Apocalypse Z the Beginning of the End Read Online - cunninghambuter1958
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hi everyone. this is mark monday, wasting your time again with some insignificant random musings while the highly significant zombie apocalypse is happening to us all. Apocalypse Wow! well, we all have our own coping strategies and mine is staring at my navel and then reporting back my findings via this blog. I'm sure teh interwebs will go down soon enough and I will have to switch to my journal (who will ever read it??), but for now at least I am online and ready to ramble to
blog entry 2/4/2014hi everyone. this is mark monday, wasting your time again with some insignificant random musings while the highly significant zombie apocalypse is happening to us all. Apocalypse Wow! well, we all have our own coping strategies and mine is staring at my navel and then reporting back my findings via this blog. I'm sure teh interwebs will go down soon enough and I will have to switch to my journal (who will ever read it??), but for now at least I am online and ready to ramble to the world at large. to whoever is reading this, oh wait- whats that soundoutside
ok, I'm back. just some more of those damned cannibalistic looters trying to scale my iron gate. not a day goes by without having to deal with them. they are worse than the zombies! well fortunately I keep my pots full of hot oil on a low simmer, ready to cope with such annoyances from my balcony. the humorous expressions they have while dealing with my various surprises!
today I want to talk about a book I read recently, Apocalypse Z by Manel Loureiro. not the most escapist of fiction to choose from given the circumstances, I know, but I figured I could learn some things. so let's start with that, what I learned:
- get a high quality wetsuit! zombies apparently cannot bite through them.
- don't go to any so-called 'Safe Zones'! those are deathtraps. supermarkets for zombies. Black Friday extravaganzas for zombies.
- get to a boat but know how to use a boat! that's a good one. I can't tell you how frustrating it is for me here in San Francisco, right on the coast, but totally unable to- oh wait asec
back again. well, Paul in the apartment next to mine finally turned. those crazy moans, I could hear them through the wall. poor old guy. I knew it was going to happen so I took the precaution of knocking him out and tying him down to his bed in advance. he was clearly upset when he woke up and insisted that the bite would heal... but I just don't take risks these days. farewell, Paul. you were a good neighbor. and a hoarder, thank God! canned food that will last me and my cat for weeks.
just realized I didn't give a synopsis for Apocalypse Z. ok: a nice lawyer in Spain deals with the zombie apocalypse. he really is a genuinely nice guy and that was a pleasure to read in this genre full of badasses and cynical people and mean people and military types and rapists and murderers etc. he was a nice, normal guy with no particular skills except for an interest in scuba diving and boating. the best thing of all: his love for his cat! man that was endearing. I totally get him. I would never leave Digsy behind and he felt the same way about his cat. it was pretty awesome to read about how much he went through just to make sure his cat was safe. imagine having to deal with a dog during the zombie apocalypse!
the novel's first half is a series of blog entries (the second half a series of journal entries) and that of course reminded me of Feed. now I liked Feed well enough but sometimes it just tried too hard and felt really implausible. lots of young adult bullshit. that was not the case with Apocalypse Z. it felt super realistic. and because we are mainly with just one nice guy and his cat (for a little over half the novel), the book was actually a pleasant experience. pleasant! a pleasant zombie novel! but it's true. for the most part. Apocalypse Z was enjoyable because it had a 'normal' protagonist, a cat, and a series of very realistic reactions to the zombie apocalypse. and it started out a bit slow, which I liked. I got to know our hero, got to like him. he never really surprised me but that's fine. I liked him, which is more than I can say for any of Feed's (non-)characters. but what Feed has that Apocalypse Z lacks is resonance. despite my irritations with Feed, it truly moved me at times. despite how pleasant and enjoyable a time I had with Apocalypse Z, I don't know if it will stick with me in the sameWHATTHEFUCK HE'S ESCAPING
and I'm back. whew! that was a close call! one of my annoying downstairs neighbors somehow chewed through his ropes and almost made it out the gate! thank God for my fast response time. he would have been devoured by zombies and where would that have left me? I'll tell you where - without a handy food source! what a selfish prick. he and his roommate annoyed me for years with their noisy antics but with this apocalypse happening, I really need them around. they have a lot of meat on those bones and me and my cat are not planning on starving to death any time soon. I will be damned if I let them get away. well I suppose I'm damned anyway, lol!
so to wrap up, I enjoyed Apocalypse Z quite a bit. it was fun, it felt surprisingly realistic, and it was good to finally have a nice protagonist to root for. yay for nice guys! we're a dying breed.
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While this was entertaining enough to finish, I struggled with many of the details. I understand the necessity of suspension of disbelief, but a story must be internally consistent.
