Status
Available
Call number
Series
Collection
Publication
Tor (2010), Hardcover, 302 pages
Description
"Zombies have infested a fallen America. A young girl named Temple is on the run. Haunted by her past and pursued by a killer, Temple is surrounded by death and danger, hoping to be set free. For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks" --Publisher description.… (more)
Media reviews
Alden Bell has managed something improbable and striking: a disconcertingly beautiful tale of zombie apocalypse. The Reapers Are the Angels is soaked in all the blood that any horror fan could desire, the effluvia rendered in a high Southern Gothic style as redolent of rotting magnolia as anything
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written by William Faulkner or Cormac McCarthy. Show Less
Alden Bell provides an astonishing twist on the southern gothic: like Flannery O'Connor with zombies.
Born into a crumbling society plagued by zombies, all 15-year-old Temple knows is to kill or be killed. When she is assaulted at a safe house, she murders her human attacker, Abraham Todd, and runs from his vengeful brother, Moses. Temple soon acquires a traveling partner, a slow mute by the name
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of Maury, and begrudgingly takes responsibility for his care, remembering a young boy she swore to protect but couldn't save. Fleeing Moses, the "meatskins," and her own battered conscience, Temple still finds moments of simple joy in the brutal world. Bell (a pseudonym for Joshua Gaylord, author of Hummingbirds) has created an exquisitely bleak tale and an unforgettable heroine whose eye for beauty and aching need for redemption somehow bring wonder into a world full of violence and decay. Show Less
User reviews
LibraryThing member Arconna
Zombies. They're the in thing right now next to glittering non-vampires. They're what really goes bump in the night, because they don't have the motor function or brain activity to avoid objects. They're hungry for your flesh, and filling up our bookshelves and movie screens. And they're scary as
Alden Bell's (a.k.a. Joshua Gaylord) debut genre novel does for zombie fiction what Cormac McCarthy's The Road did for dystopian fiction, or John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In did for vampires: use the clichés of the form to tell a deeply psychological, literary story. The Reapers Are the Angels follows Temple, a teenager born into a world overrun by a zombie plague. She doesn't remember the "good old days," because they ended years before she came into the world; but she remembers an old man who helped her and a younger brother she had tried to protect. Now she wanders the landscape, avoiding the undead and trying to survive in a world reduced to "survival of the fittest" at its most radical. And she's a product of her time: untrusting, ruthless, methodical, and smart-witted. As Temple wanders from place to place, trying to avoid her demons and understand who she is, she encounters a cast of characters that change everything, from Moses, who wants her dead, to Maury, a mentally handicapped man who doesn't understand the world around him. And her journey will show her that there darker things in the world than zombies...
The Reapers Are the Angels is not your typical novel. Its plot is simple and its overall feel is disconnected. But it is also brilliant. People who read this novel for the plot are reading it for the wrong reason. It is about a character (Temple) and her development, about her journey to understand who and what she is, where she belongs, and how to deal with the mistakes of her past in a unforgiving world that is stuck in the dumpster and disinclined towards grieving. A number of reviews of this novel have seemingly ignored this key element, and I suspect it is because many expect a zombie novel to be plot-oriented--never mind that many zombie stories are, in fact, character studies in a zombie-run world. After all, The Reapers Are the Angels is set in a world framed in a way that is likely familiar to the zombie fan, and some of the events that occur throughout the book have happened before.
But the novel is about Temple, not the world, and ignoring how she views the world around her, how she forms her own form of morality without the security we are afforded every day, and how she conceives of her own kind (humanity) are indelible marks of a story that thinks beyond the mundane events of life in a zombie world. The disconnection one feels while reading this novel is brought on by the disconnection Temple feels to the communities and places she visits. She, as indicated earlier, was born into a post-human world. Zombies have always been there for her, and her journey into cities, towns, farms, and so forth are journeys into the unknown. She understands them in the same way we might understand a radically different culture (East vs. West, for example). Even religion plays into this disconnected feeling, because while Temple was raised briefly with a concept of God, she is forced to reconcile her beliefs with the reality surrounding her, without the "support" of scripture, creating a religious framework that seems slightly alien when compared to the religious world we live in now. All of these elements are relayed through Temple's point of view, one of the other strengths of the novel.
Bell's narrative is told in third person present through Temple's eyes. This creates both an intimate connection to the character and to the world, since everything is happening "now" rather than in the past (again, this brings up the problem of the past; namely, that Temple does not want to relive hers and that the world is slowly developing a concept of the past that is progressively present, rather than focused on what once was). One could even read into the use of third person, rather than first person--if disconnection from place and self is a principle element of the novel, then isolating Temple slightly from the reader by avoiding an entirely internal view maintains the disconnection for the reader as well. There is a kind of brilliance at work here, both in the narrative that Bell attempts to create and in the language and style. The language is reflective of Temple's limited experience and the style itself is urgent and fluid, while also being fragmented and to the point. One gets the sense while reading The Reapers Are the Angels that the future is indeterminate and yet always present (always progressing, but going nowhere at the same time), an urgency brought out in Temple's interjections and in the stochastic "plot."
Despite its effective narrative style and display of characters, The Reapers Are the Angels did have one flaw: its ending. On the one hand, the book ends how you might expect (which I will not mention here); on the other, however, there is an enormous shift that pulls the reader too far into disconnection. I found myself wishing the novel had ended at the height of the climax, because then the implied tension in the novel (and the world) would have been maintained at its worst point. But the novel continues beyond the climax, dragging us into a new space that had never been ventured to before. I am intentionally being vague about the specifics, though, because as much as I have issues with the way the novel ends, I still think The Reapers Are the Angels is worth reading. The ending simply reminds one that there are no perfect books.
In the end, The Reapers Are the Angels is simply an extraordinary book. True, it lacks the flare of originality in much the same way as Cormac McCarthy's The Road (a text that contains very little originality in terms of its world content, but makes up for it in its story of an understandably overly cautious father and a naive son), but The Reapers Are the Angels presents a well-written, deeply psychological story that we're not familiar with in a world that we are. It is a kind of cognitive estrangement in that sense (to use Suvin's term). It's the kind of book that zombie fiction fans should love, and a book that readers who are not familiar with the form will find engrossing (as I did). The zombies keep coming, Temple's mind keeps bleeding, and the pages keep turning. What else could you ask for?
Show More
hell.Alden Bell's (a.k.a. Joshua Gaylord) debut genre novel does for zombie fiction what Cormac McCarthy's The Road did for dystopian fiction, or John Ajvide Lindqvist's Let the Right One In did for vampires: use the clichés of the form to tell a deeply psychological, literary story. The Reapers Are the Angels follows Temple, a teenager born into a world overrun by a zombie plague. She doesn't remember the "good old days," because they ended years before she came into the world; but she remembers an old man who helped her and a younger brother she had tried to protect. Now she wanders the landscape, avoiding the undead and trying to survive in a world reduced to "survival of the fittest" at its most radical. And she's a product of her time: untrusting, ruthless, methodical, and smart-witted. As Temple wanders from place to place, trying to avoid her demons and understand who she is, she encounters a cast of characters that change everything, from Moses, who wants her dead, to Maury, a mentally handicapped man who doesn't understand the world around him. And her journey will show her that there darker things in the world than zombies...
The Reapers Are the Angels is not your typical novel. Its plot is simple and its overall feel is disconnected. But it is also brilliant. People who read this novel for the plot are reading it for the wrong reason. It is about a character (Temple) and her development, about her journey to understand who and what she is, where she belongs, and how to deal with the mistakes of her past in a unforgiving world that is stuck in the dumpster and disinclined towards grieving. A number of reviews of this novel have seemingly ignored this key element, and I suspect it is because many expect a zombie novel to be plot-oriented--never mind that many zombie stories are, in fact, character studies in a zombie-run world. After all, The Reapers Are the Angels is set in a world framed in a way that is likely familiar to the zombie fan, and some of the events that occur throughout the book have happened before.
