Review: A Post-Apocalyptic Book for Dog Lovers
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 05 1, 2014
I have been debating on whether I should give this book 4 or 5 stars, so I decided to go somewhere in between and give it 4.5 stars. And then I decided to round it up to 5.In this post-apocalyptic novel, a virus has gotten into the water and turns people into vicious, zombie-like cannibals. They're not actual zombies since they're not dead; they're considered the Turned. It may sound like the same old, but there is nothing typical about this book. There are no zombie hordes or long drawn out descriptions of zombie violence. And even though there are some intense scenes, this story is not filled with non-stop action. It often reads more like literary fiction. The main protagonist is Rex, who is a very realistic character. He is flawed but easy to relate to. And he is a dog lover, which made me love him even more. Rex is left with just his one dog, Soldier, and he treats her as if she were his child. My husband and I are the same way with our dogs because they ARE our children. There are so many nuances to this that dog lovers will appreciate. As a matter of fact, it is very clear that Rex prefers dogs over humans. I certainly can't blame him!Rex is not your typical hero. Survival is not his number one priority. He is more concerned about having enough bullets to kill himself and his dog quickly so that they will not have to suffer. Yet, he still holds on for as long as possible, and he meets some horrible people along the way (and some decent people too). Some of the uninfected end up being more dangerous than the infected.I loved the flashbacks (and other encounters) he had with his girlfriend, Kerrie. Their relationship was depicted very well. They definitely had a lot of issues, but it still seemed that they loved each other. You really get to know Rex; a psychiatrist could easily do a psychological profile on him. There's a certain rawness to this book that I admire. It's a heavy read filled with depth and meaning. Rex doesn't believe that humans are worth saving. But then he reflects on what he could have done to prevent this and how he should have lived his life. He often relived moments from his past and attempted to change decisions he made.The writing in this book is often metaphorical and quite beautiful. Descriptions of the Australian landscape were well captured. There were times when I had to re-read certain passages to make sure I fully grasped everything. There were also some Australian terms I was unfamiliar with, but I always enjoy learning more about other places (especially a place that I would love to be able to visit someday).Some of the scenes were emotionally charged, and one scene in particular had me very upset, but I don't want to give away any spoilers. The ending was also very unexpected...I really enjoyed this book, and I would definitely recommend it. If you prefer high action dystopian, this may not be the book for you. But if you are looking to read a thought provoking story with well developed characters, you should definitely check this one out.