Review – Breathers: A Zombie’s Lament by S.G. Browne (4.5/5 stars)
So being a fan of zombie books and movies I just couldn’t pass up this book. It was a pretty darn good book and I really enjoyed it. It has some heart, a somewhat sweet love story, zombies dismembering people, and rotting body parts…all in all a pretty complete zombie experience.
Andy Warner wakes up in the funeral home just recently embalmed. He is one of the undead. He is not taking it very well; his wife died in the car accident that took his life and his daughter has been sent to live with relatives. His parents pick him up at the zombie pound and for months he is kept in their basement watching TV and drinking their expensive wine on the sly. That is until he goes to an Undead Anonymous meeting and meets Rita, a sexy suicide victim, and Jerry, a car crash victim that likes to let people touch his exposed brain. Rita especially helps Andy see the positive in his undead existence. When another zombie introduces the group to the joys of..err…venison, things start to change and full-out zombie mayhem ensues.
This was actually a very well done book. It is darkly humorous but touches on issues of racism (or is it species-ism?) and what it means to be alive. There are a number of human elements such as Andy dealing with the loss of his family, his parents’ rejection of his condition, and society’s cruelty to zombies. That’s not to say that it’s all serious. Browne doesn’t shy away from pieces of brain flying out of noses, cigarettes being put out in empty eye sockets, or any of that gory goodness.
To those who think the book starts out a little tame (with Andy picketing for zombie rights), just hold on eventually the book gets to a point of total flame-throwing zombie mayhem. What fun it is when it does!
I really enjoyed this book. All zombie lovers should give it a go. I think this would be a great book for everyone to read (except for the younger age set) it really helps to brooch the topic of what would happen if zombies entered human society. Oddly enough the next book on my list to read is “Kiss of Life”
I will be watching out for future books by Browne, I liked his writing style and the way everything flowed in this book…definitely a writer to keep an eye in the future.