The narrator's cat is some kind of superhero. I cannot, in any world, imagine sticking a cat in a barrel with holes in it and floating down a river... and having that cat remai
I'm not sure how this book got such consistently high ratings. Perhaps I'm not familiar enough with standards in the Zombie Apocalypse genre.While this was entertaining enough to finish, I struggled with many of the details. I understand the necessity of suspension of disbelief, but a story must be internally consistent.
The narrator's cat is some kind of superhero. I cannot, in any world, imagine sticking a cat in a barrel with holes in it and floating down a river... and having that cat remain silent. Same with walking the cat through a downpour with a shoelace tied to his collar. The cat never bolts when you would expect any sane cat to, and always comes to its owner when needed. How the narrator wrestles a zombie while the cat is tied to his wrist without crushing the cat or getting scratched, again, unbelievable.
There are also issues with noise- characters will make noise despite knowing (and often making use of the fact) that noises attract zombies. There is little logic to where zombies are or when they will appear, or how many of them there are, etc. (Maybe that fact is zombie canon?)
Wearing a wetsuit is clever- neoprene is hard to bite through. But has the author ever worn one? They are thick and hard to move in- no one is agile on land in a wetsuit, and they are sweltering. Wearing one in the oft-described heat should cause the narrator to pass out. Yet this man uses his wetsuit as zombie combat armor.
The narrator is covered, repeatedly, in zombie blood and other fluids (once while a zombie is beheaded above him) and never gets anything into his eyes, mouth, or nose? He cuts his hand in the hospital, covers it with a butterfly closure, never finds a latex glove, and despite fighting more zombies (and the zombie fluids all over the hospital) is never infected. Sigh.
And finally, the young woman that the narrator runs into at the end happens to be very clever, absolutely stunning, and 17 years old. She also manages to capture the cat and stuff him into a bag, despite this cat's general genius and inability to be separated from its owner. Perhaps the cat got himself caught on purpose, to lead the narrator to this woman and their basement sanctuary. Because of course- this teenager flirts with the narrator. By nibbling on his ear when the narrator is scared in an elevator. You know, if I were jumpy and terrified and concerned about zombies biting or scratching me, I would freak out if someone unexpectedly nibbled my ear. Just saying.
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This book was really frustrating. The first 70% of the book was a 3 star book. Mildly interesting, good setting. Then it just got bad. The hero is TSTL. I mean really? You know "those things" are attracted by sound, by your own admission you're not a very good shot, and you have a relatively soundless speargun! And yet you use the glock?
And ok I love my cat. But if during a zombie apocalypse she wonders off through an infested hospital I can't justify putting the guy I'm traveling with and mys
This book was really frustrating. The first 70% of the book was a 3 star book. Mildly interesting, good setting. Then it just got bad. The hero is TSTL. I mean really? You know "those things" are attracted by sound, by your own admission you're not a very good shot, and you have a relatively soundless speargun! And yet you use the glock?
And ok I love my cat. But if during a zombie apocalypse she wonders off through an infested hospital I can't justify putting the guy I'm traveling with and myself in danger to go search for the cat! And to split up to do it! Don't get me started on why they're at the hospital anyway.
The reason this is 2 stars instead of 3 is because of the character at the ending. This is a spoiler.
The MC meets a "16 or 17, at the most" girl and he notices her perky breasts. Really? A kid? It gave me a few definite eww moments.
If you want an outstanding zombie book read World War Z by Max Brooks or the Zombie Chronicles by Mark Clodi.
There was no doubt that I was hooked within the first dozen chapters. The action (which is always a key element of my interest) is consta
I usually don't read books that have journal entry settings. Most times, I get bored within the first chapter or so, and drop the book completely. The only reason I decided to give it a try was because it was free to loan on my Kindle. But Apocalypse Z was completely different from other books--and I'm overjoyed that I was lucky enough to get my hands on this.There was no doubt that I was hooked within the first dozen chapters. The action (which is always a key element of my interest) is constant, heart-pounding, and for a book centered in the midst of a zombie apocalypse, as realistic as can be.
While Loureiro occasionally drifts from the path of writing from a journalistic perspective (especially as the novel nears the end), he makes you feel like you really are there within the bindings of the book. The way he keeps the character's true humanity is genuine, and it helps the reader connect on a moral and intellectual level. The protagonist, and those assisting him, are extremely humanistic. They mature to the situation gradually, noting the way they react to the horrors they face daily. Honestly, Manuel's character development is masterfully done.
What more can I say? This novel was one of the few books that have really affected me. It was well written, narrated perfectly, and the setting was not unrealistically devastating. Finally, a zombie book that doesn't relish in cheesy dialogue and implausible, impossible events to miraculously save characters.
I'll be waiting impatiently for the next installment.
