Title: The Girl With All the Gifts
Author: M.R. Carey
Genre: Post-Apocalyptic/Dystopian
Date Added: Unknown
Date Started: Unknown
Date Finished: June 19, 2014
Percentage Read: 36%
Pages: 460
Publication Date: January 14, 2014
Media: Kindle
“Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointing at her while two of his people strap her into the wheelchair. She thinks they don’t like her. She jokes that she won’t bite, but they don’t laugh.
Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside the classroom and the children’s cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she’ll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn’t know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad.”
Unbeknownst to me before today, M.R. Carey comes with high acclaim. He wrote Lucifer and Hellblazer, the latter of which is what the movie Constantine was based on. Constantine was my favorite movie for many years.
I was extremely intrigued by this book; it was a different take on a familiar paradigm *spoiler* zombies *end spoiler* especially since I’ve never seen one as the main (and a sympathetic) character *spoiler* save for the movie Warmbodies, which I haven’t seen. *end spoiler*
Once the truth about Melanie came out, I lost interest, and I’m not really sure why. The book is well written with a compelling plot, destitute setting, and unsure resolution. From what I read of the reviews the ending is bittersweet, but beautiful. I more than likely hit a slow spot in the narrative, and had I kept going, may have found the intrigue that rushed me through the beginning again. At this point, though, I think I will leave it as an unfinished that I highly recommend.
3 stars.
The Shameful Narcissist Speaks 
I just added this to my TBR list recently as everyone has been raving about it. *ponders while rubbing chin* I might still give it a shot, we’ll see.
So, if you’re looking for an MC that is a zombie and lovable, have you read My Life as a White Trash Zombie? (By Diana Rowland)
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I think you’ll really like it tbh! The stakes in the beginning are really high, and then something surprising happens. After that I saw a lull in the action and just didn’t pick it back up.
No! But I’ll check it out now 😊
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Then it stays on the list. 🙂
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This is too bad. I really enjoyed it. I have this happen to me as well though. Sometimes you’re just not in the right mood.😕
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I was really hooked in the beginning! The stakes were extremely high. I think I hit a lull in the action and just never came back. I’d probably like it if I finished and may eventually return. I like the zombie protagonist idea.
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I am sorry you couldn’t finish this. I listened to this book. There are definitely some slow points. The Finty Williams narration was able to hold my interest and that’s probably how I powered through.
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I might try listening to it! I think I would’ve liked it had I continued on.
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Finty’s narration is really good and she narrates action really well so I would recommend it. I am kind of excited to check out Fellside! Another M.R. Carey book that is narrated by her!
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I could definitely listen at work! I am curious how the book ends.
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Sweet! It’s a fitting ending. Bittersweet but fitting!
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I like those! I don’t like when the ending doesn’t fit or it’s forced to be happy and it’s unrealistic due to that.
I am really happy/surprised to discover that Carey wrote the story that became Constantine! I still live that movie.
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I like his writing and I am very excited to explore more of it. It’s plot driven but still had characters that I can latch onto!
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I actually prefer plot driven works, but characters that take you for the ride are so important, too.
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Yea you want to like the characters or at least be invested!
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So true. I’ve read a few books, seen a few movies, and played a few games where I didn’t like the MC, but other characters and the overarching story more than make up for it!
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Yea I know that feeling. As long as there is one I can usually stick with a work! Like Gone Girl is an example for me. Hated the main characters! Loved Nick’s twin sister.
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That’s one I downloaded the sample for and eventually bought the book. I loved what I read. It’s definitely still on my list. I’ve successfully avoided spoilers, too 😊
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I will NOT spoil you! I promise! I am just saying…I like the twin sister. 🙂
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I love the way the book is written. The language is so evocative and nearly mesmerizing. I have my suspicions about what happened, but I love to be surprised in these cases.
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I have one quote I loved. I am not sure if you got here but its “…like a bag full of pissed of cats!” Says so much! With so little!
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That paints such a perfect picture! I haven’t gotten there yet, but I would NOT want to be hit with such a bag.
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Yea I won’t spoil what it’s regarding but it’s such a great image.
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Thank you! I didn’t think I commented that much. Huh what a nice surprise 😊
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Happy to hear you have ‘that kind of books’ as well! I always feel bad when putting a book down before it is finished but some just are not meant to be fully read by me 🙂
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With this one now I’m torn! It wasn’t a bad story at all. I think I just hit a lull in the intrigue, but at this point it would be really far down on my list. There was a suggestion that I get the audio version that I might look into!
It definitely happens that books just don’t hold my attention. I always feel a little bit guilty, because I’m a bit of a completionist, but if it’s not meant to be it’s not meant to be.
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