Review: Brains (A Zombie Memoir) by Robin Becker
RAWR BRAINS… Seems to be the ongoing “zombie style” for writing and movies. I personally get tired of the “same old-same old” zombie stories. When one of my friends suggested I check out this novel, due to it’s non-normal-zombie-story, I did. Sure, it still has the “RAWR BRAINS” moments in it, like you would expect from a zombie story, but “Brains” is something a little different.
Meet Jack Barnes, he’s a professor/recently turned zombie. He can’t voice what he wants to say, but he knows he is different than the others around him. On top of his want for brains, there’s something else, a glimmer in his eye or a cognizance, if you have to call it something. He knows he’s not like all the other brain-eaters out there. He knows this because he can think and write.
A newly zombified Jack sets out on a cross-country trek to find the creator of the zombie virus, hoping to prove that not all zombies are mindless brain munchers as he quests for zombie/human equality. Along the way, he finds other zombies who are like him and slowly builds a group of zombies who have “talents”.
The first cognizant zombie he comes to meet is Joan. She is, or was, a nurse and has the ability to maintain the decomposition zombies face on a daily basis. She can repair and mend injuries with things she finds, like a Dead Doctor McGuyver.
Guts, an eviscerated young zomboy, is the next one to join the ragtag group of zombies with abilities. Not only does he understand, Guts can also run even though he’s decomposing at the same rate as every other zombie around him.
Then comes Ros, the first zombie who can converse since he hasn’t lost his ability to talk or remember.
Finally, Annie joins the group. The dead little sharpshooter makes for a welcome addition to the ragtag group of undead.
Throughout the entire novel, Robin Becker manages to create humour in what should be a tale about a horrific, zombie-filled world. Becker manages to create feelings of sympathy in the reader for her characters, even though they are zombies. On the flip side, the reader gets to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes… on dead legs.
Brains is a fun, well-written, different kind of zombie story for those who want a tale that isn’t like all the others.
***Brains: A zombie memoir is recommended as Mandytory reading***
mandydegeit.wordpress.com 
I did not read the whole review but the first few paragraphs were enough to get my attention. Thank you for the suggestion.
Wow, thank you for reading and reviewing BRAINS by Robin Becker! I’m so glad you liked it! When the manuscript came to my office (I’m Robin’s agent) I emailed her a bit cautiously to ask “is this supposed to be funny, cause I’m laughing here at people eating brains!” She assured me I was ok, and it was off to the races!
Thanks for your great review. I love this line: “the reader gets to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes… on dead legs.”