Welcome to Bookish Blatherings, a Bad Bird Reads feature where I ramble about bookish or bloggerish things and hopefully you will join in on the discussion.
I have been thinking about zombies lately. I don’t know why, but I LOVE zombies. I watch The Walking Dead, Z Nation, and iZombie. I have read soooo many zombie books. I don’t think I ever hated a zombie book because even if the story sucks, I still have my ZOMBIES. So I was sitting here, thinking, “Why the hell do I love zombies so much?” And then it came to me.
Out of all supernatural creatures you are the most fucked if you encounter a zombie. I mean, you are donzies! Think about it. Vamps can bite you but it doesn’t necessarily mean you are going to be turned into a vamp or that the vamp will kill you. You can have nice vamps. Wereanimals are still feeling people, so they might not turn you into an animal or eat you. You have a chance to survive that encounter because, again, nice wereanimals. Same with fairies, shapeshifters, the list goes on.
With zombies, there is no going back. You are bit, your are scratched, you are a dead mofo. No going back. You can’t reason with a zombie and you won’t meet a nice zombie (Yeah, yeah, let’s pretend Warm Bodies doesn’t exist for a second). Fighting a zombie is life or death. Plain and simple. I love that. So simple. No loopholes. That finality is so scary, and I love the rush that it gives me. That’s why I love zombies.
PS: Only in zombie books am I okay with main characters and love interests dying. It’s kind of expected.
Why do you love (or hate) zombies?
Modified banner photo credit: Wurzeltod via photopin cc
Ashley
I kind of hate zombies lol. The thing is, I’m not totally sure why. Maybe because they’re so gross and mindless? I think I’m just more drawn to sophisticated, intelligent monsters. I’m not that into the mindless, creepy ones. It’s probably related to why I’m not a fan of horror films. I prefer the mystery, mind-fuckery route rather than straight up I EAT YOUR BRAINS.
Nathan
I have never read a zombie book per se expect for the undead army of the Other in Game of Thrones. I agree zombie normally seemed to be portrayed as mindless, flesh (human) eating monsters with no complexity to them. I am often find to gore factor a bit much on the Hollywood ones. Oddly enough I don’t have a problem with “Bitten” weird.
Jennifer Bielman
Seee, now I love horror movies, so I bet it has a lot to do with that.
Bieke
I’ve never been very fond of Zombies. xD
Jennifer Bielman
Awww. 🙁
sherry fundin
I love Zombies too, but not quite as much as dragons. LOL I don’t seem to like watching the TV shows, but I do love the books. Don’t know why it doesn’t translate to the visual for me????
Jennifer Bielman
I do love my dragon books. It’s a hard toss up.
Jenny @ Supernatural Snark
Confession: I am WAY too big of a wimp to read or watch anything with zombies Jennifer! Fail. It’s the gore that gets me – if they were more humorous zombies like the White Trash Zombie books I think I’d be okay. But the blood and guts and eating of people zombies? *curls up into the fetal position* 🙂
Jennifer Bielman
LOL. I use to love gore. The more gore the merrier. But as I get older, it does bother me more.
kimbacaffeinate
I love zombies. Maybe because i love the post-apocalyptic setting we find them in and the surviving humans are kick-ass. IDK..but add zombie to the title and I will watch it or read it…LOL
Jennifer Bielman
I love watching humans trying to survive in a post-apocalyptic world.
andreaheltsley
I love watching The Walking Dead, and Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth rocked. Out of my 3,000 books on my kindle, there are only 6 zombie books! 6! I’m not really into the post-apocalyptic genre. Fear the Walking Dead starts in 10 days and I am looking forward to it! <3
Jennifer Bielman
I still need to read The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I totally forgot about it! I am so excited for Fear the Walking Dead.
anna (herding cats & burning soup)
I’m not against zombies per se but definitely not a para being I seek out.
Jennifer Bielman
*gasps*
kindlemom1
Scary thoughts for sure!
Do you watch iZombie? We started watching that and are totally hooked! I can’t wait for season two to start. I know I need to watch The Walking Dead but I’m such a chicken Im afraid I will have nightmares!
Jennifer Bielman
OMG, I totally forgot about iZombie. Just added it to the post. I LOVE iZombie!
Tika
I love Zombies too! I’m not big on watching shows about them, but give me a zombie-apocalypse to read, and I’m good to go!
Jennifer Bielman
yaaaay!
Christy
Okay, so I grew up somewhat obsessed with them. I remember getting up in the middle of the night at my grandparents house when I was about 7-ish and watching White Zombie (1930-something) and Night of the Living Dead and falling in love. I figured out part of my reasoning for loving them so much, which connects to my interests in serial killer that I’ve had since I was pretty young too. And as you can see, I’ve always had a love for old movies too. lol.
Jennifer Bielman
I do love old horror movies so much. Night of the Living Dead is the best!
Braine Talk Supe
Compelling arguments! I only watch TWD, it’s the only zombie series I like/love. I have yet to meet a zombie book that I can get into. I’m hoping Rowland will do the trick for me
Jennifer Bielman
I need to try Rowlands zombie books too. Heard great things.
ShootingStarsMag
OH, I do love zombies. I read all the iZombie comics and I need to watch the show. I’ve seen an episode or two, but I’m SO bad at keeping up with TV. Anyway, I need to read more zombie books. They are great!
-Lauren
keep in touch- i always comment back
Jennifer Bielman
The actors took some time to get into the characters but iZombie is the best show now.
Aimee @ Deadly Darlings
I don’t think I’ve read enough zombie books to really say if I love them or hate them, but I’m definitely intrigued by them. I mean, they don’t think, right? So I’m just like… How do defeat one? How do you befriend one? Is that even possible??
Jennifer Bielman
Exactly! No thinking means no reasoning. It’s the best.
Kristin
Zombies freak me out and your gif is no exception! LoL I probably dislike them for the reasons you listed. If they get their hands on you, you’re pretty much done for. There’s no fancy bippity bobbity boo that needs to happen. It’s not a pleasant way to die either. The Mister has played zombie video games and I need to walk out of the room because my blood pressure starts to rise due to panicking over his stupid character being eaten alive. Don’t even get me started on the few times I tried to play one of those games. I panicked when my character was cornered and about to die, I just turned the game off. LoL If a Zombie apocalypse does happen I’d probably just off myself. I’d like to think I’d be a katana wielding bad-ass like Michone but that wouldn’t be the case. GAH! Thanks, Jennifer! Now I have goosebumps. 😛
Jennifer Bielman
LOL, playing zombies games is stressful to me too. Bwahaha, I like how realistic you are about you and zombies.
Melissa (My World...in words and pages)
I’ve not really ever been a fan of zombies. They are… gross? For lack of a better word. I just don’t feel like there is a story there with zombies, other than they eat everyone. At least that’s the zombie I grew up with. 😉 But I’m not much of a horror reader either, and that’s usually where I classify zombies.
Jennifer Bielman
See, I like the simplicity of zombies. You always know where you stand with zombies.
Jaclyn Canada
I never thought about it being expected that main characters or love interests will die in zombie books, but that’s so true. I don’t guess it’s bothered me much either. I haven’t watched Walking Dead though I know I’d love it…I hate to start now being so far behind already. I do watch iZombie and enjoy that one a lot. I haven’t read a ton of zombie books, but I’ve loved all the ones that I have. I didn’t ever think I’d be into them either but they suck you in.
Jennifer Bielman
You so need to watch Walking Dead! Seriously!