When I first heard that World War Z was coming out in theaters, I was a bit shocked at the thought of Brad Pitt starring in a zombie movie. Then I saw Mireille Enos as his wife, a major change from the real life partner: Angelina Jolie. Regardless, I was intrigued and wanted to see the film. However, there’s a part of me that hates to see films prior to reading the novels the films were based on (a minor quirk of mine). So, I thought I’d wait until it came out on DVD or netflix, in the meantime scout out the novel.

Ironically, I was at my favorite used book shop in Georgetown (the part of town, not the campus) [Shout out to The Lantern (for those who know of it, it’s amazing; for those who don’t, go NOW!)] when I stumbled across a used copy of the novel by Max Brooks. I kept it on my shelves for a while (I have a constant supply of a range of books I want to read) until the weekend following my comprehensive exams. I need death, dying, and destruction after that trial that I experienced (and if anyone knows how comps are, they understand my disposition at that point in time).

Anyway, the book is excellent. Now, unlike my other reviews, I won’t go into the explicit positives and negatives. However, one major positive of this novel must be its style. It is a compilation of mini-stories in which discuss how the zombie plague came about, how people protected themselves, and where some hid during the course of the war. In this alone, the book is worth the read. At the same token, after reading it, I was extremely curious how this novel was adapted to film. Seeing how there were so many various characters and really only one constant character whose story really wasn’t a main topic, I was really curious as to how the filmmakers stayed true to the work.

Now, the film is well-done. The zombies are so much more real than the ones in “The Walking Dead” (even though those are quite realistic). But the basic animalistic characteristics that are seen in the film is awesome and really gives a lot to the film. Yet given this, the film still does not compare to the novel, on any level. Brad Pitt’s portrayal of the main character was well-done, and Mireille Enos’ role was much more minor and she seemed much softer than her usual “hard ass” Detective self on “The Killing.” My one complaint (other than not mirroring the novel) was the ending. SPOILER for those who have not read or seen the movie!

The zombies only attack those humans they deem as “healthy,” so a potential way to save the human species is to make those that are healthy then unhealthy. Ok, I understand that, but I really disliked how the film organized the climax and ending. Pitt gained access to biohazardous contagions and then injected himself and he was the guinea pig to see if the method worked. And then the movie ended. Done. The novel told so much more of a story and how the zombie illness affected the human population (death toll, relationships, and people around the globe) that this film really left much of that out which was just…sad.

It would be good for everyone to see both film and read the novel. Or even, and I just thought of this, listen to the book on tape. I’m sure it’s amazing (especially with the right voice). But if you had to choose, read the novel, thought-provoking isn’t even the tip of the iceberg.

So, I had to follow the trend of the rest of the US (especially the female population between ages 12-35) in reading the novel by John Green: The Fault in Our Stars.

It was pretty good, a little sappy, but overall well-written, had some witty dialogue components, and the climax was a bit surprising. I’m just curious that if they [the film industry] did not release the film, if the novel would have gotten the hype that it did? It has been compared to The Notebook and the other major Romance films of our age, but in my opinion the book was dull.

I read a piece in the Washington Post by the sister that the character “Hazel” was based on, and from her perspective the work is an homage to her sister. Perfectly valid, and was well-suited for that. However, I think the novel’s sort of “pizzazz,” stopped there.

As with my previous book review, I will go through what I thought were positive aspects of the novel. So, clearly, I have already compared this novel with the one written by Nicholas Sparks. But, the novelty behind this work was how it wasn’t as sappy as The Notebook or even more so, A Walk to Remember. The personalities of the characters gave them a tangibility that I have never read before in a novel. Moreover, the likability and real qualities that a teenager would possess in our society today was evident and further exacerbated the realness (for lack of a better term) of these characters. Another aspect that I really enjoyed in this novel was that the overall story was not engulfed by the two main characters, Augustus and Hazel. It was very much supported by the supporting characters, really delving into how an illness takes its toll on family relationships and friendships. Between Hazel’s parents, Augustus’ parents, and Augustus’ friend, Isaac, who becomes blind in the plot, the story is surrounded by people trying to combat the ultimate end of their loved ones all the while fighting off the reality that one day they will not be in their lives. Again, these characters gave the story a tangibility and real-life quality that I have yet to read in any book thus far (and I’ve read a few).