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A man and his best friend, an orange ball of fur cat, watch as the world crumbles around them. A deadly virus, unleashed from a secret location i
I do not generally read zombie novels, but with the inception of "free" books for my Amazon Kindle - every genre is now worth exploring. Once I started this book, I could not put it down. Apocalypse Z: The beginning of the End is so realistic, I had to stop reading on occasion just to make sure that I was reading a book and this wasn't really happening.A man and his best friend, an orange ball of fur cat, watch as the world crumbles around them. A deadly virus, unleashed from a secret location in Russia, is killing everyone it touches. The news reports from around the globe are vague - sharing way more questions than answers. People are dying at an alarming rate - the pandemic spreading rapidly across the globe. People are stooping to cannibalism. Within two weeks, all communication ceases. They find themselves all alone - except for those groaning "creatures" stumbling around outside.
What makes this story unique is that the main character is like the reader of this book; daring to move forward without knowing the truth about what is taking place around him. His survival is based upon instinct and "on the job training" as he leaves the security of his fortress-like home to learn more and to seek out other survivors. The author is very descriptive throughout the book, painting such clear pictures, that will leave some readers with mouth agape and stomach queasy. In his quest, the main character doesn't always do the right thing, which sometimes caused him to be trapped without any visible way of escaping. I believe his furry friend shared its nine lives with his beloved owner.
I do highly recommend this book and look forward to the next installment to see how this story continues. Great job Manel!
John Podlaski, author
Cherries - A Vietnam War Novel
This might sound weird but this book is sort of realistic, in a way... Don't worry I know the book is about zombies. And zombies are not real, right?? But the novel reads real. First of all the main character is a simple sort of a guy. And he acts and reacts to things like a regular guy. Not some macho war
There is nothing better than a good apocalyptic Zombie read. And this one just hit the spot for me! It had everything I seek in this sort of a book: gore, horror, suspense, and of course humor.This might sound weird but this book is sort of realistic, in a way... Don't worry I know the book is about zombies. And zombies are not real, right?? But the novel reads real. First of all the main character is a simple sort of a guy. And he acts and reacts to things like a regular guy. Not some macho warier who keeps stock piles of guns and knows karate. All that is going for him is clear head and common sense. And the fact that he carries a cat around just and humor to the whole plot.
I also kind of like that action takes place in Europe. This change of locale was quite interesting to me. Since most zombie apocalypse books I read take place in US, and most of the time you don't know and unaware what is going in on in the rest of the world.
Overall highly successful and entertaining zombie read. That I 100% recommend.
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Also, since these are blog posts, he could've had a little more fun with it. Maybe had a few comments from his readers/followers on the posts--different voices. And began to have a larger following with each post. Obviously, this book wasn't for me, but seems to have a lot of fans. But is it for the literary quality or the gimmick?
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The structure gave me hope this would be interesting. The story is a series of diary entries which the MC begins, on his psychologist's advice, in an effort to get over the death of his wife. His first efforts at writing coincide with the onset of the zombie outbreak. Loueriro has failed to take advantage o
This is terrible! Boring, poorly paced, nothing evocative . . . it brings zilch of interest to the zombielit genre. The author gives me no reason to care about the MC or anyone he encounters.The structure gave me hope this would be interesting. The story is a series of diary entries which the MC begins, on his psychologist's advice, in an effort to get over the death of his wife. His first efforts at writing coincide with the onset of the zombie outbreak. Loueriro has failed to take advantage of any of the possibilities this offers (e.g. what the MC really thinks about getting stuck with two nuns to protect) and instead falls prey to every pitfall. There is no sense of an internal conversation, or search to know oneself and one's responses to extraordinary death and terror. "I think I'm going to throw up" (p. 56) is as honest as it gets.
1.5 stars. It was too bland to get a one star. One star books at least usually prompt some emotion in me, even if that emotion is rage.
Do not waste your time. There is nothing for you here.
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Although there never seemed to really be a climax, all of the people and situations the main character encounters are interesting. However, both the initial writing and the translation work seem
I struggled to make it past the 1/3 mark, I was so bored. I wanted to like this book. There was plenty to charm me: It was a unique premise for a zombie story. It was about a guy and his cat trying to survive, which definitely hit an emotional chord or three. It was more serious, rather than over-the-top.Although there never seemed to really be a climax, all of the people and situations the main character encounters are interesting. However, both the initial writing and the translation work seem to be a bit bad.
The translation is painfully dry. There are a few glaring grammatical errors, many awkward sudden changes in tense that leave the author's meaning unforgivably unclear. Example: Main character is planning out what he's going to do later, then suddenly the tenses change to "is" doing halfway through the planning, and suddenly we're in the middle of it actually happening. Maybe? I'm still not sure.
