Book Review: The Loving Dead
31 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
in New Release Reviews Tags: fiction, horror, sex, STD, zombies
The Loving Dead by Amelia Beamer (2010)
I know this book came out last year but I stumbled upon it at Borders during their liquidation sale massacre and I had to write a review about it. If you are a fan of zombie fiction you need to check this book out!
At first glance, The Loving Dead seems like a typical zombie thriller. However it offers an interesting twist: the zombie “virus” is actually a sexually transmitted disease. Anyone who gets infected turns into an unstoppable (and horny) killing machine. Our protagonist Kate is an intelligent young woman stuck working at a retail job, dating an older man and dreaming of going to grad school. When her housemate and co-worker Michael throws a horror-themed party she uses it as an opportunity to relax, have fun, and even hook up. But soon their friends start turning into zombies, and the desease quickly spreads through her city, forcing Kate and Michael to fight for their lives.
The Loving Dead is a wild story, and a very interesting read. This debut novel contains a mix of dark humor and true horror that is sure to please any zombie fan. What I think sets this book apart from other zombie stories are the statements it makes. There is some commentary at the end about zombies being accepted into mainstream society and I felt that the author was trying to present a subtle allegory of zombies struggling with being “out” the way many gay people struggle with being out. The progression of Kate’s character throughout the story is also rather interesting.
If you’re into horror and you’re looking for a story that’s both funny and scary and with a little substance, check out this book. And hurry to Borders while it’s still open, because you never know what cool books you’ll find!