But the novel is about Temple, not the world, and ignoring how she views the world around her, how she forms her own form of morality without the security we are afforded every day, and how she conceives of her own kind (humanity) are indelible marks of a story that thinks beyond the mundane events of life in a zombie world. The disconnection one feels while reading this novel is brought on by the disconnection Temple feels to the communities and places she visits. She, as indicated earlier, was born into a post-human world. Zombies have always been there for her, and her journey into cities, towns, farms, and so forth are journeys into the unknown. She understands them in the same way we might understand a radically different culture (East vs. West, for example). Even religion plays into this disconnected feeling, because while Temple was raised briefly with a concept of God, she is forced to reconcile her beliefs with the reality surrounding her, without the "support" of scripture, creating a religious framework that seems slightly alien when compared to the religious world we live in now. All of these elements are relayed through Temple's point of view, one of the other strengths of the novel.
Bell's narrative is told in third person present through Temple's eyes. This creates both an intimate connection to the character and to the world, since everything is happening "now" rather than in the past (again, this brings up the problem of the past; namely, that Temple does not want to relive hers and that the world is slowly developing a concept of the past that is progressively present, rather than focused on what once was). One could even read into the use of third person, rather than first person--if disconnection from place and self is a principle element of the novel, then isolating Temple slightly from the reader by avoiding an entirely internal view maintains the disconnection for the reader as well. There is a kind of brilliance at work here, both in the narrative that Bell attempts to create and in the language and style. The language is reflective of Temple's limited experience and the style itself is urgent and fluid, while also being fragmented and to the point. One gets the sense while reading The Reapers Are the Angels that the future is indeterminate and yet always present (always progressing, but going nowhere at the same time), an urgency brought out in Temple's interjections and in the stochastic "plot."
Despite its effective narrative style and display of characters, The Reapers Are the Angels did have one flaw: its ending. On the one hand, the book ends how you might expect (which I will not mention here); on the other, however, there is an enormous shift that pulls the reader too far into disconnection. I found myself wishing the novel had ended at the height of the climax, because then the implied tension in the novel (and the world) would have been maintained at its worst point. But the novel continues beyond the climax, dragging us into a new space that had never been ventured to before. I am intentionally being vague about the specifics, though, because as much as I have issues with the way the novel ends, I still think The Reapers Are the Angels is worth reading. The ending simply reminds one that there are no perfect books.
In the end, The Reapers Are the Angels is simply an extraordinary book. True, it lacks the flare of originality in much the same way as Cormac McCarthy's The Road (a text that contains very little originality in terms of its world content, but makes up for it in its story of an understandably overly cautious father and a naive son), but The Reapers Are the Angels presents a well-written, deeply psychological story that we're not familiar with in a world that we are. It is a kind of cognitive estrangement in that sense (to use Suvin's term). It's the kind of book that zombie fiction fans should love, and a book that readers who are not familiar with the form will find engrossing (as I did). The zombies keep coming, Temple's mind keeps bleeding, and the pages keep turning. What else could you ask for?
Show Less
LibraryThing member titania86
Zombies have been roaming the Earth for twenty five years now. This is the only world that fifteen year old Temple has ever known and she’s learned how to survive in it because it’s either learn fast or die. She travels around looking for safe havens and moves on once those places cease to be
The world that Temple lives in is different than most zombie novels. The initial outbreak is long past and our protagonist has never even seen the world as we know it. Most novels of this sort focus on the start of the zombie apocalypse and The only other book I can think of that is similar is Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but this book is much more brutal than that. The zombies are a constant threat, but there is also a more unpredictable danger from other people resulting from the breakdown of the government and society in general. In addition, the novel takes place primarily in the south, giving it a distinctive flavor.
The writing in the novel is spot on. It’s descriptive enough to give great detail to the world contained in the novel, but not so much that it bogs down the pacing. There are no quotation marks to denote conversation in the entire book, but the writing is such that it’s clear who is talking and it ends up not distracting from the novel at all. It just gives the book a little different feeling to read than most books for me. I read this book so fast and couldn’t put it down. I was so engaged in the story and the characters that I found myself reading in every moment possible throughout my day.
I really like Temple and her blunt honesty. She may be young, but she can certainly take care of herself. She can’t read because she never had a formal education, but she is one of the smartest protagonists I’ve ever read. In her short life, she has seen a ridiculous amount of violence and it takes a strong person to not just break. Although Temple is tough, her humanity remains intact, as shown with her tolerance and treatment of Maury, a mentally disabled man she meets and takes care of. Her character has many dimensions that are revealed throughout her travels in the novel.
The Reapers Are the Angels is now one of my favorite zombie novels. I like and dislike the ending at the same time. It’s realistic and fits the tone of the book, but I wish it didn’t have to happen. I would recommend this to any zombie lover.
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safe. On her travels, she encounters a variety of living situations, from groups of people living in skyscrapers to a rich family hiding in their house oblivious of the crumbing world outside. When staying with the people settled in skyscrapers, she is attacked by a man there and is forced to kill him in self defense. His vengeful brother, Moses Todd, vows to kill her and follows her everywhere she goes. As she tries to evade Moses and zombies, can Temple ever find a place she can stay permanently and find peace? The world that Temple lives in is different than most zombie novels. The initial outbreak is long past and our protagonist has never even seen the world as we know it. Most novels of this sort focus on the start of the zombie apocalypse and The only other book I can think of that is similar is Carrie Ryan’s The Forest of Hands and Teeth, but this book is much more brutal than that. The zombies are a constant threat, but there is also a more unpredictable danger from other people resulting from the breakdown of the government and society in general. In addition, the novel takes place primarily in the south, giving it a distinctive flavor.
The writing in the novel is spot on. It’s descriptive enough to give great detail to the world contained in the novel, but not so much that it bogs down the pacing. There are no quotation marks to denote conversation in the entire book, but the writing is such that it’s clear who is talking and it ends up not distracting from the novel at all. It just gives the book a little different feeling to read than most books for me. I read this book so fast and couldn’t put it down. I was so engaged in the story and the characters that I found myself reading in every moment possible throughout my day.
I really like Temple and her blunt honesty. She may be young, but she can certainly take care of herself. She can’t read because she never had a formal education, but she is one of the smartest protagonists I’ve ever read. In her short life, she has seen a ridiculous amount of violence and it takes a strong person to not just break. Although Temple is tough, her humanity remains intact, as shown with her tolerance and treatment of Maury, a mentally disabled man she meets and takes care of. Her character has many dimensions that are revealed throughout her travels in the novel.
The Reapers Are the Angels is now one of my favorite zombie novels. I like and dislike the ending at the same time. It’s realistic and fits the tone of the book, but I wish it didn’t have to happen. I would recommend this to any zombie lover.
Show Less
LibraryThing member bragan
Fifteen-year-old Temple grew up in a world overrun by the dead, which has made her tough and dangerous, but somehow not diminished her sense of wonder. Now she wanders through what's left of the deep South, trying to survive and see something of the world while a man bent on vengeance dogs her
The plot and the background aren't anything terribly remarkable, and there's one incident that seems as if it could have come straight out of a B-movie (something that's not actually a given in a zombie story). But the main character is satisfyingly well-rendered and the writing is excellent, intelligent and contemplative. This, apparently, is what happens when a zombie apocalypse story grows up and decides to embark on a career as a literary novel, while trying to stay in touch with its roots. I think the novelty value of that alone would be enough to make it worth reading.
