Book Discussion: World War Z *Spoiler Free*

Just started reading it this morning. So far so good. I'm suitably creeped-out. :oD I won't be in the Spoiler Thread for a few days at least.

I am going to try to get the audio version this afternoon. Hold your thumbs.

Best of luck, maggie. I'm about 35 pages in and enjoying it. Just wish I had more time to read!

I am waiting on the book to come in at the library. I listened to it last year and loved it. It will be interesting to see the differences in the two versions.

I'm also waiting on the book to arrive. I listened to an excerpt of the first chapter and it sounds great.

I have to go look for it!

I found it at our library, and started it yesterday, but then got called to work 12 hour shifts for two days. No reading. Eating, sleeping, working and that's about it. I have to get to bed now, but I did really enjoy the bit I started, I'm looking forward to getting back to it!

Still waiting!

4 - I've read and listened to it. The audio book leaves out some stories. Some were ok to leave out, others disappointed me in their absence. I was really looking forward to hearing them.

A recommendations - don't have this as your bedtime book.

I've begun reading it and haven't (yet) found it very creepy. But then I'm not a zombie fan.

#9 Will - My problem is that bedtime is about the only time I have to read. Opps! :)

Is it OK to listen to it while driving or will I be tempted to run my car under a semi? Or off a cliff?

I found my audio version today and bought it. As soon as I finish The Secret Life of Bees I will start listening to the WWZ.

I wouldn't expect trouble driving with it. It's creepy, but not jumpy.

Maggs - I agree with Will. I listened to it and it never bothered me; I was fascinated.

cool. I am looking forward to it.

I started listening in the car. Out of the rear view mirror, I could have sworn I saw a zombie bearing down on me!

I've been a little jumpy, I'll admit it. I was at a technology meeting at our town library. All the meeting rooms were full so we were sat out on the patio. A piece of heavy machinery in nearby municipal lot made a noise that sounded like gunfire, and I levitated out of my chair. Heh heh...

Hmmmm. Wonder what is wrong with me? I don't find it eerie or whatever at all. It's far too close to what I experienced working at the Pentagon to think much about the whole zombie side of things.

#18 - LOL! Well, there you have it...

The Pentagon....weren't they infected back in the Johnson Administration?

OK, I'm listening to it in the car, too.

You won't believe this. I dropped my portable CD player today and broke the last CD for The Secret Life of Bees. I had to go buy the dead tree book to read the last few pages. So, I started listening to Z in the car. Not yet made jumpy, tho.

edit to add "maybe the zombies broke my CD????"

"maybe" : HA!

I just started it last night - looks like a quick, entertaining read. I don't get spooked by things (well, except for the creaky door and the reflection in the mirror that wasn't the narrator's in a Murakami story ... but that's another issue) but I did end up dreaming about hiding out in a bookstore from zombies that came out at night - apparently I was going to be safe as long as I could climb to the top shelf ... so, it's insinuated its way into my subconscious. I'd rather be reading it than working at the moment so that's a good sign.

Yep, my dreams aren't scary yet, but things are becoming animated in them which shouldn't be, like my small leprechaun collection. They were hilarious though, telling jokes and cracking wise. :)

well....I've listened to the first CD + a bit of the second...and I am feeling underwhelmed. Is that what "meh" means?

That is what 'meh' means. Despite my overenthusiasm for the book, I'm not offended by criticism of it.

I'm enjoying it. It reminds me a bit of The Stand without all the voodoo*.

*Yes, I know there's no actual voodoo in The Stand. I was using that term to refer to the supernatural element.

It is a bit like The Stand, just without Stephen King ... which, believe me, is a great, great bonus *shuffles off muttering about Stephen Bloody King*

I'm enjoying it. I just love a good apocalypse.

I enjoyed The Stand. WWZ seems more promising all of a sudden. But I'd always thought voodoo was involved with zombies as well.

#30 - It is indeed. Not these zombies, however.

#29 - Me, too. This one isn't bothering me the way The Road did, though it has many of the same elements.

(Edited so touchstone points to correct work. )

A scientific explanation for zombies? That sounds even more promising!

#32 - Yep. Although I have a few bones to pick with some of the details. I'll be saving them for the SPOILER thread.

AAAAAAAAAhhhh! I want to read this book! I hate waiting!

I can still post on the threads when I *do* finally get the book, right?

Of course!

Some of us will read these threads for many many days to come.....we hope.

I love the subtle revelations.

Started reading this evening. Am on page 103. Am in love.