Weak plot. I'm talking plot holes, unnecessary diversions, weak character development.
Poor writing that can't be blamed on translation. The character will say "I'm so shocked and horrified" or "Oh boy, that was scary!". It is weak and not very believable. A journal simply makes for poor storytelling when the main character isn't a good storyteller, jumps around awkwardly, etc. There's very little voice in his writing, aside from a cheesy sense of humor that doesn't match up with his bland descriptions of himself as "I'm sitting here absolutely shocked". Etc.
Maybe this book will please you as much as it seems to have pleased all the other reviewers. But maybe it will leave you frustrated for wasting your time.
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Yes, another zombie apocalypse, this time focusing on Spain, one man and his cat and a whole lot of "walking undead".
I could tell that this was translated from another language, there were times when an adjective wasn't quite right, or a scene was just a bit off. Still, it was entertaining. Nice(ish) guy tries to make sure his family is okay, tries to hel
I picked this up through the Kindle lending library to have as an emergency book, but once I started it I read it pretty much straight through.Yes, another zombie apocalypse, this time focusing on Spain, one man and his cat and a whole lot of "walking undead".
I could tell that this was translated from another language, there were times when an adjective wasn't quite right, or a scene was just a bit off. Still, it was entertaining. Nice(ish) guy tries to make sure his family is okay, tries to help out his neighbors and others he comes in contact with, does everything in his power to keep his cat alive, and blogs his way through the first confusing and unsettling weeks of the outbreak.
Still, a couple of complaints:
1) He has solar electricity and a walled in compound, yet goes stir crazy after just a couple of days. Really? Dude, that's called a cushy staycation, no need to go traipsing around the zombies!
2) No one ever calls them zombies. If it looks like a duck and eats the flesh of the living like a duck ... .
3) Skeezy, skeezy observations about the luscious and ripe underage girl. Write her 18 and go for it, but 16? Skeezy.
Still, I'll read the next book most likely, as long as the strange lawyer with the thick rubber wetsuit, cat on a string and fixation on adolescent boobs doesn't completely jump the shark.
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Although this was your typical zombie scenario, I felt like we got to experience the end of the world as we know it right along with the MC. This was told in a journal format and I liked it.
The best part for me, and something I'd no
I actually enjoyed this more than I thought I would. I listened to this on audio and thought the narration was well done. It wasn't until about halfway through that I realized one of my favorite narrators was performing this book, Nick Podehl! No wonder I enjoyed it!Although this was your typical zombie scenario, I felt like we got to experience the end of the world as we know it right along with the MC. This was told in a journal format and I liked it.
The best part for me, and something I'd not seen before, is how attached the MC is to his cat and he goes to extremes to save his beloved pet.
I'll definitely be checking out book 2!
...more The information emerging from Russia is full of contradictions. The government insists there is no problem, and yet health care workers from around the world have been summoned. Is it the West Nile virus? Ebola? Nearby countries are shutting their borders and ordering vaccinations. But against what? Nevertheless, the mysterious virus spreads throughout the world as official information slows to a trickle. Blogs report infected individuals exhibiting extreme a
Review posted at: Read, Rinse, RepeatThe information emerging from Russia is full of contradictions. The government insists there is no problem, and yet health care workers from around the world have been summoned. Is it the West Nile virus? Ebola? Nearby countries are shutting their borders and ordering vaccinations. But against what? Nevertheless, the mysterious virus spreads throughout the world as official information slows to a trickle. Blogs report infected individuals exhibiting extreme aggression, attacking other people.
Apocalypse Z is written in the form of a daily journal by a young Spanish widower which gives the story a sense of urgency and immediacy. The unnamed narrator, along with his cat, Lucullus, must make a decision: When society has fallen, is it wiser to seek refuge among other survivors, or should you tough it out on your own? I suppose every form of apocalypse requires a different approach, but in the case of zombies, the answer is clear: stay away from huge clusters of humans, lest you all become dinner.
The narrator exhibits intelligence not often seen during a zombie apocalypse. What does he wear to battle zombies? A neoprene wetsuit! Genius - it's form-fitting, so zombies can't grab hold of him easily, he's covered from head to toe, and most important - neoprene is not easy to bite or claw through.
It's hard to find unique stories in the zombie genre anymore, and I won't claim that this one breaks new ground. But the combination of exciting action, good depictions of violence, and genuine intelligence exhibited by the lead character make this an enjoyable read.
