Title: Allison Hewitt Is Trapped (Zombie, #1)
Author: Madeleine
Roux
Publisher: St.
Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date:
January 18, 2011
Reviewer: Elisa
Summary:
"One
woman's story as she blogs - and fights back - the zombie apocalypse"
Allison
Hewitt and her five colleagues at the Brooks and Peabody Bookstore are trapped
together when the zombie outbreak hits. Allison reaches out for help through
her blog, writing on her laptop and utilizing the military's emergency wireless
network (SNET). It may also be her only chance to reach her mother. But as the
reality of their situation sinks in, Allison's blog becomes a harrowing account
of her edge-of-the-seat adventures (with some witty sarcasm thrown in) as she
and her companions fight their way through ravenous zombies and sometimes even
more dangerous humans. (goodreads)
Review: The zombie apocalypse is happening and Allison and
a few of her co-workers and customers are trapped in the bookstore she worked
at part-time. Allison is blogging about her days. A few people are
responding to her posts as well. It is a fun set-up. Also, each chapter
is named after a book which oddly fits the events.
Funny and horrifying, Roux
juxtaposes a tongue in cheek whit with the horrors of a zombie plague, not
knowing where family is located, having to kill your family and friends who are
bitten and the breakdown of society and its morays. But it is pretty darn funny
at times if you like that type of humor.
"You don't realize
until you've gone without Q-tips and tampons how instrumental they are to your
comfort and sanity. Just knowing that I can wake up and clean my ears is a
relief." (pg 125)
The issue with the blog
device is that the immediacy and tension is lost quite often. It is
not a scary zombie novel, though it can be a little gross. But even then,
since we are a bit removed from the action, it isn't as yucky as it could be.
Also, certain things can be glossed over or sprung on the reader.
There is a little bit of
romance, but there are no details about any tent time (they all live in tents
at some point) because she is reporting these stories online, so things are
pretty PG-13 because of a little bad language and you know, killing zombies and
stuff. There are also quite a few pop culture references which are fun.
This story is mostly about people and how they react to insane adversity. Some
go crazy, others lose all focus and drive and yet others keep it together and
make good decisions, perhaps even become leaders.
There was one event which
really turned me off from Allison. I didn't understand why it had to
happen and it made me not like her much for a little while. But I kept
reading and things got better. I know what the writer was going for, but
it turned my stomach.
Anyway, this is a
"fun" zombie apocalypse read where lots of people die and have a
tough time of things. It is light-hearted until it isn't. Allison
keeps things as snarky as she can, but she is a survivor and will chop you down
if you stand in her way. It made me wonder about myself and how I would
deal with this type of insanity, both being stuck in a small space with too
many people without running water as well as where your former friends and
family try to eat you. I enjoyed it, will probably read Sadie Walker is
Stranded at some point and give this little story 3.5 stars found in a vending
machine, they taste like Cheetos and won't go stale.
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