Saturday 12 January 2013

Alice in Zombieland



Alice in Zombieland (White Rabbit Chronicles #1) by Gena Showalter


Rating: 3.5 stars

I've never really been a big fan of zombies. I don't know why, but scary undead that eats other people's brains just didn't appeal to me. However, I was intrigued enough by Alice in Zombieland to pick it up and read it. I'm glad I did. Gena Showalter changed the idea of zombies slightly to make them less disgusting and more of a formidable opponent.

I liked how it practically got right to the point from the start. It was quite a different kind of narration. Alice was both talking about the past and living in the present. The way the author wrote created an intimate and bone-chilling atomsphere of creepiness. I felt like I was holding something moldy and scary yet inconceivably delicate and good. The creepy (yes, I know I'm using that word quite a lot, and I'll be repeating it in this review, but that's just the one main feeling I got from reading this book) environment was etched in my mind. I could imagine all the gruesome figures of the zombies, as well as the epic fights that took place and the haunting images of the darkness. This whole writing style suited with the creepy theme, and that, I liked!

I didn't root for Ali and Cole's romance at all at the start. Their relationship ticked me off big time. It was all so sudden and too fast, AND it didn't seem real. To me, it felt like that certain factors had "forced" (not really forced, hence the quotation marks) them together. Ali and Cole just didn't seem to click for me. Cole was a classic jerk to me. I didn't like him at all. He seemed violent and menacing. However, my opinion of him and their relationship changes a little during the course of the book and as the story progresses, I do want them to be together as everyone wishes a workable (if barely) romance to have its happy ending. Ali did mature quite a bit at the end.

Another thing I didn't like was the whole "I can't think when I'm around him" crap from Ali in reaction to Cole. Not the angry I-can't-think, but the "Oh, he's so hot he's short-circuited my brain" I-can't-think. To me, this was utterly pathetic. Sure, you can have one or two of those moments, especially when he's not bullying you in your face (well, not the completely hurtful kind of bullying, more like taking advantage?). But girl, when you need your wits and smarts, I expect you to have it! (<<<Directed at Ali) I didn't like how Ali always seemed to follow Cole's commands too quickly. (And yea, I didn't like the whole "You and your commands" bit in the book much either. To me, the guy you date need to have at least the basic courtesy of politeness)

Also, I couldn't stand how Ali's later friends looked down on her at the start. It just didn't seem right to be in-your-face with a new comer just because you didn't know who they are/capable of. The way they underestimated Ali just ticked me off. Have some faith!

Aside from all that, there's one thing that I loved about the book: Kat. I loved Kat, absolutely loved Kat (don't get me wrong, just the super awesome friend kinda love). She was such an awesome character. Seriously, you've just gotta give it to that girl. She is the best friend someone could possibly have. She was funny, way-way-way supportive and trusting. She would have taken a blade for Ali in a heartbeat. Having her there really lightened the mood and made things a lot more manageable. Oh and Kat's ego, just thinking about it makes me laugh. She's definitely my favourite character, and for her alone I would read this book.

Wow, alright, I didn't plan on a long review, but here it is. I did like this book, though didn't love it. Despite all its faults, I did enjoy it. So, I would recommened it for a not-too-serious read. Nice creepy read though :P

Synopsis

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….


I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

14 comments:

  1. I have heard a lot about this one, but haven't been the biggest fan of zombies myself. Glad you enjoyed some parts at least though.
    Happy reading,
    Brandi from Blkosiner’s Book Blog

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  2. Oh it's too bad you didn't love it. I really really liked it, it was awesome and I'm like you - I don't like the traditional zombies and I really liked the zombies here:)

    Lovely review:)

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  3. Hm, the romance aspects sound obnoxious, but I'm intrigued by the new spin on zombies (and that cover: I completely admit to being sometimes shallow). I really like horror and everything creepy, so maybe I'll check this one out.

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  4. I'll pass on this one. Thanks for the review. The Insta-love bit turned me off.

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  5. Love Showalter's books and this one is a must for me.

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  6. I love your review.. This is now on my TBR list and cannot wait to read it! :)

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  7. This was my first Gina Showalter book and I loved her style of writing and the humor in the book. The jokes surrounding her "tech savvy" grandparents, cracked me up:) I look forward to the next book. I kind of liked her relationship with Cole because he was very protective and it wasn't all sappy. Thanks for your thoughts!

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  8. I love zombie books, and have been curiously reading a bunch of reviews that I've come across. I think I'd like this book, though that whole Ali and Cole business sounds like it may just wind up getting on my nerves as well. I like a good and strong female character. I still want to read this book though :) Thanks for your honesty, always appreciated!

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  9. I'm not sure about the romance but the rest of the book sounds really good. I enjoy zombies and this sounds really interesting twist on them so I'm curious to read more about that. Thanks for the review!

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  10. i love it...
    i love zombie novels and i love gena showalter's novel...
    what a great combination :)

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  11. I've never read a zombie book but this one caught my eye because of the great cover! I'm glad that you said it's not too creepy! I liked your comments - good and bad - and can't wait to read this for myself!

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  12. great review! soo many mixed reviews...but mostly disappointed.
    i already bought this book though

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  13. A nice, creepy read is exactly what I want from this book. Creepy is never a bad thing. The more creep the better! So, aside from the whole I can't think around him thing, which will drive me crazy to NO END, I think I might like this one pretty darn well. Thanks for the great review!

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  14. I am really curious with this book. I was had buy this book and now i waiting this book with patiently on my home!!

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