#38 - :oD

We might have to follow this up with The Zombie Survival Guide: Complete Protection from the Living Dead. Apparently my daughter has it, too.

my copy came in the mail today and I am about 50 pages in. It is reading pretty good so far. I am not finding it scary so far but I havn't gone to sleep yet. I can always hope for a good nightmare.

Not a big run at my library for the book so I got a hard copy for me and the audio book for my daughter. I'm amazed I like it so much. Everything seems so plausible, except the word "reanimate" always brings me up a little short. The concept of zombies just doesn't grab me, but the rest of the book does. Nothing creeps me out yet.

OK, the "meh" has gone away. I'm about in the middle of the book (listening, hard to tell where in the book I am) and am beginning to actually enjoy it. I am now sorry that I picked the audio version as I know it is abridged and I'll be curious. I will be looking for extra stuff in the spoilerless thread after I finish. I expect good posts, peepes!

Well, I just got into the "meh". Two things I'm not interested in reading about: zombies and battles. Oh dear. Maybe I can push through tomorrow.

I read a lot of non-fic and that may be why I am enjoying this so much. It seems very realistic to me. It's all substance, and no 'glowy magic!' (To use Tim Spalding's expression.)

>44 clamairy:
I adore fictional nonfiction. I read roleplaying game sourcebooks like they're novels which must have something to do with why I like Max Brooks' writing. If you haven't already give his The Zombie Survival Guide a try. There's also a graphic novel (which I have not read yet): The Zombie Survival Guide: Recorded Attacks

>43 Citizenjoyce: Two things I'm not interested in reading about: zombies and battles.
I think the title is a big clue as to what the books is all about.

#45 - Yeah, noticed my daughter owns that first one, (See post #39.) but she said it's very dry.

#43 - Ditto what fleela said. Give yourself points for trying something you were pretty sure wasn't your cup of tea. I bail out on a lot of things, especially the books the members of my ladies book club choose.

graphic zombies??? hmmm, I think that is probably not my cup of tea. I'll listen to this one...and maybe that will be it. I am always glad to try something I am not sure about as sometimes I do discover things I really enjoy. You just can't win them all, so it is said.

>47 maggie1944:
Graphic novel as in a long comic book, but yeah it's graphic in the other sense too. You can look at a preview on Amazon.

I really enjoyed it, and now my three kids might read it too! My older son has already read Zombie Survival Guide and enjoyed that. He is not much into reading.

Ha! I did not know until just now when I looked up Max Brooks on Wiki, that he is the son of Mel Brooks. :)

#49 - NO! That's awesome! Wow... that would mean his mom was the lovely and talented Anne Bancroft. One of my favorite actresses. Did anyone reading the trade paperback see what it says just inside the back cover? Now I understand...

Yep, it says it in the hardback too. I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know.

Today on my way to work, I happened to be driving through Yonkers just as the events there were being described. I could see the hills just to the east of the Hudson River, and I turned onto the Saw Mill River Parkway just as the geography was being described in the audio book. It lent a scenic authenticity to the story!

52 - Eerie!

Yeah, it was, a bit. If one is so inclined. I tried to embellish the feeling :)

Another word from the outlier: still listening in the car but am finding that my mind wanders to reality. "What shall I have for dinner? When am I going to find time to exercise? Oh, I need to go get some gas!" And, then, I realize I've lost track of what the CD is saying and I have to back track only to lose track again.

I am going to try to only use if for longer drives, i.e. 30 minutes plus or minus. But I do think this is an artifact of its just not my cup of tea. Interesting stuff about his parents.

I'm pretty miffed that my book hasn't arrived yet. It should have been here already.

Did I miss a Blazing Saddles reference somewhere in this book?

This finally came in from the library but I couldn't resist starting Under Heaven for my next read. I'll read WWZ next. I didn't think I'd want to read a zombie book, but you guys do have me interested.

I am finished listening to World War Z and will move over to the Spoiler thread.

Joining a bit late but the silver lining of the volcanic ash cloud was that I go to spend about 10 minutes in a bookshop in Folkestone at the weekend and bought WWZ and another Discworld.

Ah, my book finally arrived last night. I started reading this morning.

Mine is here too! I just barely started and my first reaction - this is so cool! Second reaction - not one to read while eating.

So I'm the silly person who decided to read both group reads at the same time, then proceeded to lose both books. I'm sure they're in the same place, I just can't find either one. Grrrr...

#63 - Oh no! :o( Best of luck finding them, kirbyowns.

#62 - LOL! Too true, cmbohn. I found that to the case for me as well. :oD