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steps.The plot and the background aren't anything terribly remarkable, and there's one incident that seems as if it could have come straight out of a B-movie (something that's not actually a given in a zombie story). But the main character is satisfyingly well-rendered and the writing is excellent, intelligent and contemplative. This, apparently, is what happens when a zombie apocalypse story grows up and decides to embark on a career as a literary novel, while trying to stay in touch with its roots. I think the novelty value of that alone would be enough to make it worth reading.
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LibraryThing member Wova4
After several days of consideration I can't decide if Alden Bell should be commended for running with and improving on an idea or pilloried for outright theft considering the novel The Reapers Are Angels.
This book cannot possibly be reviewed without comparing it to the source, Cormac McCarthy's
There are differences as well. Bell's apocalypse is peopled with the living dead--classic slow-moving, hardly-dangerous zombies. There is even one surprising group of other-classed beings that the protagonist stumbles into. With this, The Reapers Are Angels does devolve into more pulpy action sequences as befits the situation. Bell also intentionally infuses place into his story, looking at the decay of the Southeastern U.S., where McCarthy made his lands anonymous. The section on the wealthy estate was the best diversion among all elements, in my opinion.
If you like your apocalypses to feel real, this book will be very frustrating. Bell's apocalypse is an unbelievable land of plenty. We're told the main character is 15 or 16 and can't remember the way the world once was, so we're looking at 10 years of fallen civilization. Yet, the character finds unlooted gas stations stocked with still-edible crackers, running water many places, and areas with working electric grids. The various small outposts of humanity seem to always have a cold coke for her when she craves it. Running vehicles and gas are readily at hand. And yet, this doesn't seem to be a soft apocalypse with any functional government or infrastructure. Anyone who has read "The World Without Us" will feel how badly thought-out things are.
Thus my ambivalent review. I feel Bell could do very good things, but he's been caught writing too much like another book and lacking appropriate world-building. Give it a try if you're a fan of the genre, but steer clear if you find your preferences in line with my comments above.
This book cannot possibly be reviewed without comparing it to the source, Cormac McCarthy's
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The Road. Both novels feature an apocalyptic world at some point after the initial accident/whatever upended civilization. Both are brooding stories of the difficulty of travel and show hints of what mankind has fallen to. Each focuses on a central pair of characters, one dependent upon the other to navigate their world. Bell even choose to discard quotation marks in dialogue, as if to prove himself as a stylist on par with McCarthy (not going to debate either end of that assertion). Both end with a death and an indifferent continuation as another character picks up the load and carries the child-figure on.There are differences as well. Bell's apocalypse is peopled with the living dead--classic slow-moving, hardly-dangerous zombies. There is even one surprising group of other-classed beings that the protagonist stumbles into. With this, The Reapers Are Angels does devolve into more pulpy action sequences as befits the situation. Bell also intentionally infuses place into his story, looking at the decay of the Southeastern U.S., where McCarthy made his lands anonymous. The section on the wealthy estate was the best diversion among all elements, in my opinion.
If you like your apocalypses to feel real, this book will be very frustrating. Bell's apocalypse is an unbelievable land of plenty. We're told the main character is 15 or 16 and can't remember the way the world once was, so we're looking at 10 years of fallen civilization. Yet, the character finds unlooted gas stations stocked with still-edible crackers, running water many places, and areas with working electric grids. The various small outposts of humanity seem to always have a cold coke for her when she craves it. Running vehicles and gas are readily at hand. And yet, this doesn't seem to be a soft apocalypse with any functional government or infrastructure. Anyone who has read "The World Without Us" will feel how badly thought-out things are.
Thus my ambivalent review. I feel Bell could do very good things, but he's been caught writing too much like another book and lacking appropriate world-building. Give it a try if you're a fan of the genre, but steer clear if you find your preferences in line with my comments above.
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LibraryThing member sturlington
It's hard to believe that someone could come out with a fresh and different take on the zombie apocalypse novel, but Bell has done it here. He seamlessly combines Southern gothic tropes with zombie tropes to tell a story that seems utterly unique. But he doesn't lose sight of his characters, and
Some observations:
Zombie fiction never names zombies "zombies." I liked the names used here, "meatskins" and "slugs." But if there really were a zombie apocalypse, wouldn't we just call them by the name we've always used for them? Why is the name "zombie" never used? Seriously want to know.
This was also a refreshingly different take on the post-apocalyptic genre. Instead of portraying people in a post-apocalyptic situation as reverting immediately to savagery and shedding all vestiges of civilization, which is the norm, this book portrays them as just people, in all their complexity. The survivors maintain their humanity, for the most part, which seems to me much more believable. Even the villain is not purely villainous.
I love, love how Bell managed to fit in the decaying Southern mansion, with its stuck-in-the-past Old South family, and the grotesque, both characteristic of the Southern gothic, in a zombie novel! There is even a Boo Radley-type character.
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his protagonist--a 15-year-old girl named Temple wandering the abandoned South--is someone we come to know and care deeply for. Her voice is distinctly her own, and her observations of the world she finds herself in, the only world she has ever known, are both poetic and insightful. This book started off slow for me but built and built until I could not let it go. Some observations:
Zombie fiction never names zombies "zombies." I liked the names used here, "meatskins" and "slugs." But if there really were a zombie apocalypse, wouldn't we just call them by the name we've always used for them? Why is the name "zombie" never used? Seriously want to know.
This was also a refreshingly different take on the post-apocalyptic genre. Instead of portraying people in a post-apocalyptic situation as reverting immediately to savagery and shedding all vestiges of civilization, which is the norm, this book portrays them as just people, in all their complexity. The survivors maintain their humanity, for the most part, which seems to me much more believable. Even the villain is not purely villainous.
I love, love how Bell managed to fit in the decaying Southern mansion, with its stuck-in-the-past Old South family, and the grotesque, both characteristic of the Southern gothic, in a zombie novel! There is even a Boo Radley-type character.
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LibraryThing member BeckyJG
Every day is a struggle when your species is no longer at the top of the food chain. Fifteen year old Temple has never known an existence free of quotidian scrabbling for food, shelter, and clothing. She grew up knowing how to kill when necessary; in particular, she grew up knowing how to
Temple's landscape is a bleak one. Cities are full of mostly abandoned buildings, highways are littered with the hulks of cars left to rust where they lay, and people are either too frightened or too evil to make any attempt to work together to rebuild society. She has been traveling for most of her short life, sometimes with others but lately mostly alone.
So far, so typical, of pretty much every post-apocalyptic road novel written in the last three decades. And The Reapers Are the Angels does indeed make use of all of the genre's now hoary tropes. Zombies, mutants, gangs of thugs and rapists, good but clueless people holed up on their family estate--they're all here. But although this novel is a really good horror read, it is so much more than that as well.
To start, there's Alden Bell's glorious, soaring prose. Here are the opening paragraphs:
"God is a slick god. Temple knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe.
Like those fish all disco-lit in the shallows. That was something, a marvel with no compare that she's been witness to. It was deep night when she saw it, but the moon was so bright it cast hard shadows everywhere on the island. So bright it was almost brighter than daytime because she could see things clearer, as if the sun were criminal to the truth, as if her eyes were eyes of night. She left the lighthouse and went down to the beach to look at the moon pure and straight, and she stood in the shallows and let her feet sink into the sand as the patter-waves tickled her ankles. And that's when she saw it, a school of tiny fish, all darting around like marbles in a chalk circle, and they were lit up electric, mostly silver but some gold and pink too. They came and danced around her ankles, and she could feel their little electric fish bodies, and it was like she was standing under the moon and in the moon at the same time. And that was something she hadn't seen before. A decade and a half, thereabouts, roaming the planet earth, and she's never seen that before."
