Review: A unique twist
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 01 12, 2014
The short: this is a unique twist on the zombie genre. If you’re tired of the slow, shambling dead (as I was), if you want a touch of comedy and don’t mind being in the mind of a viral young man - then this may be the book for you. End of short.I had to read BSAC three times before I could write a review. The first two times (one year apart), I tore through the book, practically in inhaling it. The story just carried me from one scene to another and I couldn’t put it down. I couldn’t read fast enough. This last time (a year after the 2nd read through), I took my time. I slowed down and paid very close attention to everything. I caught subtle context that I had missed previously, but it didn’t change the book. I still love it. BSAC is my happy book. If I’m down, I can pick it up and ride along with Frank and listen to his … unique… conversation and laugh out loud.First thing about this book – these are not your typical zombies. These are people who died, who sat in a darkness then came back. And they remember that darkness and it scared them. Scared them so bad that they’ll do anything to not die again. So they have no qualms about eating people or doing nasty things to them. Oh, they come back with long fingernails, too. And they don’t have any of the stumbling blocks of typical zombies. These zombies still have their intelligence, they’re fast and strong.Second – Frank. Frank, Frank, Frank. Our hero. Our comedian. Our twenty-something (?) viral man who’s been killing zombies for two years. Honestly, I don’t know how anyone can remain completely stable in his world. Maybe he’s not. The (hilarious) running commentary in his mind, of which we always partake, is a little off kilter. But that’s what I love about this book. Does he get a little too pre-occupied with his libido? Yes. But hey!  – he’s a young, healthy person who hasn’t had any in a while! Often caught in life-threatening situations – which is scientifically proven to increase the need – and no way to satisfy his need. At least he’s not crude, rude and demeaning of the opposite sex. What I also love about Frank is his heart. It becomes very clear that he *loves* the people in his neighborhood, and he’ll do anything to protect them. Even taking on the role as the official Zombie Exterminator.I find all the main characters nicely developed. They definitely each have a nitch, a certain set of character traits that the author makes very clear. The only character that I don’t fully understand is Buttons. I feel a part of him is missing, which may make sense (I don’t want to give anything away…). I’m not sure if the author wrote him this way on purpose, or decided he wasn’t important enough to properly build. I’m going to choose the first option – it makes the author more ingenious.