Book Review: Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies

Author: Isaac Marion

Genre: Comedy, Horror, Romance

Publish Date: October 14th 2010

Length: 270 Pages

'R' is a Zombie. He has no name, no memories, and no pulse, but he has dreams. He is a little different from his fellow Dead. Among the Ruin of an abandoned city, R meets a girl.

Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion is a new twist on the classic tragedy Romeo and Juliet, bringing together wonderfully aspects of Comedy, Romance and Suspense. R is not like the rest of the dead who inhabit the Earth. He can't remember a single thing about his life before death, but he is different from the rest of his kind: He can talk, although not in a very sophisticated fashion, and he is probably the most sarcastic Zombie I've ever heard of. One day, when out on a hunting trip, he encounters a girl named Julie (R and Julie… Seeing the parallels yet?). Instead of eating her, he saves her a brings her back to his home in an abandoned airport. Something odd grows between the two of them, and through Julie's company, R seems to grow less and less dead. However, Julie can't stay hidden with him forever, not that she wants to, and with her Dad being the head of a group of humans trying to eradicate the Zombie race, things don't look good for R. But what if he was no longer Dead? Things are changing in the world, and R and Julie are just the catalyst needed to spark a revolution.

Review: I absolutely loved this book. As someone who isn't a fan of anything Zombie related (I get nightmares at Shawn of The Dead, what a wimp), I was surprised by how quickly I got into this book. R is the perfect blend of Sarcastic and Profound, and I never thought I'd find myself sympathising with a Zombie. The Romeo and Juliet parallels and quite obvious, (there's even a balcony scene) and at times I wish they'd been more subtle, however they do not spoil the book completely. Julie is a fairly well rounded character, some people have criticised her for being inconsistent just to facilitate the direction in which Marion wanted to take the novel, however, who wouldn't be pretty inconsistent when they've been kidnapped by a Zombie who wants to make friends? 

As for supporting characters Nora is fantastic, I really love her as a character and she in some ways reminds my of Darcy in Thor (although that may be because I watched the films on the same day). 

Yes, it is fairly predictable, but really, there were only two or three directions the story could have gone in, so it really isn't a fault in the writing. For me, as a step on my way to getting over my fear of Zombies, it was fantastic. It's funny and heartwarming, and a nice quick read. What's not to love?

Would I recommend it?: I would definitely recommend it to anyone like me who isn't overly fond of Zombie horror, but still wants to experience the genre. For those who love 'real' Zombie fiction (I'm talking full on nightmare inducing horror) this may not be for you, it's pretty tame compared to some of the other stuff out there. I'd also definitely recommend the film too, Nicholas Hoult is a wonderful R, and he's pretty gorgeous too which doesn't hurt (Is it weird to be attracted to a Zombie…?)

Rating: 7.5/10

Buy it here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Warm-Bodies-Isaac-Marion/dp/0099583828

Book Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

Title: The Night Circus

Author: Erin Morgenstern

Genre: Fantasy, Romance

Publish Date: September 13th 2011

Length: 490 pages

The Circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it... It  is simply there, when Yesterday it was not"

The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern is a whirlwind journey through a world of magic, mystery, romance and illusions. Set late in 19th Century London, the book tells the story of the gifted prodigies of two great 'magicians': Prospero the Enchanter and Mr A.H. (most often referred to as The Man in the Grey Suit). The two are bound together at an early age, destined to spend their lives playing out the tormenting game of their tutors. They are given no rules, no boundaries, not even the identity of their competitor. All they know is that the setting for this game is an intriguing Circus open only at night.

Le Cirque des Reves or Circus of Dreams is unlike any other carnival seen before. Open only when the sun sets, many of the sights inside are mere illusions, however various members of the cast hide their true magical abilities under the guise of trickery. Celia, the daughter of Prospero, takes on the role of the enchanter in this circus, performing wondrous feats in her act, whilst also using her abilities to hold together the fragile circus more than anyone else understands. Her competitor Marco, the orphan ward of Mr A.H. keeps his distance from the Circus, working for its proprietor the eccentric Chandresh Lefevre, however he is also vital in the uphold of the Circus. However, despite the magic that binds them to battle against one another, they fall in love, not knowing the true repercussions this could hold for them and all those involved with the Circus.

Review: This book really was a pleasure to read. The imagery used is beautiful and encapsulating, and after a few chapters I found myself longing to visit a circus again. Erin Morgenstern has created such a wonderfully believable, yet truly magical world for the story that you cannot help but expect to see the Circus's black and white tents on the outskirts of your town. The characters are complex and genuine, and although the cast is rather large, you are never lost through the twining threads. It is written in a non-linear style, each chapter starting with the date and location. My advice would be to make sure you read these or you will soon start wondering what just happened in the chronology.

The two main threads of the story, the first of Celia and Marco, and the story of Bailey and the Twins seem hard to relate to each other at first, but by the end they collide so beautifully. Stay away from spoilers or the temptation to glance at the last few pages; it really will be worth your time. 

Would I recommend it?: Most definitely. Although this books seems to predominately appeal to those interested in magic and childish delights, I can really see anyone enjoying this book. So if you consider yourself a dreamer, why not join the ranks of the Reveurs and step into the Circus?

Rating: 8.5/10

Buy is here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Night-Circus-Erin-Morgenstern/dp/0099554798/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1382182902&sr=8-1&keywords=the+night+circus