Catch-Up Post #4

I really meant to do this a looong time ago. I finished reading My Life As a White Trash Zombie back in June.

Here's a synopsis of MLAAWTZ: Angel Crawford (that's our protagonist if that zoomed over your head at 80 mph) is a sort of a-typical white trash 'loser'. She has been in trouble with the law, she's a junkie, and she has major family issues. The day she dies changes everything. After waking up in the ER with strangely no adverse effects from what put her there, she is greeted by cryptic messages and inexplicably handed a new job and a chance at a new life. It isn't long before she realizes her 'life' has changed drastically. When she finally owns up to it and accepts her new 'habits', a mysterious killer prevents her access to her necessary food supply. Angel must mature, change her habits, face some demons, and find out who the killer is before it's too late.

I'll start off with critiques and get that out of the way. I didn't always enjoy Diana Rowland's writing style. Not that I have any room to critique writing, I just felt the writing was simplistic. Sometimes Rowland also uses certain words and phrases too often or too close together. If you're going for a mainstream audience, however, I think this writing style is a good choice. I have a tendency to go for more complex writing and a storyline with deeper reflection and less predictability. There were a few passages that I actually winced while reading - but again, this is a personal preference.

As for the positive, Rowland took me on a great journey. She created some incredibly interesting characters that I'd love to know more about. I'm sad to say, [duh spoiler: people die in murder mystery books] that some of the characters I wanted to know more about will not be showing up again. I'm looking forward to the next installment. There will be delicious new characters and hopefully more depth to some of Angel's relationships. The existence she shares with her father really felt like the main storyline to me - that and her adjustment to her new life. Both were fascinating and a little heartbreaking.

The minute I read the title on John Scalzi's blog, I was pretty much 99% sold on buying the book. Rowland's backstory about her experiences and thoughts that led her to this book pushed me past that 1% needed.

I am not at all disappointed with my purchase. If you don't mind an easy read and you like zombies (and are not squeamish) I suggest you pick up MLAAWTZ!