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This was a fun piece of zombie fiction told through journal entries of a survivor. The narrative was a good balance between serious subject matter and humorous musing. Cat people will enjoy the main character's feline companion who played a major role in the story. I liked that this novel was written from a non-American point of view, providing a wider perspective on the pandemic. While not the most original story, I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good zombie novel. 3.5 Stars
This was a fun piece of zombie fiction told through journal entries of a survivor. The narrative was a good balance between serious subject matter and humorous musing. Cat people will enjoy the main character's feline companion who played a major role in the story. I liked that this novel was written from a non-American point of view, providing a wider perspective on the pandemic. While not the most original story, I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoys a good zombie novel. ...more
A couple of days back, I decided to venture into the zombie infested wastelands again as I was not in the mood to continue with my other books. And as soon as I knew that Manel Loureiro has written a zombie book which was set in a different country,
Ever since I read World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War, reading PA zombie fiction has become one of my guilty pleasures. Whenever I feel like I am having a "reader's block", I pick up a zombie book to get out of it, and so far it has worked!A couple of days back, I decided to venture into the zombie infested wastelands again as I was not in the mood to continue with my other books. And as soon as I knew that Manel Loureiro has written a zombie book which was set in a different country, Spain, rather than US or UK as most of the zombie books are, I decided to have a go at it. And thankfully enough, the protagonist was not ex-army or of a similar background, but a lawyer (The author himself is a lawyer in real life, so basically he wrote himself as the protagonist; standard zombie fiction fare). But for a change, it was refreshing to read about someone who didn't have the professional skills to kill the hordes of undead with powerful weapons and deadly moves but instead survived by keeping his wits about him. Curiously enough, Manel Loureiro hasn't use the word "Zombie" even once to describe the undead.
There were some doubtful speculations done by the author regarding the less developed countries faring better in a zombie apocalypse compared to the western world, but what the hell, we are talking about zombies here. Leave your brain out of your room (preferably where nobody could eat it) before you read these kind of books.
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My first love has always been zombies. I picked this audiobook up in September of 2017, and then it languished for the next 2 years. During that time I might have read one too many Zombie novels of questionable quality and it turned me I need to start out by saying that the version of Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End that I read was an English translation of the original Spanish version. Because of this I am going to be giving some benefit of the doubt when it comes to reviewing this book.
My first love has always been zombies. I picked this audiobook up in September of 2017, and then it languished for the next 2 years. During that time I might have read one too many Zombie novels of questionable quality and it turned me off. But in January of 2021, I decided that it was time to delve into my growing pile of TBR books piling up in my Kindle and on my bookshelf. And so I started reading Apocalypse Z: The Beginning of the End.
I really liked 98% of this book. My biggest problem was the introduction of a 17 year old female survivor, with perky breasts. Yes, he described her breasts. Our hero and protagonist in the book is in his late 20's early 30's. Can you see where I am going here? I could have done without the Lolita subplot, even though it was only hinted at the end of the book. I can see the writing on the wall for book two.
Five years ago, I would take this moment to rake the author and our protagonist over the coals about rescuing the cat, not once, but multiple times, because I mean come on people…. It's a cat! But I have spent the last three years with a partner who loves me, but would hamstring me in a minute, if it would save the cat! So I'm letting that one pass. Trust me it is a real thing.
All and all, this is a solid 3 star book. I will eventually read the rest of the books in the series; hopefully it won't take me another 2 years to do it.
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This is the first of three. All are written, but unfortunately for those of us that only speak/read English, this is the only one that's been translated from the original Spanish.
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The writing was smooth and well done. I loved the fact that the narrator went through hellish moments to save his cat. It's nice to see a pet that's not disposable the moment the going gets rough.
I never felt affected by what I was reading. It's like I was on one of those tour buses - "and over here, we have a man with his intestines hanging out. And if you look to your left, you'll see sad children zombies." Zombie
A survivor in Spain narrates the zombie plague through blogs and journal entries.The writing was smooth and well done. I loved the fact that the narrator went through hellish moments to save his cat. It's nice to see a pet that's not disposable the moment the going gets rough.
I never felt affected by what I was reading. It's like I was on one of those tour buses - "and over here, we have a man with his intestines hanging out. And if you look to your left, you'll see sad children zombies." Zombie books should horrify.
A good zombie book, but not an excellent one (they are out there, believe it or not!) I would not read the sequel.
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Apocalypse Z is not original. Nowhere within Loureiro's zombie novel do we find anything new in terms of a zombie apocalypse. The zombies are the same old
When I first heard of this book, I was unimpressed. I thought this was yet another feeble attempt for an author to cash in on the again resurgent zombie genre. Really, how many books have been written in this departement in the last 3 or 4 years? 100? 500? 1,000's? And even then, how many are original enough to be even considered worth reading?Apocalypse Z is not original. Nowhere within Loureiro's zombie novel do we find anything new in terms of a zombie apocalypse. The zombies are the same old ones we see time and time again; flesh-eating shamblers who refuse to stay dead unless shot in the head, humanity on the brink of extinction left to fight the growing herd of undead, the emotions of the survivors, etc., etc.
