Title: Brains: A Zombie Memoir

Author: Robin Becker

Publisher: Harper Voyager 2010

Genre: Zombie

Pages: 182

Rating:   5 / 5 stars

Reading Challenges: Zombie; Support Your Local Library; RYN - B

How I Got It: Library Loan

College-professor-cum-zombie Jack Barnes is a different breed of undead—he can think. In fact, he can even write. And the story he has to tell is a truly disturbing—yet strangely heartwarming—one.

Convinced he'll bring about a peaceful coexistence between zombies and humans if he can demonstrate his unique condition to Howard Stein, the man responsible for the zombie virus, Barnes sets off on a grueling cross-country journey to meet his maker. Along the way he recruits a small army of "super" zombies that will stop at nothing to reach their goal. There's Guts, the dreadlocked boy who can run like the wind; Joan, the matronly nurse adept at reattaching decaying appendages; Annie, the young girl with a fierce quick-draw; and Ros, who can actually speak. United they embark on an epic quest to attain what all men, women—and, apparently, zombies—yearn for: equality.

This novel is sweet.  I didn't think I would ever say that about a zombie novel, but it's true.  You meet Jack Barnes.  Sure, he's an asshole in his human life and now he lusts for brains.  But yet, you want him to find happiness.  You root for his rag tag band of super zombies.  They might be zombies, but each one has a distinct personality.  I love Becker's interpretation of a zombie apocalypse.  My favorite is definitely Annie, the gunslinger.  She doesn't appear until halfway through the book, but she makes quite an appearance.  I love her back story, well the little we get, and her after story even better.  Definitely a must read for zombie fans.