And then there is the psychological depth with which Bell has written. Temple is a smart girl and a resourceful one. Her heart is a warrior's. She's illiterate, but has the soul of a poet. She's also introspective and haunted; as her story unfolds we learn that she's running from a mistake--the mistake of a child, but one from which she will never fully recover. Although she does make enemies--she kills a man who attempts to rape her and spends the rest of the book pursued by his brother, who is bent on revenge--still, she does good along the way, not to make amends (in her world, there are far too many kill-or-be-killed scenarios) but because she has an abiding understanding of what is right.
It's not surprising that the heroine of a novel should have such layers, but that the villain should also be nuanced came as a surprise. Although Moses Todd, the vengeful brother, never loses his single-minded resolve to kill Temple when he catches up with her, our last glimpse of him sees him in an utterly surprising, but wholly believable, act of compassion.
The Reapers Are the Angels is that rare book that is a delicious read both for its story and for the quality of its writing. In fact, I would be remiss if I didn't circle back for just a moment to the post-apocalyptic setting and zombie infestation of the novel and note that the author is quite comfortable with putrefaction and decay. There are enough lovingly effective descriptions of oozing pestilence to satisfy even the most jaded reader of horror novels (I should know). It's a perfect choice for book clubs that like their books a little on the edgy side and is a natural for handselling at the bookseller level (if I were still in the store I would be pushing this title on all kinds of different readers).
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administer the coup de grace that would render the tirelessly shuffling, voracious zombies that have overrun the world truly dead. Temple learned how to kill people, as well, and she learned at a very early age how to make sure that a dead person wouldn't succumb to the virus that infected the world a quarter of a century earlier and rise again to join the shambling ranks of the undead.Temple's landscape is a bleak one. Cities are full of mostly abandoned buildings, highways are littered with the hulks of cars left to rust where they lay, and people are either too frightened or too evil to make any attempt to work together to rebuild society. She has been traveling for most of her short life, sometimes with others but lately mostly alone.
So far, so typical, of pretty much every post-apocalyptic road novel written in the last three decades. And The Reapers Are the Angels does indeed make use of all of the genre's now hoary tropes. Zombies, mutants, gangs of thugs and rapists, good but clueless people holed up on their family estate--they're all here. But although this novel is a really good horror read, it is so much more than that as well.
To start, there's Alden Bell's glorious, soaring prose. Here are the opening paragraphs:
"God is a slick god. Temple knows. She knows because of all the crackerjack miracles still to be seen on this ruined globe.
Like those fish all disco-lit in the shallows. That was something, a marvel with no compare that she's been witness to. It was deep night when she saw it, but the moon was so bright it cast hard shadows everywhere on the island. So bright it was almost brighter than daytime because she could see things clearer, as if the sun were criminal to the truth, as if her eyes were eyes of night. She left the lighthouse and went down to the beach to look at the moon pure and straight, and she stood in the shallows and let her feet sink into the sand as the patter-waves tickled her ankles. And that's when she saw it, a school of tiny fish, all darting around like marbles in a chalk circle, and they were lit up electric, mostly silver but some gold and pink too. They came and danced around her ankles, and she could feel their little electric fish bodies, and it was like she was standing under the moon and in the moon at the same time. And that was something she hadn't seen before. A decade and a half, thereabouts, roaming the planet earth, and she's never seen that before."
And then there is the psychological depth with which Bell has written. Temple is a smart girl and a resourceful one. Her heart is a warrior's. She's illiterate, but has the soul of a poet. She's also introspective and haunted; as her story unfolds we learn that she's running from a mistake--the mistake of a child, but one from which she will never fully recover. Although she does make enemies--she kills a man who attempts to rape her and spends the rest of the book pursued by his brother, who is bent on revenge--still, she does good along the way, not to make amends (in her world, there are far too many kill-or-be-killed scenarios) but because she has an abiding understanding of what is right.
It's not surprising that the heroine of a novel should have such layers, but that the villain should also be nuanced came as a surprise. Although Moses Todd, the vengeful brother, never loses his single-minded resolve to kill Temple when he catches up with her, our last glimpse of him sees him in an utterly surprising, but wholly believable, act of compassion.
The Reapers Are the Angels is that rare book that is a delicious read both for its story and for the quality of its writing. In fact, I would be remiss if I didn't circle back for just a moment to the post-apocalyptic setting and zombie infestation of the novel and note that the author is quite comfortable with putrefaction and decay. There are enough lovingly effective descriptions of oozing pestilence to satisfy even the most jaded reader of horror novels (I should know). It's a perfect choice for book clubs that like their books a little on the edgy side and is a natural for handselling at the bookseller level (if I were still in the store I would be pushing this title on all kinds of different readers).
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LibraryThing member MyBookishWays
It's been 25 years since whatever horror that started the zombie apocalypse spread throughout the world. Fifteen year old Temple, driven from the lighthouse she calls home, begins a harrowing journey across a ruined America. Unflinching and brutal, Temple's journey is fraught with danger, yet she
I could not put this book down. I fell in love with this tough, damaged, illiterate, street smart girl as she made her way across a wasteland filled with not only unspeakable horror (there are some genuinely scary, disturbing moments), but also oasis' of beauty and humanity.
Alden Bell has created a zombie novel of the highest order. In addition, he's created something rarely seen in this genre, a literary gem.
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eventually finds a purpose that will test her capacity for love and hope, and strengthen her will to live. I could not put this book down. I fell in love with this tough, damaged, illiterate, street smart girl as she made her way across a wasteland filled with not only unspeakable horror (there are some genuinely scary, disturbing moments), but also oasis' of beauty and humanity.
Alden Bell has created a zombie novel of the highest order. In addition, he's created something rarely seen in this genre, a literary gem.
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LibraryThing member Meggle
I really enjoyed this book. I haven't read too many zombie novels but this book was totally not what I was expecting. It was a little deeper than your typical hack and slash zombie apocalypse novel, although it did have its share of gory parts. The story follows a fifteen year old girl named Temple
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through a zombie infested America. She meets many different characters along the way and ends up running from a man whose brother she killed while trying to return a half witted man named Maury to his relatives in Texas all the while wrestling with the demons of her past. The author has a very beautiful way of writing which at times reads almost like poetry. A great read. Show Less
LibraryThing member SycoticMuskrat
As apocalyptic zombie stories go this ranks up there with some of the best. A main character you grow to care about. An ending that you may or may not like but a book you cannot put down.
LibraryThing member cmwilson101
Plan to stay up all night and call in sick to work - this book demands attention. It is a compelling and beautifully written story of a Temple, a young woman surviving in a zombie-infested world. Temple is a self-sufficient woman, strong, skilled at survival; action abounds as she takes a journey
There are several reasons that this book stands out from others in the crowd of zombie literature: the writing is beautiful, lyrical; Temple has been born many years after a zombie apocalypse, and zombies thus are simply a part of life; and the emphasis of the story is not on horror and despair but rather on beauty and hope. For these reasons, and the tightly woven plot, this is a hugely satisfying read which deserves to be considered one of the best books of the year.
Alden Bell is a newish author, and I hope he has a long and productive life because I am waiting to read more from him.
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across America, fighting zombies along the way. The road-trip action story is satisfying on its own, but at a deeper level it is absolutely enthralling because Temple is a unique and contemplative heroine who ponders the meaning of life and searches out beauty even as she kills zombies. Her story raises questions about the difference between good and evil, human motivation and satisfaction, and ultimately death itself.There are several reasons that this book stands out from others in the crowd of zombie literature: the writing is beautiful, lyrical; Temple has been born many years after a zombie apocalypse, and zombies thus are simply a part of life; and the emphasis of the story is not on horror and despair but rather on beauty and hope. For these reasons, and the tightly woven plot, this is a hugely satisfying read which deserves to be considered one of the best books of the year.
