4 out of 5 stars
On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: I've read stacks of this author's books and actually can't keep up with the rate at which she writes them!
In a Nutshell: Zombie apocalypse, nine years in, set in Oklahoma. Possibly YA.
A new zombie apocalypse series, set in the same world as the fabulous Broken World series, but in Oklahoma, starring Reagan, a 21-year-old who has been taken care of by her brother's best friend, Kellan, since the collapse occurred, nine years before, when their families all died. They're now in a secret underground shelter, with four others - I liked that three of the characters actually come from one of the short stories in Broken Stories - love this sort of detail/connection.
Kate Mary is as readable as ever, and this story zips along, with some great new plot ideas that make it stand out from the usual collapse/survival/fight off zombies and scary people scenarios - I liked, too, that it started nine years in.
Ms Mary does incorporate a fair bit of romantic suspense into her post apoc stories - a warning for those who don't like this element. Whereas I was mostly fine with it in the Broken World series, because Vivian and Axl's relationship was so heartrendingly real, I wasn't so keen in this one. Like, we knew they were going to end up together, so I didn't need to read about Reagan's frustrated hormones and Kellan's avowals of 'I have to keep you safe' every few pages; I was keen to get back to the survival/danger aspects. But perhaps that's just me, not being into romantic suspense. If you are, you'll love it.
I didn't find the characters quite so compelling in this story as the previous series, but I still kept reading because I loved the setting, the plot is excellent, and she writes so well.
4.5 out of 5 stars
On Amazon UK
On Amazon.com
On Goodreads
How I discovered this book: I got talking to the author on Twitter
In a Nutshell: Memoir; assorted snapshots of life, domestically orientated.
Linda Sue Walker has written a series of small articles in storylike form, about her life in Louisiana, with the odd excursion to extreme-weather-ridden Oklahoma, a weekend up a mountain, and more than a few hours spent at airports. I was interested in this book because tales of small town America are something I love, particularly those from the Deep South. I think it's because life there always seems so different from England, and I'm fascinated by how the US seems (to me, sometimes, anyway), to be more like 50 separate countries, in the way Europe is. Each state is so different.
LSW has a great writing style; I loved the sort of daily life type memoirs in which not a great deal happens (give or take the odd flood, a run-in with White Trash thieves, and dangerous dehydration up the aforementioned mountain), but the writing style keeps you turning the pages and gives you the odd out-loud laugh. Okay, quite a lot happens, but it's all still kind of cosy and domestic. It's in the telling. You know, like Bill Bryson, or the equally entertaining Barb Taub. The stories centre around LSW's observations of others, her amused and amusing take on life. It really is a delightful book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it.
She has a great turn of phrase; here are a few examples I highlighted.
'Mama's apartment was in an area called the Chauvin Basin. 'Basin' is primarily a British word; however, in French it means, "For the love of God, don't build your home here, it's going to flood." That is not in Webster's, but it can be found in the Cajun dictionary.'
'We ate after I Lysoled off the table and chairs. Of course Lysoled is a word. It is the past tense of spraying Lysol on everything. Of course, I never really quit spraying it, so I guess it is the present tense also.'
'I
replied, "Oh, that's nice." It's just something we southern ladies say
a lot and it can mean anything from. "Are you out of your mind?" to "I
have no idea how to reply to that," and lots of things in between.'
'We had two storm chasers at work because, you know, you need a spare.'
'Basically he married me for my Tupperware.... You see, he wanted some Tupperware but was too shy to go to a Tupperware party. I had a lot of Tupperware so it was easier just to marry me and get the Tupperware by default.'
😁😁😁