Now, I will be the first to admit that I am not one to look for these things in a novel of this genre. I actually dislike authors who try to put an orignal spin on these kind of things (The "Monster" series by David Wellington being ai example of that), so the fact that Apocalypse Z isn't new did nothing to dissuade me from liking it.
What I did like, and what did give this book such a high rating in my book was Louriero's nameless lawyer. Some will hate his somewhat wimpy demeanor, and his lack of brute force, but I, personally, enjoyed this. In countless PA novels, the main character is a no-nonsense, shoot-til-you-drop, gun totting, expert marksman. This has been redone so many times that it has gotten old. The nameless main character in Apocalypse Z was just the kind of fresh air this genre needed. Like most survivors of a decimating plague, the poor guy is book-smarts, and has a few tricks up his sleeve, but he is afraid of guns, afraid of outcomes, and generally seems like a down-to-earth, realistic person. That he loves his cat so much also adds a human and believable element to him.
There is also the complete and full backstory that the character blogs and later writes about. Usually I don't seem to care on where a disease comes from, just how deadly it is and the kind of destruction it will wreak on humanity. Apocalypse Z gives us the whole backstory and covers all the bases. Loureiro clearly did his research and thought this whole thing out, long before he wrote it.
A few loose ends at the conclusion of this book may leave some scratching their heads, but there are 2 more books in the series just waiting to be translated for those of us in America unfortunate enough to have to wait.
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For me, the idea of telling the apocalyptical story by an average Joe through blog updates may have been novel and fun at the start, but it sure got old very fast. The writer relied entirely on it to tell his
I have to thank my friend for loaning me out this ebook just to try it out. And I'm very glad I got to read this for free. This is one of the boring books I have ever read, I'm afraid. I could not understand all the raving reviews of other readers here. Well, there's no accounting for taste.For me, the idea of telling the apocalyptical story by an average Joe through blog updates may have been novel and fun at the start, but it sure got old very fast. The writer relied entirely on it to tell his novel, thus making the point-of-view very limited. The writing was at worst clunky, repetitive, not very creative, but downright light, readable at best, like lazily written by a juvenile delinquent pretending to be an adult. It made me wonder if the translator blotched the job even further.
It would have been more interesting if the novel shifted to various point-of-views, explaining all the nuts and bolts of the upheaval- describing this world-wide event and its ramifications with even more detail, rather than letting the nameless hero just dodge and shoot the zombies from one building to the other. Can one just evade the walking dead forever? Even Alice of Resident Evil had some goal of taking down the bad guys and evil management once and for all, or until the sequel comes out.
Heck, even Lucullus the cat's point of view would have been interesting too. What's the purpose of the cat in the story anyway? Wilson ball or cutesy comic relief mascot for the Who-Must-Not-Be-Named hero? This cat's survival instincts were at par or his luck is as unbelievably fortuitous as his master's.
I can't believe all the 300-plus pages have been flicked on as fast as my finger could and not that much had transpired, and suddenly the book is finished, the sequel is about to start. Characters introduced were forgettable and under-developed aside from Prit. And how can we take seriously Lucia – the girl with the perky breast. I mean, really? How can we take this particular scene seriously when the naughty girl just nibbles at his earlobe?
And what the heck was in the briefcase that they all had so much trouble to go through and the writer just conveniently blows up to save him from giving a decent explanation?
Ahh, the nameless hero would just say and I quote, "…questions and more questions and not a f*cking answer!" or "What the h*ll? That sucks."
Not a very goodread indeed.
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The author, Manel Loureiro is Spanish and this book begun as a popular blog in his home country of Spain and then it obviously transferred into a book format. It's been a best seller in Spain, Italy and Brazil and now for the first time translated
I have to say this is one of the best Zombie novels I have read, incredibly fast and full of constant suspense and action, it's one of those books you find hard to put down and when you do you find yourself thinking I want to find out what happens next!The author, Manel Loureiro is Spanish and this book begun as a popular blog in his home country of Spain and then it obviously transferred into a book format. It's been a best seller in Spain, Italy and Brazil and now for the first time translated into English.
The book tracks the beginnings of a world wide zombie plague and breakdown of modern civilization from the view point of a young man living on his own with his cat in the small town of Pontevedra in the northern Spanish region of Galicia. Each chapter takes the format of a diary or blog entry and is incredibly addictive, you find yourself reading voraciously to find out what happens next in horror as first he sees the breakdown spread across Europe and America in the media and then eventually it arrives at his door. Fleeing with his life he manages to find his way to the city of Vigo and from there a perilous journey across a devastated city scape populated with the undead.