Alden Bell is a newish author, and I hope he has a long and productive life because I am waiting to read more from him.
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LibraryThing member IbnAlNaqba
I've got to say, Alden Bell's novel The Reapers Are The Angels is a vast improvement over the majority of available zombie long fiction. Bell takes the zombie genre and does what I desperately wish so many other authors would do with it... he tells a story that's set in a zombie apocalypse, rather
So what we have here is a fine zombie novel, pretty close to top-notch. I felt the need to subtract a half-star for his lack of acquaintance with the South, which helped pull me out of the story on rare occasions (but hey, I live here... can't expect perfection from someone who doesn't), but apart from that this is a 4 1/2 to 5 star novel. An excellent read, all things considered.
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than just piling on action. Not only that, but Bell is actually a pretty good writer, with linguistic stylings that carry the reader beyond mere visualization and into something almost poetic. One can't help but be impressed with his emulation of Southern dialogue, though he seems a bit ill-acquainted with the south at times (For example, we don't have a lot of basements in Florida, Alden. Too close to the water table, our rural meth labs are on the ground floor). He also builds a pretty fair storyline, though the main attraction here is his use of descriptive language and dialogue. And zombies, of course. Can't forget the zombies. I love the phrases he uses for them. So what we have here is a fine zombie novel, pretty close to top-notch. I felt the need to subtract a half-star for his lack of acquaintance with the South, which helped pull me out of the story on rare occasions (but hey, I live here... can't expect perfection from someone who doesn't), but apart from that this is a 4 1/2 to 5 star novel. An excellent read, all things considered.
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LibraryThing member Master275
FANTASTIC book!!! I was drawn in from the very beginning and flipped through the pages as quickly as I could! This novel never slows down and keeps you interested from beginning to end.....and what a shocking end it is!!!
HIGHLY recommended!
HIGHLY recommended!
LibraryThing member mel-L-co0l-j
Blurb
~~
“A slug dressed in black with a white preacher's collar lifts his hand toward the sky
as if calling upon the god of dead things, while a rotting woman in a wedding dress sits
open-legged against a wall, rubbing the lace hem against her cheek.”
You trapped me, Mr. Bell; and you did it
I innocently picked up this utterly addictive tale by Alden Bell, aka Joshua Gaylord, on an evening in which I had urgent and dire projects to complete. I never got to them; I was immediately bewitched. The pleasantly disconcerting imagery quickly owned me, and soon thereafter, I became intrigued with the protagonist, Temple. Temple is a mesmerizing, psychologically intriguing young girl, who we follow as she traverses the US, trying to stay one step ahead of the living dead. Temple relishes her curses at least as much as her redemptions, and this is her draw. You’ll remain fairly off-balance throughout the tale, never quite sure if she’s a saint or a devil, never quite sure you should really dig her as much as you do. The other characters in the tale are no less amazing in their depth.
The Reapers isn't your standard zombie treatment. Very few zombie cliches are utilized, and the ones that are quickly become unrecognizable. This novel is part zombie fun and mayhem, part philosophy on the human condition. No punches are pulled; the ball hits the target every time, and you end up dunked in ice-cold water. With sharks. Thanks for the meatskin tango, Mr. Bell.
Read it.
________________________________________________________________________________
Full Review
~~
“See, God is a slick god. He makes it so you don't miss out on nothing you're
supposed to witness firsthand.” -- Temple
You trapped me, Mr. Bell; and you did it with glee, and the most unabashed lack of remorse.
I innocently picked up The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell (a pen name for Joshua Gaylord) on an evening in which I had urgent and dire projects to complete. I never got to them; I was immediately bewitched. The pleasantly disconcerting, trenchant imagery quickly owned me, and soon thereafter, I became intrigued with the protagonist, Temple. I'd never encountered Temple’s particular psyche, in real life or in lit; yet Alden made her completely believable and human, without sacrificing her unsettling charm. You’ll remain fairly off-balance throughout the tale, never quite sure if she’s a saint or a devil, never quite sure you should really dig her as much as you do.
“Those are the times you do something because you're tired of thinkin on it. And
that's when the devil better get his pencil ready to tally up a score, cause the time for
nuances is gone... You think, all right then, hell is my home.
And she raises the gurkha and brings it down.”
We follow Temple as she traverses the US, trying to stay one step ahead of the living dead, grimly determined to experience life in the process. Temple relishes the dank at least as much as her redemptions, and this is her draw. And who's worse -- The plague-ridden monsters, or the unaffected? The folks Temple encounters are unexpected, amazing, and pure – whether they're cutting off Temple's finger or bedding her – and this makes for a dizzyingly fun and disturbing tale.
“His will to destroy her, and her will to remain undestroyed –
both things are beautiful and holy.”
The Reapers isn't your standard zombie treatment. Very few zombie cliches are utilized, and the ones that are quickly become unrecognizable. The story is part zombie fun and mayhem, part philosophical allegory about the human condition. There are shades of Objectivist and Humanist philosophy, though whether Bell's tale is an allegory for them, or an allegory against, is up for debate.
“A slug dressed in black with a white preacher's collar lifts his hand toward the sky
as if calling upon the god of dead things, while a rotting woman in a wedding dress sits
open-legged against a wall, rubbing the lace hem against her cheek.”
Here is a tale in which no punches are pulled; the ball hits the target every time, and you end up dunked in ice-cold water. With sharks. Thanks for the meatskin tango, Mr. Bell.
“... and the thick throb of pain comes back into her hand, and she grabs
on to it and doesn't let go because it feels like an earned suffering.”
Grab hold and enjoy the ride.
~~
“A slug dressed in black with a white preacher's collar lifts his hand toward the sky
as if calling upon the god of dead things, while a rotting woman in a wedding dress sits
open-legged against a wall, rubbing the lace hem against her cheek.”
You trapped me, Mr. Bell; and you did it
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with glee, and the most unabashed lack of remorse. I innocently picked up this utterly addictive tale by Alden Bell, aka Joshua Gaylord, on an evening in which I had urgent and dire projects to complete. I never got to them; I was immediately bewitched. The pleasantly disconcerting imagery quickly owned me, and soon thereafter, I became intrigued with the protagonist, Temple. Temple is a mesmerizing, psychologically intriguing young girl, who we follow as she traverses the US, trying to stay one step ahead of the living dead. Temple relishes her curses at least as much as her redemptions, and this is her draw. You’ll remain fairly off-balance throughout the tale, never quite sure if she’s a saint or a devil, never quite sure you should really dig her as much as you do. The other characters in the tale are no less amazing in their depth.
The Reapers isn't your standard zombie treatment. Very few zombie cliches are utilized, and the ones that are quickly become unrecognizable. This novel is part zombie fun and mayhem, part philosophy on the human condition. No punches are pulled; the ball hits the target every time, and you end up dunked in ice-cold water. With sharks. Thanks for the meatskin tango, Mr. Bell.
Read it.
________________________________________________________________________________
Full Review
~~
“See, God is a slick god. He makes it so you don't miss out on nothing you're
supposed to witness firsthand.” -- Temple
You trapped me, Mr. Bell; and you did it with glee, and the most unabashed lack of remorse.
I innocently picked up The Reapers Are The Angels by Alden Bell (a pen name for Joshua Gaylord) on an evening in which I had urgent and dire projects to complete. I never got to them; I was immediately bewitched. The pleasantly disconcerting, trenchant imagery quickly owned me, and soon thereafter, I became intrigued with the protagonist, Temple. I'd never encountered Temple’s particular psyche, in real life or in lit; yet Alden made her completely believable and human, without sacrificing her unsettling charm. You’ll remain fairly off-balance throughout the tale, never quite sure if she’s a saint or a devil, never quite sure you should really dig her as much as you do.
