, he can barely remember anything, not even his name, but he slowly starts putting pieces together as he takes in his surroundings. Checking for a show more wallet gives him a name and address. The face he sees in the side-view mirror resembles the license, only older and heavier. A gun in the car door gives a sense of identity, someone who doesn't normally use a gun but now needs to carry one. A wool cap feels familiar. The middle-age crisis convertible doesn't look familiar, but it is possibly that it is his. He begins trudging towards town and the address on his driver's license. He discovers that his empty home is full of books--my first real moment of sympathy--and scotch. Catching CNN alerts him to a worldwide crisis in "moving cadavers" and the breakdown of the normal world. His best friend stops by and gives a helpful biography, and a summary of how the world changed three weeks ago.

The good:
Zombie, Ohio has an interesting twist on the traditional zombie. The Goodreads blurb contains a number of spoilers, including the twist, so if it matters to you, don't read it. I, of course, did read it, and despite that, appreciated the surprises that took the story in unexpected directions. Though a little bit clunky with information in the beginning, plotting eventually moves well. Likewise, issues I had with language settled down and becomes quite readable. The ending makes me think Kenemore was going for something a little bit more philosophical. You know, I think he got there, even if I didn't like it.

The bad:
Zombie, Ohio has an interesting twist on the traditional zombie. That perspective isn't going to be altogether satisfying for those of us who like the zombie apocalypse straight. The writing in the first chapter has awkward moments, including semi-randomly italicized words that only serve to distract. More importantly, the first couple chapters could have benefited from heavier editing for world-building structure. There were also some odd word choices: "humorless administrative-looking buildings." A pontificating bit near the end by a bad guy is eye-rollingly bad.

I'll put more spoilery specifics (but not that specific) below, hoping to help if you are on the fence, or prefer more details.

Overall, for me it was about 2.5, in that I thought it was decently done. I'm not sure I precisely liked it, but it wasn't stupid or infuriating, and it provided distraction on a day when I couldn't take anything more substantial.


It is very different from a traditional zombie book--it's from the zombie's perspective. And not just the good-girl going straight, humanizing kind of perspective of Melanie or My Life as a White Trash Zombie. No, this is 'normal' in the intelligence sense, in a person for whom 'normal' was a semi-adhered to value. It becomes clear that the narrator has been kind of an asshole. Which means the narrator is not an altogether sympathetic one; although Kenemore (eventually) avoids some of the obvious "I'm still a good guy" tropes, it does make Peter a bit of an anti-hero that I'm not sure I support. When he eventually starts hunting, I became uncomfortable. When he started leading a gang of undead, I really lost any empathy, and the writing itself started to make me queasy. I rather think Peter is a bit of a low-bar kind of dude--he likes power, but prefers not having to work too hard or make any sacrifices for it. show less

Billed as "Skillfully combining the genres of horror, humor, and film noir", along with the detective aspect of our lead protagonist wanting to solve his own death, there is a little bit something for a wide range of readers to appreciate. Now, I admit I am not a fan of the zombie stories. They are usually creepy and gross and not something I want to spend time reading. This story is different. While still maintaining the gross factor - because zombies like to eat human brains, etc - this show more story, told from the POV of our recently turned zombie protagonist, has more of an introspective aspect, and it is this that really makes this a different kind of zombie story. Still dystopian with shades of Mad Max societal unrest/chaos with vigilante groups out to protect their own and ruthless biker gangs taking advantage of the zombie uprising and some tragic moments, but Kenemore manages to keep this on the lighter side with witty and humorous dialogue/internal musings while the typical zombie/human action is going on. In Peter, we have a zombie who still remembers what it means to be human, so some interesting dynamics at play here, especially when he assumes the anti-hero role (and that is all you are going to get out of me in the way of spoilers).

Overall, a "fun" read, and the first book where I have actually found myself cheering for the zombie. I do like an author who likes to present readers with a different perspective on the horror/zombie genre. If you are looking for a full on action-packed horror story, this one will seem light-weight and slow-paced for you. Just a heads up. show less