The Girl With All the Gifts by M.R. Carey
Narrated by Finty Williams
Series: The Girl With All the Gifts #1
Publisher: Hatchette Audio
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Date Read: August 30, 2017
Length: 13 hours 4 minutes
Source: Audible purchase
★★★★★
Wow! This was a bit of a surprise for me. I don't really know why it was a surprise since I have heard wonderful things about it but it was. I guess I went into this book thinking that I would probably like it but I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying it. Once I started listening, I was hooked and I wanted to know more about Melanie. I spent hours at a time listening to this book and enjoyed the experience immensely. This is a zombie story that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
This book is told from Melanie's point of view. She is a very bright girl but her experience at the start of the story has been very limited. I really enjoyed seeing the world she know through her eyes. Melanie's entire existence is limited to her cell and her classroom. She knows the rules and how things are supposed to be. She knows exactly what to expect from day to day.
Melanie was a fantastic character. I would never have imagined that she would turn out to be so easy to relate to but she was. I loved the way she worked out problems in her mind and how observant she was of everything going on around her. She was able to work things out very quickly and made the people she was around re-think some of their beliefs. All of the key characters in this book were really well developed and added something important to the overall story.
I thought that Finty Williams did a fantastic job narrating this book. This was the first time that I have listened to her narration and I wasn't sure of her voice as the book first began. I was over any reservations that I initially had pretty quickly and her voice became Melanie's voice. I thought her voice was very pleasant and she brought a lot of excitement to the story. I was able to listen to this story for hours at a time and never tired of her narration.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It is a different kind of zombie story that was highly entertaining and hard to put down. I would not hesitate to read more of M.R. Carey's work in the future.
Narrated by Finty Williams
Series: The Girl With All the Gifts #1
Publisher: Hatchette Audio
Publication Date: June 10, 2014
Date Read: August 30, 2017
Length: 13 hours 4 minutes
Source: Audible purchase
★★★★★
Melanie is a very special girl. Dr Caldwell calls her "our little genius."
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.
My Thoughts
Wow! This was a bit of a surprise for me. I don't really know why it was a surprise since I have heard wonderful things about it but it was. I guess I went into this book thinking that I would probably like it but I had no idea how much I would end up enjoying it. Once I started listening, I was hooked and I wanted to know more about Melanie. I spent hours at a time listening to this book and enjoyed the experience immensely. This is a zombie story that I will not be forgetting anytime soon.
This book is told from Melanie's point of view. She is a very bright girl but her experience at the start of the story has been very limited. I really enjoyed seeing the world she know through her eyes. Melanie's entire existence is limited to her cell and her classroom. She knows the rules and how things are supposed to be. She knows exactly what to expect from day to day.
Melanie was a fantastic character. I would never have imagined that she would turn out to be so easy to relate to but she was. I loved the way she worked out problems in her mind and how observant she was of everything going on around her. She was able to work things out very quickly and made the people she was around re-think some of their beliefs. All of the key characters in this book were really well developed and added something important to the overall story.
I thought that Finty Williams did a fantastic job narrating this book. This was the first time that I have listened to her narration and I wasn't sure of her voice as the book first began. I was over any reservations that I initially had pretty quickly and her voice became Melanie's voice. I thought her voice was very pleasant and she brought a lot of excitement to the story. I was able to listen to this story for hours at a time and never tired of her narration.
I would highly recommend this book to others. It is a different kind of zombie story that was highly entertaining and hard to put down. I would not hesitate to read more of M.R. Carey's work in the future.
About the Author
M. R. Carey has been making up stories for most of his life. His novel The Girl With All the Gifts was a USA Today bestseller and is a major motion picture based on his BAFTA-nominated screenplay. Under the name Mike Carey he has written for both DC and Marvel, including critically acclaimed runs on X-Men and Fantastic Four, Marvel's flagship superhero titles. His creator-owned books regularly appear in the New York Times bestseller list. He also has several previous novels, two radio plays, and a number of TV and movie screenplays to his credit.
I nice to see you had a good time because I was quite curious about it after reading some great reviews
ReplyDeleteI was really surprised by how much I enjoyed it.
DeleteWow. Sounds like a really good read. I'm glad you enjoyed it Carole :)
ReplyDeleteVanessa @ Blushing Geek
Thanks, Vanessa!
Deleteu mean she's a zombie? how did I miss that?
ReplyDeleteShe is....it's so well done.
Deletei watched the movie....
ReplyDeleteThere's a movie? I need to check that out.
DeleteI think I missed that she was a zombie when I read the blurb. But anyway, I don't mind a good zombie book this one does sound like it a just that. I'm glad that you enjoyed it so much. Great review. I might have to keep my eye out for it now.
ReplyDeleteThis was a really diffent kind of zombie story. I am so glad that I read it!
DeleteOh that sounds interesting.
ReplyDeleteIt was so good, Mary!
DeleteI love the sound of this one. Glad you enjoyed it, Carole.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Nadene! It was a really great story.
DeleteThis has been on my radar and I shared similar thoughts to your initial feelings. Looks like I need to grab it!
ReplyDeleteThe audio is fantastic if you decide to go that route.
DeleteI very much enjoyed how different this book was. I was a little underwhelmed by the film though.
ReplyDeleteThe book was a bit of a surprise. I am really not sure that I feel the need to watch the movie especially if you didn't like it all that much.
DeleteI am so glad you liked this one! I did too. Wasn't Melanie a great character? The only character I couldn't stand was the doctor.
ReplyDeleteMelanie was fantastic! I just loved her but that doctor was a little evil in my eyes :)
DeleteI have heard a lot of positive things about this book which surprises me because I've only ever read ONE zombie novel which I actually liked/loved. The rest I couldn't stand, but I am going to give this a chance. Maybe it'll make that one into two :D
ReplyDeleteThis one is different than other zombie books that I have read. It is definitely worth the read.
Delete