On the other side of the coin, the realness to this story is a bit disheartening, and here we come to the negatives. I don’t know about the general population of book-readers, but when I delve into a book, I use it as a sort of escapism. I want to escape my crazy work schedule, and the monotony of going into the lab for a bit of R&R in another time, world, or just the life of someone else. For how much I enjoyed the tangibility of the characters, I disliked the real life instances they made me aware of. Moreover, you can’t help but feel sympathy for these teenagers who will never experience life, college, love, or anything that comes with a long lifespan. Not exactly my way of enjoying a lovely book after a long day of work. Also, DO NOT READ PASSED this point if you do not want me to spoil the story:

I think the author really went overboard with his plot-line of the Dutch author, Van Houten. I get the general theme and the reasoning why Green chose that route for the plot, but really, how much more depressing does a plot need to get? Two terminally ill teenagers fly all the way across the world to see him and Green writes him to be a complete A$$. Then follows that with killing off the main character Augustus. Was Green’s thematic statement here: Life isn’t Fair? I think any person who lives knows it isn’t. Moreover, I think the depression of the end of the novel really superseded any of the good times that Hazel and Augustus had together. I’m interested in the comments from others that have read this book with respect to the last 1/3 of the novel. Did you find it necessary to be so negative? I felt like Green tried to redeem himself with Van Houten’s attempt at reconciliation, but really it was a measly attempt and frankly way too late for me as the reader.

Overall, I believe this novel has good qualities, yet I think the author definitely over-killed it on the negatives. I guess I have a heart of stone and didn’t cry during any of the scenes. Perhaps I will cry during the movie. But, I came to a place where I just thought: wow, is there not already enough negativity in this book, we need more? I also think no parent with a terminally ill child should read it. The reality with death does not need to be reminded. Instead spend your time with loved ones, if anything, that is the real lesson of this novel.

I just finished the WW II thriller by Ken Follett Winter of the World. Let’s just say it was amazing!

The way he entertwines all of his characters is breathtaking, especially in considering that all of his historical premises are not fiction. They really happened! I may be a historical novice, moreso when it is applied to 20th century world history, but the level of detail, complexity, and art that Follett uses in authoring such a masterpiece is exquisite.

Seeing that this is my first novel post, I want to stay away from synopses of the book and stick with the pros, cons, and a few facts from what I’ve learned from reading the piece. And me being a chemist, I love lists and black and white statements so let’s start that way!

The pros, quite honestly, outweigh the cons. His use of adjectives in describing emotional to war scenes are utter perfection. The last novel that I read that was amazing in this regard was Tolstoy’s War and Peace. But Follett is not Tolstoy, nor should you be sad that he isn’t. He has his own style, and just the uniqueness of that style and the theory behind the work is awesome.

I will be honest, it is over 900 pages (A TOME!) and is coming out in paperback in August, I believe. BUT it’s amazing and worth the exorbitant amount of time that is required to finish it. Another con is the large amount of characters that the reader has to keep straight. Moreover, the author incorporates espionage into the work, which is a fantastic edition, but can at times be confusing. I believe the one character Werner was a German who was a German officer, but participated in espionage against the Nazis. Yet, he told his family that he stopped being a spy for the German opposition, but in actuality was. That piece as well as some of the other character constant changing sides was a bit confusing.

On an emotional note, the most touching and depressing story came by the discovery of how the Nazis were treating mentally retarded, physically impaired, and incapacitated individuals. SPOILER ALERT! Two main characters discover that the one’s brother who was 8 years old but not mentally older than a 2 year old was required by his doctor to leave the facility that he was in for the past few years and be relocated to another where the family could not visit him. A week after his move, the family received a letter that stated the boy died of an appendix infection. The boy, however, had an appendectomy years prior so they knew this was not correct and something terrible happened. To make a long story short, the Nazis were killing these people so that they did not have to take care of them and so they didn’t “taint” the population.

This story line really hit home for me. If anything like this happened to my brother, I would kill someone. But, it also quickly makes clear how evil the Nazis were and how completely unemotionally connected to the populace they were.

Regardless of this very depressing part of the story line the novel is awesome and worth the read. Just make sure you have a chunk of time to read it!