Sunday, September 28, 2008

World War Z

Ok, continuing on with the book theme, this is my newest read...well, along with the six other books I'm reading. It's a library book though so it's jumped to the top of the reading list. Perhaps unsurprisingly, it did not make it onto The Big Read's top 100 list. However, 40 pages in, I have to say it's a good read. If you like pandemics. And zombies.

The book is written as a collection of oral histories from survivors of a world wide zombie epidemic. It's not presented as a Dawn of the Dead type typical zombie story, but as an epidemic caused by a communicable pathogen that causes zombie-like symptoms. The interviews are done with people from all walks of life and from all over the world and the path of the disease is followed through their stories. As I said, I'm only 40 pages in, but so far I love it.

After all of the excitement this morning... sorry, yesterday over the 100 Books list, I'm thinking of doing my own list. Not necessarily of books I think you should read, but more of books that I've read and loved and why. I love book lists, but they always tend towards classics or the English Lit version of what you should read. Let me rephrase that. They tend towards, IF YOU DIDN'T READ THIS THEN YOU'RE AN ILLITERATE FOOL AND PROBABLY INBRED. Who needs that? Yes, there are books that you should read. Not because if you don't you'll be a lesser person for it, but because there are some books that touch on so many other works you have read and you may not even realize it until you do. And not only other books, but movies, TV, plays, cartoons, you name it. When you go the whole, READ THIS DAMMIT route you turn it into homework. Maybe you can get a person to start reading one of those books, but are they going to enjoy it? Or are they just going to push through it to say that they've read it, or worse, give up.

I'm not saying The Big Read list is one of those, really, I just went off on a tangent. And now I'm sitting in front of my computer looking at the time and wondering what the hell I was getting at and how do I wrap this up because there's a big warm bed (with a small warm person in it) and a stack of books beside it that I'd like to go read. Ok, here's the thing. I read a lot of other peoples lists today and I heard many people, both bloggers and commentors, making excuses for not having read the list. The list is a suggestion. The National Endowment For The Arts isn't telling you you're dumb because you haven't read these books. It's saying that these are some amazing books and we think you would really enjoy them. But you also have lives, jobs, CHILDREN, and that is a pretty steep list. If you have only read a couple, or even none, so what. You're not dead yet, you still have time. And hey, maybe you didn't like anything that was on that list. Maybe you only like science-fiction. Or Danielle Steele. So what. In the end, I think all that really matters is that you do read. And if you have children, go read to them. Because that is even more important.

*Are you wondering how you got here from a review of book about zombies? Me too.

22 comments:

  1. Great Sunday morning tangent. You type like you're on a Sunday drive this morning. lol

    I'm all for non-literary or just non-snooty type lists. :o)

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  2. Just for you, Cap'n? I'm gonna post more than once today. And I'm gonna go to eReader and see if I can get World War Z. Looks and sounds like my kinda book.

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  3. rhea-it was a Sunday morning drive on a Saturday night, so maybe I was just drunk.

    maw-post twice? Again? I'm giddy with anticipation.

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  4. I just may look your book up too. Not because I want to but I don't want to be caught in the cross hairs of another rant. I kid because I love. I think I'll give it a try but my book club gals may balk at it a bit.

    I love book lists as well. I've never stopped to measure myself against to feel badly about reading or not reading them. What does it say about me that when the AMC List of 100 Movies you must see comes out and I've seen almost every one? Well, up until 4 years ago anyway. I don't think Madagascar and the countless other animated films I watch hundreds of times each week would make that list.

    Believe it or not, I actually had more to say but I forgot what it was. Viva La Canada!

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  5. That sounds like a great book. I may have to check that one out...but not at my local library. Cause they're communist.

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  6. See! Separated. At. Birth. AMC 100 list! Same here. Very. Short. Sentences. Supreme Leader and I used to see everything, we even saw Pixar films pre-kids. Now I know Finding Nemo, The Lion King, Cars & The Incredibles verbatim. Sigh.

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  7. Nothin worse than Southern Communists. Their accents just wreck words like proletariat and manifesto.

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  8. Just for that, I'm gonna say those specific words on a vid for you.

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  9. Dammit, I was dredging my just woken up brain for communist lingo and that was the best I could come up with.

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  10. I kind of just "whipped" you over at Mama Dawgs. Sorry? Forgive me?

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  11. I've been married for 12 years, I'm used to it.

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  12. I'll throw in a comrade and communism.

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  13. You're the best! For a communist. Could you sing a bit of this too?

    1.
    Союз нерушимый республик свободных
    Сплотила навеки Великая Русь!
    Да здравствует созданный волей народов
    Единый, могучий Советский Союз!

    ПРИПЕВ:

    Славься, Отечество наше свободное,
    Дружбы народов надёжный оплот!
    Партия Ленина — сила народная
    Нас к торжеству коммунизма ведёт!

    I miss the Soviets, they had the scariest anthem.

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  14. Wow, Zombies, Communists, Soviet anthems, movies. There's a lot going on here.

    Fact: Zombies have plenty of time to read the books on the Big Read's list. 'Cause they're undead. They can just read, and see movies, and kill random people whenever they want. Until someone cuts their head off with a Samurai sword.

    Damn Zombies. I'm so jealous.

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  15. I forgot to tell you that I hope you do put your own list out there. So that I can agree with and/or ridicule your choices.

    Just kidding. I'm always really interested in what other people are reading.

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  16. I love zombies! putting it on my list of books to read.

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  17. bc- I always enjoy being ridiculed and I am seriously going to do it. However I'm obliged to spend some time with my family today.

    jodi-It's really a good book. I'd lend you mine but the Richmond Public Library would be really pissed.

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  18. okay, so I am ready trashy, raunchy novels at night and that suits me just fine. HOWEVER, if i SHOULD clean up my reading, that book tops the list. really.

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  19. Great blog! But of course you've probably discovered by now that this list you mention is not the NEA's Big Read but is one compiled in the U.K. by the BBC. The NEA's Big Read (neabigread.org) has a few dozen books and they provide grants to communities for book discussions and free resources. Just thought NEA Big Read should get proper credit for their work. This list is a fun game though and interesting comments.

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  20. So THAT's the Book? Looks like cIII is going down the Bookstore this evening.

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  21. Totally not a zombie or vampire fan, though I do dig the occasional apocalyptic book. Just to scare the bejesus outta myself and make me hug my children closer, i guess.
    The book? Pretty freaking cool. Written journalistic style, as an account after brains were eaten.
    Delicious.

    Please note: Don't read when you're pregnant (I had some messed up womb-eating dreams) and read it with caution if your power is out.

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Come on, sailor. I love you long time.