I absolutely loved this book, a real treat for lovers of Zombie fiction and so refreshing from a Spanish point of view instead of the usual American or British settings for most zombie fiction out there. I note from the end covers that Manel has written three books in his Apocalypse Z series, so I really hope that these other books get translated into English as I would really like to read more from this author.
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(view spoiler)[The protagonist meets a teenaged girl named Lucia in an aban
I was planning on giving this book a solid 3 stars--a fun, quick read--until the last couple of chapters. I liked the story originally because the protagonist seemed like an ordinary dude who couldn't leave his cat behind to starve even as the apocalypse rolled through his town. I'd probably be stupid enough to do the same with my dogs, so I could empathize. Then the wish fulfillment started getting a biiiit too blatant.(view spoiler)[The protagonist meets a teenaged girl named Lucia in an abandoned hospital--one of the only survivors he's come across in his entire misadventure--and the very first thing me mentions: her breasts and "sexy body." Naturally. Then, as we come to the dramatic conclusion of the novel, the protagonist, his buddy, a nun, and this teenaged girl are fleeing from a burning hospital, riding in a smoke-filled elevator with hordes of zombies surrounding them. Lucia comforts the protagonist during this terrifying, life-or-death ordeal: Ew. (hide spoiler)]I opened my eyes and saw the calm look on Lucia's face. She squeezed my arm affectionately and whispered warmly in my ear, "Take it easy. Everything'll be all right." Then she gave my earlobe a playful, not-so-innocent nibble that almost sent me through the roof of the elevator. Naughty girl.
Originally written in Spanish, and translated recently into English, Apocalypse Z is the journal of Survivor Man, a widowed lawyer, and his cat, Lucullus, and their experience of the global zombie apocalypse. What I really liked about the journal format in this case was that he does include a lot of information about the fall of the world to the undead, and that his journey always has a purpose - whether searching for other survivors, or escaping a bunch of dodgy sailors and their crazy captain - and he's also dedicated to his cat.
Pets in the apocalypse are rarely touched upon, and although there a few examples of dogs as companions or family members while fighting zombies, this is probably the first one I've come across with a cat - and as a cat person, it was a huge added bonus.
There was a turn in the plot halfway through, when Survivor Man meets a bunch of sailors on their ship, and this is where Apocalypse Z lost me a little, because I didn't really understand the point of it, and it all seemed a little far fetched and unnecessary. It did drive the rest of the plot, but it didn't sit very well with me - it felt like the author had imagined the most unlikely scenario possible just for the sake of having something unique, rather than something that fit.
Overall Apocalypse Z is a good, solid zombie read. It didn't blow me away, but it was enough to keep me satisfied and turning the pages, and I loved that the main character was so dedicated to his cat, and treated it more like a person than 'just an animal'. It does have some unique aspects, but not all of them felt to me like they belonged. However, I'll be interested to see where this series goes next, however currently the next book is not yet translated into English.
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The plot is related in blog entries and then journal entries from a lawyer in Spain. He recounts how rumors started and then how things got worse from there. He includes his account
This is probably the best zombie book that I have read. I have always wondered why every zombie book and every zombie movie seems to only have adult zombies. What happened to all the zombie children? Well, this book definitely remembers the children and there are several horrific scenes involving children and babies.The plot is related in blog entries and then journal entries from a lawyer in Spain. He recounts how rumors started and then how things got worse from there. He includes his account of what the had to do to try and escape and find "safety" if in fact such a place exists.
There is a lot of war and killing descriptions. Loureiro includes all the different ways that heads look like when they explode. It is people vs. zombies, so there is a reason for all the violence and description of death. But, just be warned.
I definitely learned some things that I might want to remember if there is ever a zombie apocalypse.I don't think these are spoilers, but if in doubt, don't keep reading.
1. Don't go to government requested "safe havens" because all of those people will attrack the zombies.
2. Try and get on the water ASAP. Seeing that I live in a land-locked area, I need to figure out what lake is the closest to me and then plan on going there.
3. If you see a broken down boat, do not make contact with them
4. Either know how to negotiate like a lawyer (read the book for this to make sense) or know how to use rifles and other weapons.
5. Have a stock pile of food and generators.
6. Know basic first aid and have first aid supplies with you
7. Unlike the movies, running over someone will ruin your car and leave you stranded. It is better to go around an obstacle
8. Don't go to hospitals or anywhere where large amounts of people go.
9. Knowing how to fly something, like a helicopter would be an added bonus
However, I'm glad I stuck with it. I picked up the audio version and found that within a few journal entries from where I gave up, there is a secondary character worth reading about. He's still not that deep, but it gave me some kind of interaction. By the end of the book, there is a small gang that could be a good supporting cast for future books.
