The new hunger
Ratings5
Average rating4
15
Ratings5
Average rating4
"The must-read prequel to the "strange and unexpected" (Audrey Niffenegger) and "highly original" (Seattle Times) zombie love story Warm Bodies--the New York Times bestseller and inspiration for the hit film--from the critically acclaimed author whose clever debut turned the classic horror story on its head. The end of the world didn't happen overnight. After years of war, societal breakdown, freak storms, and rising tides, humanity already hovered near the edge. Then came the most unexpected threat of all: the world's corpses rising up to deliver the final blow. Born into this bleak and bloody landscape, twelve-year-old Julie struggles to hold on to hope as she and her parents drive across the wastelands of America on a nightmarish road trip in search of a new home. Hungry, lost, and terrified, sixteen-year-old Nora finds herself her brother's sole guardian after her parents abandon them in the not-quite-empty ruins of Seattle. And in the darkness of a forest, a dead man opens his eyes. Who is he? What is he? With no clues beyond a red tie and the letter "R," he must unravel the grim mystery of his existence--right after he learns how to think, how to walk, and how to satisfy the monster howling in his belly."--
"The prequel to zombie love story WARM BODIES, THE NEW HUNGER depicts Julie and R's lives in post-apocalyptic America before they met"--
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Sixteen year old Nora is looking after her younger brother, keeping them both alive as they wander the wasteland that used to be the United States of America. Somehow, despite the horrors they've witnessed, her brother's held on to a sense of morality about how to treat others.
Twelve year old Julie Grigio is travelling with her parents, looking for the safe haven mentioned in the Almanac. But the Almanac is several months old, and news travels slowly while the zombie plague and other dangers spread much faster.
A dead man awakens near a river, unaware of everything. But as time passes, he remembers bits of his former life, even as a hunger starts to overtake him.
This is a prequel novella to Marion's zombie novel Warm Bodies. It's a self-contained story so if you haven't read the book, like me, you'll have no trouble following along or enjoying the story.
It's a pretty bleak tale, with some disturbing imagery (including some short but rather disgusting descriptions that I could have done without), but there's an underlying message of hope, that even when things are at their worst, some people continue to see the good in others and fight for a better world.
While on the longer side for a novella, it's still impressive how invested in the character you become. They're well fleshed out and interesting, with quirks, hopes and fears.
I've seen the film version of Warm Bodies, but this novella makes me want to read the book.
I read the first book (Warm Bodies) in the series many years ago and was too young to appreciate Marions writing. He manages to set up the world of the apocalypse as if you're walking along with the characters and can feel hopelessness, yet there's a slight undertone of hope.
The book follows Nora, Julie and Tall Man as they navigate the new world of the apocalypse. From being chased by zombies, defending themselves against other survivors, finding shelter for the night - we're right there along with them. The characters are likeable, and despite one of them being a zombie it feels like he's too smart to be one.
Super excited to read the whole series this time around!