“Those are the times you do something because you're tired of thinkin on it. And
that's when the devil better get his pencil ready to tally up a score, cause the time for
nuances is gone... You think, all right then, hell is my home.
And she raises the gurkha and brings it down.”
We follow Temple as she traverses the US, trying to stay one step ahead of the living dead, grimly determined to experience life in the process. Temple relishes the dank at least as much as her redemptions, and this is her draw. And who's worse -- The plague-ridden monsters, or the unaffected? The folks Temple encounters are unexpected, amazing, and pure – whether they're cutting off Temple's finger or bedding her – and this makes for a dizzyingly fun and disturbing tale.
“His will to destroy her, and her will to remain undestroyed –
both things are beautiful and holy.”
The Reapers isn't your standard zombie treatment. Very few zombie cliches are utilized, and the ones that are quickly become unrecognizable. The story is part zombie fun and mayhem, part philosophical allegory about the human condition. There are shades of Objectivist and Humanist philosophy, though whether Bell's tale is an allegory for them, or an allegory against, is up for debate.
“A slug dressed in black with a white preacher's collar lifts his hand toward the sky
as if calling upon the god of dead things, while a rotting woman in a wedding dress sits
open-legged against a wall, rubbing the lace hem against her cheek.”
Here is a tale in which no punches are pulled; the ball hits the target every time, and you end up dunked in ice-cold water. With sharks. Thanks for the meatskin tango, Mr. Bell.
“... and the thick throb of pain comes back into her hand, and she grabs
on to it and doesn't let go because it feels like an earned suffering.”
Grab hold and enjoy the ride.
Show Less
LibraryThing member RuthiesBookReviews
This book was a really good read. The story is told by Temple, a fifteen year-old girl and I'm presuming that this infection or infestation of zombies that has taken over the world did so a long time ago. The tone of the story is sad, but really there is some action going on with Temple as she
Temple, the main character and the storylines POV, is young, but really she's older than her years on the Earth. She's managed to keep herself alive all of these years, isn't scared of the zombies, and just really smart. From the way the talking is she's southern. But really that didn't matter. In her travels she comes across other survivors of this plague and moves along on her own. That seems to be all that she knows. She comes across a man who's intent is harm and she does what she has to do, but now it seems that his brother is after her. And she ends up with Maury, a man she found wandering and she took him under her wing.
The remains of the story seemed a little slow, they travel, she kills a few slugs, they meet some other people, and then it seems as if the world has turned over and she comes across something that isn't natural. They aren't human, but they aren't slugs....hmmmm....that was a nice twist in the story.
A story of survival of the fittest and the ending seemed to tie up everything quite nicely. Temple was dealing with her inner demons, almost like anyone would to have seen and experienced such horror and death in such a short life time. And my favorite part was the mention of Niagara Falls, NY in the book, which is where I'm typing this review. So that was different. I loved it. It was a good book and a different kind of spin on a zombie apocalypse.
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makes her way around in the lonely world by herself and has to kill some 'meatskins'. Temple, the main character and the storylines POV, is young, but really she's older than her years on the Earth. She's managed to keep herself alive all of these years, isn't scared of the zombies, and just really smart. From the way the talking is she's southern. But really that didn't matter. In her travels she comes across other survivors of this plague and moves along on her own. That seems to be all that she knows. She comes across a man who's intent is harm and she does what she has to do, but now it seems that his brother is after her. And she ends up with Maury, a man she found wandering and she took him under her wing.
The remains of the story seemed a little slow, they travel, she kills a few slugs, they meet some other people, and then it seems as if the world has turned over and she comes across something that isn't natural. They aren't human, but they aren't slugs....hmmmm....that was a nice twist in the story.
A story of survival of the fittest and the ending seemed to tie up everything quite nicely. Temple was dealing with her inner demons, almost like anyone would to have seen and experienced such horror and death in such a short life time. And my favorite part was the mention of Niagara Falls, NY in the book, which is where I'm typing this review. So that was different. I loved it. It was a good book and a different kind of spin on a zombie apocalypse.
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LibraryThing member klarsenmd
I received this book as part of the early reviewers program through LT. I was a bit skeptical at first, thing this would be another far fetched zombie book. I couldn't have been more wrong.
From page one I was drawn into the woeful tale of Temple, a 15 year old girl, born several years after zombies
The dialogue was amazing and the imagery intense. This was less a tale of cannabalistic zombies and more a tale of one girls determination to live life in the midst of death. A great read!
From page one I was drawn into the woeful tale of Temple, a 15 year old girl, born several years after zombies
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began roaming the US. She has lived a life full of death and has had to rely on herself to survive in a crazy world. Along her path she has seen some things and met some interesting people. Now while running from a man bent on killing her, she is running both away from and toward her own destiny.The dialogue was amazing and the imagery intense. This was less a tale of cannabalistic zombies and more a tale of one girls determination to live life in the midst of death. A great read!
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LibraryThing member IntrinsiclyMe
This is a beautiful story. I was looking forward to it because I love post-apocalypse stories and zombies stories. This is so much more than that. The people are incredibly real, the journies riveting.
LibraryThing member mapthis
This book was an awesome read that I never wanted to put down, while simultaneously being very depressing. The author really nailed the character of Temple and made her very believable, despite her doing some thing that would otherwise be considered unbelievable. I did have a problem with the lack
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of quotations for dialog and I'm still torn about the ending, but I highly recommend the book, even if you don't like zombies. Show Less
LibraryThing member krau0098
I got a copy of this book through Librarything.com's Early Reviewer program. I saw the cover and read the premise and instantly was dying to read it. I loved this book. This is a zombie novel with vision and heart, that can even be considered high literature. It is haunting and beautiful and
Temple is a fifteen girl who was born after the apocalypse; that is after dead human beings started turning into "Meatskins" and attacking and eating live humans. She is a tough girl who is struggling to find a place for herself. She doesn't need anyone to protect her, but she needs a purpose and she uncannily finds beauty and wonder in the dreariest of places. She tries to fit in with a local community until a man attempts to rape her; she kills him. Then she is forced to flee with the man's brother Moses in pursuit. She stumbles upon Maury, a slow mute carrying his dead grandmother and being chased by a pack a meatskins. When she finds an address in Maury's pocket that states there are people waiting to take care of him, she decides to get Maury to his new home.
This is not a happy read. It is gory and dark and brutal. But somehow it is beautiful too. Temple is a tough girl and a heroine that you really want to cheer on. She is so practical and so capable. She doesn't resent life, she just deals. At one point someone asks her if she hates the meatheads and her response is "Why? They are just being what they are." Temple's real skill (besides surviving everything) is finding beauty in the craziest of places.
Bell as a writer did an excellent job. The writing style is a bit different; speech is signified by a new paragraph or line rather than quotes and everything is written from an outside view. For this book it really works though. Bell's description is fabulous and really makes you feel like you are there with Temple. I really enjoyed it a lot. The characters he creates are wonderful too, full of depth and interesting. Bell delves quite a bit into the philosophy of life in this story. This is not your normal zombie story; it is more about humans and their quest to find a purpose, their quest to find beauty and hope, and their willingness to appreciate the good things they have (no matter how bad other things get).
The relationship between Temple and Moses is an interesting one. Moses swears to hunt Temple down and kill her, yet somehow they seem to be the only characters in the book who really understand each other. They understand survival, hope, and beauty and this draws them to an understanding even as Moses is hunting Temple.