That character stuff is really my biggest problem. The writing is excellent. It's hard to write about zombies these days without sounding cliche, but he does a good job of description and creating tense scenarios. Nice cinematic conclusion. There is plenty left to explore in this story universe, and I will definitely be along for the next installment.
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On one hand, there's something weirdly hypnotic about the day-by-day, step-by-step guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse. (Step 1: Be a very rich man with your own private compound in rural Spain, complete with solar panels, generator and diving gear - so, you know, it isn't even useful.)
On the other hand, it has all the character development, plot, and charm of an IKEA manual. Except without even the warmt
Another in the school of Wool-esque, Martian-esque brutally functional school of SF/F.On one hand, there's something weirdly hypnotic about the day-by-day, step-by-step guide to surviving the zombie apocalypse. (Step 1: Be a very rich man with your own private compound in rural Spain, complete with solar panels, generator and diving gear - so, you know, it isn't even useful.)
On the other hand, it has all the character development, plot, and charm of an IKEA manual. Except without even the warmth of illustrations.
Apocalypse Z has a few good bits: the action isn't bad, and there are some rare dives into actual, emotive horror. But, again, most of this book is detail. Lots and lots of detail. So much detail. Detail detail detail. Functional and banal, and, at times, totally nonsensical: "Prit carried the AK-47, the heavy box of ammunition and the some of the food in one hand" (those are some big ol' hands).
And, [SPOILERS] (view spoiler)[ after 90% of running around either alone, or with a single, male sidekick, the appearance of the sole female character spells absolute disaster. Very first paragraph: "I detected perky breasts under the enormous faded sweater she was wearing". (hide spoiler)]
It doesn't get better after that.
So,... not great.
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My biggest problem with the book, however, was the ending. Or rather the stopping. Because it didn't really seem to end so much as just stop rather suddenly, as though the author hit a wordcount goal and then said, "All done!"
Had the book come to a better resolution, I would have awarded an extra star. As it is, I still liked it and will probably look into this author again (though not in any hurried manner).
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I wasn't especially enamored with the way some characters were just introduced in the last twenty percent of the story. Where the two females were inserted felt awkward and should have either been done earlier or been held off until the sequel.
Overall, it was a decent read. I had a few issues with it, but enjoyed it nevertheless.
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I'm not usually a fan of stories told through Journals, but this book is an exception. The main character is writing a journal to help him grieve his wife's death, but soon the journal entries center around the strange occurrences happening in Russia. As he writes every day, t Almost every zombie book I've read so far takes place in the United States or in England, but this story takes place in Spain, proving the pain and the horror would be the same all over the world during a zombie apocalypse.
I'm not usually a fan of stories told through Journals, but this book is an exception. The main character is writing a journal to help him grieve his wife's death, but soon the journal entries center around the strange occurrences happening in Russia. As he writes every day, the world spirals more and more out of control as the sickness begins to spread.
Soon he begins an epic journey to survive, and the rest of the story is filled with nonstop action, bravery and courage. Along the way, he finds a few other survivors, and the book leaves us wanting more as they make their way, to what they hope, is a safe area.
It's nice to have another intelligent zombie book to read aimed at adults and not teenagers. ...more
International bestselling author Manel Loureiro was born in Pontevedra, Spain and studied law at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. After graduating, he worked in television, both on-screen (appearing on Televisión de Galicia) and behind the scenes as a writer. His Apocalypse Z trilogy—The Beginning of the End, Dark Days, and The Wrath of the Just—took him from the blogosphere to bestsellerdo
International bestselling author Manel Loureiro was born in Pontevedra, Spain and studied law at Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. After graduating, he worked in television, both on-screen (appearing on Televisión de Galicia) and behind the scenes as a writer. His Apocalypse Z trilogy—The Beginning of the End, Dark Days, and The Wrath of the Just—took him from the blogosphere to bestsellerdom, earning him acclaim as "the Spanish Stephen King" by La Voz de Galicia. Loureiro continues to reside in his native Pontevedra.
Manel Loureiro trabaja como abogado en Pontevedra. Mientras estudiaba derecho en la Universidad de Santiago de Compostela, compatibilizó sus estudios con varios trabajos de televisión, primero como presentador de diversos programas y más tarde como guionista, momento en el que descubrió su faceta como escritor. Apocalipsis Z es su primera novela, tras haberse convertido en un fenómeno de culto en Internet, donde ha sido leída por miles de personas de todo el mundo.
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Apocalypse Z the Beginning of the End Read Online
Source: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/16103129
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