This book will leave you with a lot to think about and probably leave you a little scared. You can't help but think about how you would hold up in a similar situation and if you could be as brave as Temple.
Overall this was a wonderful read. The writing style is perfect and makes this zombie book a work of fine literature. The story has equal parts action, adventure, and philosophy. It is incredibly engaging and almost impossible to put down. I loved it and will be looking forward to Bell's future works.
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thought-provoking while at the same time being brutally realistic. I could not put it down and ended up reading it in a day.Temple is a fifteen girl who was born after the apocalypse; that is after dead human beings started turning into "Meatskins" and attacking and eating live humans. She is a tough girl who is struggling to find a place for herself. She doesn't need anyone to protect her, but she needs a purpose and she uncannily finds beauty and wonder in the dreariest of places. She tries to fit in with a local community until a man attempts to rape her; she kills him. Then she is forced to flee with the man's brother Moses in pursuit. She stumbles upon Maury, a slow mute carrying his dead grandmother and being chased by a pack a meatskins. When she finds an address in Maury's pocket that states there are people waiting to take care of him, she decides to get Maury to his new home.
This is not a happy read. It is gory and dark and brutal. But somehow it is beautiful too. Temple is a tough girl and a heroine that you really want to cheer on. She is so practical and so capable. She doesn't resent life, she just deals. At one point someone asks her if she hates the meatheads and her response is "Why? They are just being what they are." Temple's real skill (besides surviving everything) is finding beauty in the craziest of places.
Bell as a writer did an excellent job. The writing style is a bit different; speech is signified by a new paragraph or line rather than quotes and everything is written from an outside view. For this book it really works though. Bell's description is fabulous and really makes you feel like you are there with Temple. I really enjoyed it a lot. The characters he creates are wonderful too, full of depth and interesting. Bell delves quite a bit into the philosophy of life in this story. This is not your normal zombie story; it is more about humans and their quest to find a purpose, their quest to find beauty and hope, and their willingness to appreciate the good things they have (no matter how bad other things get).
The relationship between Temple and Moses is an interesting one. Moses swears to hunt Temple down and kill her, yet somehow they seem to be the only characters in the book who really understand each other. They understand survival, hope, and beauty and this draws them to an understanding even as Moses is hunting Temple.
This book will leave you with a lot to think about and probably leave you a little scared. You can't help but think about how you would hold up in a similar situation and if you could be as brave as Temple.
Overall this was a wonderful read. The writing style is perfect and makes this zombie book a work of fine literature. The story has equal parts action, adventure, and philosophy. It is incredibly engaging and almost impossible to put down. I loved it and will be looking forward to Bell's future works.
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LibraryThing member kayceel
I requested this one because I love zombies, survival and teenage protaganists, and this one has all that, plus horror, suspense, redemption and sorrow.
Temple was born ten years after a zombie apocalypse, and started running from the 'meatskins' when they overran her foster home and has been
Temple is a strong young woman. She's pragmatic and despite the state of her world - small pockets of survivors surrounded by decay and zombies - she notices the small things and treasures the thought of one day seeing Niagra Falls.
This reminds me very much of McCarthy's The Road - dark and desperate, but ultimately hopeful.
Recommended.
Temple was born ten years after a zombie apocalypse, and started running from the 'meatskins' when they overran her foster home and has been
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traveling ever since. At fifteen, she's become talented at surviving, whether by running or by standing and fighting. After meeting up with a large group of survivors, she runs afoul of a pair of brothers, and must run again.Temple is a strong young woman. She's pragmatic and despite the state of her world - small pockets of survivors surrounded by decay and zombies - she notices the small things and treasures the thought of one day seeing Niagra Falls.
This reminds me very much of McCarthy's The Road - dark and desperate, but ultimately hopeful.
Recommended.
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LibraryThing member HeikeM
A very rare thing: this book brought me very close to tears. It is a story of a 15 year old girl, mature beyond her years, living in a world where human contact is rare and dangers lurk everywhere. She is alone, carrying a huge packet of guilt from a mistake made when she was a child. Now
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circumstances make her a fugitive, hunted by the brother of a man she killed in self defence. As you can see her life is not that wonderful, but still, she sees the beauty in nearly everything. The prose is amazing, touching, gentle, beautiful, guiding you through a hopeless world without taking the hope from you. Very quickly you get to know and like the heroine. When she gets burdened with a mentally handicapped man she takes that into her stride and makes it a positive experience. Again and again she escapes her hunter and slowly a relationship of sorts is forming. I will not tell you more, but the end of the story is, although cruel, so very touching and tender. And so very unexpected. The fact that there are zombies roaming the world (everybody becomes a zombie after death) and the descriptions of their demise is rather gruesome does not take any of the enjoyment reading this book away. Show Less
LibraryThing member kraaivrouw
Without a doubt this is one of the best books I've read all year. It's beautifully written, high readable, has characters that are relatable, and world-building that is believable. Plus it's got zombies. Need I say more?
LibraryThing member blodeuedd
25 years ago they started to emerge, humans tried to fight back, and fought for years, but now the land lies kind of dead. People hiding behind barricades, and hunters on the road, fighting one zombie at a time. Among theses are 15 year old Temple, all on her own. All she ever has know has been
I liked Temple, she was kick-ass for sure. But then she grew up in a world that had slowly lost the fight. She is a good with a knife, she says what she thinks, and she remembers those that have fallen. She also feels that there is a darkness within her, but growing up like that who can blame her.
It is not a scary book, there is no real zombie action. She avoids them best she can, she knows their tricks, and they are pretty slow and stupid. The danger here is more from other humans. When society falls so those everything. You learn about those that prayed on other humans, and then the most scary of them all show up, hillbillies, you'll see. But there are also nice people, just trying to get by, and helping each other.
The book had this strange and nice flow to it. It was like it was happening, and like it had happened, would happen. I liked it, he has a talent. It was a good book, and a sad one.
What do I think, well if people just manage to survive, then they will outlive the zombies, or this world will become a barren wasteland. I do wonder, since I do not get that answer.
This was a different sort of zombie book. It reminded me a bit of The Road, I have only seen the movie, but it had the same hopelessness to it, and hope. It is a story about a young woman on the road, aged far beyond her years.
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death and destruction. She moves from place to place, hiding, running, fighting, and soon running from more that just zombies.I liked Temple, she was kick-ass for sure. But then she grew up in a world that had slowly lost the fight. She is a good with a knife, she says what she thinks, and she remembers those that have fallen. She also feels that there is a darkness within her, but growing up like that who can blame her.
It is not a scary book, there is no real zombie action. She avoids them best she can, she knows their tricks, and they are pretty slow and stupid. The danger here is more from other humans. When society falls so those everything. You learn about those that prayed on other humans, and then the most scary of them all show up, hillbillies, you'll see. But there are also nice people, just trying to get by, and helping each other.
The book had this strange and nice flow to it. It was like it was happening, and like it had happened, would happen. I liked it, he has a talent. It was a good book, and a sad one.
What do I think, well if people just manage to survive, then they will outlive the zombies, or this world will become a barren wasteland. I do wonder, since I do not get that answer.
This was a different sort of zombie book. It reminded me a bit of The Road, I have only seen the movie, but it had the same hopelessness to it, and hope. It is a story about a young woman on the road, aged far beyond her years.
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LibraryThing member NKSCF
Wow, I was not expecting this book to be as good as it was. With a main character you will care about immediately, intricately described and wondrously-devised plots, as well as an interesting premise, The Reapers Are the Angels is definitely one of the best books to come out this year.
Temple is a
I was a little disappointed by the bittersweet ending, but the writing makes it work excellently. The book's strengths more than make up for its minor weak points along the way, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great, character-driven story.
Temple is a
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young woman born into a world several years after it has been almost overwhelmed by zombies. Traveling alone in the South, she stays with no one more than she has to, but on the way she finds herself gaining allies and enemies during the trip.I was a little disappointed by the bittersweet ending, but the writing makes it work excellently. The book's strengths more than make up for its minor weak points along the way, and I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a great, character-driven story.
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LibraryThing member SunHeaLee
With perhaps the exception of World War Z, The Reapers are the Angels has to be the best zombie novel I’ve ever read. What’s more, it features a female teenage protagonist that didn’t seem contrived.
What bothers me about YA fiction is the stock plots, themes, and characters they have, which
where events are put upon them and, despite the fact they have never experienced what happens before, they are able to get through them with flying colors thanks to the strength of their character. No real choice, no meaningful introversion, just their sense of right and wrong (which is more in tune than everyone elses). Go against the establishment? Then you will save the world, despite not being nearly important enough to have accomplished anything, really, because they are unique and the most important person in the world! Even physical traits, like stamina or fighting skills, are bestowed upon them with no real effort.
Reapers bypasses all those cliches. Although it features a teenage female protagonist, Temple, I did not get annoyed with her or roll my eyes at the played out character traits. She managed to be an outcast without the self proclaimed loner status; she was strong without it being serendipitous or suspicious; and Temple demonstrated meaningful introversion while actually being insightful (while still not managing to arrive at any set conclusion). Bell walked a fine line and managed not to trip; I think many authors of other young protagonists could learn from him.
Temple roams the country ravaged by zombies to run from a killer, or, perhaps, from herself. While meeting interesting characters, she tries to find a place in the world she feels she has no privilege to be in. She is older than her age and attempts to deal with haunted and heavy issues no weak person could work through on their own.
I loved the theme running through the novel about living in the world that is, which is hard for characters to do in the apocalypse. Temple is able to find the beauty in the world and reflect upon it. Unlike many characters (and authors), the world is not just bleak and forever broken, but keeps living on--beauty and all. The zombies, while adding atmosphere, interest, and action, took a backseat to the character driven plot. What captured me the most about this novel, however, was the language. The story and descriptions were beautifully written. They were spun with a new perspective that felt so new, yet so familiar--soft, like a new favorite song. Half the language felt like poetry, really. There’s a (relatively) short list of books I own; this will definitely be one of them.
Favorite Quotes:
“We’re all of us beholden to the beauty of the world, even the bad ones of us. Maybe the bad ones most of all” --Page 8
“Truth be told, the inward gaze is something she’s not too fond of. But there are secrets that lurk in the mind, and she doesn’t want any of them sneaking up on her” --Page 10
“But you gotta look at the world that is and try not to get bogged down by what it ain’t” --Page 142
What bothers me about YA fiction is the stock plots, themes, and characters they have, which
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often annoy me rather than teach. A typical YA science fiction book features a youthful loner,where events are put upon them and, despite the fact they have never experienced what happens before, they are able to get through them with flying colors thanks to the strength of their character. No real choice, no meaningful introversion, just their sense of right and wrong (which is more in tune than everyone elses). Go against the establishment? Then you will save the world, despite not being nearly important enough to have accomplished anything, really, because they are unique and the most important person in the world! Even physical traits, like stamina or fighting skills, are bestowed upon them with no real effort.
Reapers bypasses all those cliches. Although it features a teenage female protagonist, Temple, I did not get annoyed with her or roll my eyes at the played out character traits. She managed to be an outcast without the self proclaimed loner status; she was strong without it being serendipitous or suspicious; and Temple demonstrated meaningful introversion while actually being insightful (while still not managing to arrive at any set conclusion). Bell walked a fine line and managed not to trip; I think many authors of other young protagonists could learn from him.
Temple roams the country ravaged by zombies to run from a killer, or, perhaps, from herself. While meeting interesting characters, she tries to find a place in the world she feels she has no privilege to be in. She is older than her age and attempts to deal with haunted and heavy issues no weak person could work through on their own.
I loved the theme running through the novel about living in the world that is, which is hard for characters to do in the apocalypse. Temple is able to find the beauty in the world and reflect upon it. Unlike many characters (and authors), the world is not just bleak and forever broken, but keeps living on--beauty and all. The zombies, while adding atmosphere, interest, and action, took a backseat to the character driven plot. What captured me the most about this novel, however, was the language. The story and descriptions were beautifully written. They were spun with a new perspective that felt so new, yet so familiar--soft, like a new favorite song. Half the language felt like poetry, really. There’s a (relatively) short list of books I own; this will definitely be one of them.
Favorite Quotes:
“We’re all of us beholden to the beauty of the world, even the bad ones of us. Maybe the bad ones most of all” --Page 8
“Truth be told, the inward gaze is something she’s not too fond of. But there are secrets that lurk in the mind, and she doesn’t want any of them sneaking up on her” --Page 10
“But you gotta look at the world that is and try not to get bogged down by what it ain’t” --Page 142
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LibraryThing member SunnySD
From electric-bright fish to a beautiful sunset, fifteen-year-old Temple finds wonder and God, even in the ruined world she calls home. Born after an unexplainable plague begins causing the dead to rise and crave living flesh, she knows things were once much different, but is more concerned with
As Temple travels across the South, she encounters various remnants of civilization, and each encounter demonstrates to the reader, if not to Temple, how very human and un-monster-like she remains. Accompanied by a mentally-handicapped man she rescues and tracked by a tireless hunter intent on revenge, Temple quests ever further west, searching for... salvation, perhaps?
This is a powerful book - I won't spoil the ending for you here, but I will say I don't usually like books that end like this one does. In this case though, the imagery Bell conjures swept me up and carried me along in spite of my inclinations and a growing trepidation that I knew what was coming. It's poignant and thought-provoking. Predictable? Somewhat. But in this case Bell's taken on something that isn't new and shed fresh light on it. This is zombie-apocalypse done very, very well. I'll definitely remember it, and more than likely reread it.
Caution if recommending for YA readers: underage sex and lots of violence
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surviving the now. For Temple, beauty lies in the world around her, but she fears what she's become: a very efficient killer. As Temple travels across the South, she encounters various remnants of civilization, and each encounter demonstrates to the reader, if not to Temple, how very human and un-monster-like she remains. Accompanied by a mentally-handicapped man she rescues and tracked by a tireless hunter intent on revenge, Temple quests ever further west, searching for... salvation, perhaps?
This is a powerful book - I won't spoil the ending for you here, but I will say I don't usually like books that end like this one does. In this case though, the imagery Bell conjures swept me up and carried me along in spite of my inclinations and a growing trepidation that I knew what was coming. It's poignant and thought-provoking. Predictable? Somewhat. But in this case Bell's taken on something that isn't new and shed fresh light on it. This is zombie-apocalypse done very, very well. I'll definitely remember it, and more than likely reread it.
Caution if recommending for YA readers: underage sex and lots of violence
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Awards
Shirley Jackson Award (Nominee — Novel — 2010)
Alex Award (2011)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — High School — 2015)
Philip K. Dick Award (Nominee — 2010)
Language
Original publication date
2010-08-03
Physical description
302 p.; 5.75 inches
ISBN
0230748643 / 9780230748644
Local notes
For twenty-five years, civilization has survived in meager enclaves, guarded against a plague of the dead. Temple wanders this blighted landscape, keeping to herself and keeping her demons inside her heart. She can't remember a time before the zombies, but she does remember an old man who took her in and the younger brother she cared for until the tragedy that set her on a personal journey toward redemption. Moving back and forth between the insulated remnants of society and the brutal frontier beyond, Temple must decide where ultimately to make a home and find the salvation she seeks.
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