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Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Guest & Giveaway with Isaac Marion

To celebrate the release of Warm Bodies (April 26th, 2011) Isaac Marion accepted to stop by for a guest post and a giveaway! But because we get to the juicy part, here’s a bit more about the book =)

Warm Bodies "R" is an existentially tormented zombie shuffling through an America destroyed by war, social collapse, or the plague of the Dead—he isn't sure which. He remembers nothing from before, and although he has a deep inner life full of wonder and longing, his ability to connect with the outside world is limited to a few grunted syllables. After experiencing a young man’s memories while consuming his brain, R makes an unexpected choice to rescue the boy’s
girlfriend, beginning a tense, awkward, and strangely sweet relationship that will transform R, his fellow Dead, and
perhaps their whole lifeless world.

 

Most zombie books, unlike yours, are not written from the point of view of a zombie – and what makes WARM BODIES even more surprising is that we find ourselves rooting for R, even though he does some bad things – like eat the brains of our heroine’s boyfriend.  Can you tell us why you have a zombie as your narrator?


I'm not the first person to tell a story from a zombie's perspective, but it's definitely a less popular approach, and usually played for comedy. I think there's plenty of humor to be found in the daily life of a walking corpse, and my book does have laughs, but for me, when I imagine what it would be like to be undead, to have no memories, no sense of a past or a future or any driving reason to exist other than to kill and eat your fellow man, (or woman, or child) my first instinct isn't to tell jokes about it. Or to yell "Boo!" What I feel when I imagine being a zombie is overwhelming confusion, apathy, and loneliness. Arguably the defining emotions of modern society. The deeper I got into writing this monstrous character the more relatable he became to me, which was a surprise, and also something of a scare.
 
WBSince their pop culture debut with Night of the Living Dead (or William Seabrook's 1929 novel, The Magic Island, if you're into obscure references.) zombies have mostly been used for cheap thrills. Horror or comedy or horror-comedy. The idea of placing zombies anywhere near a story of emotional depth sounds absurd to most people. Despite their undertone of social commentary, Romero's movies are primarily about people running from, killing, and being killed by monsters. There hasn't been much attempt to explore what zombies are, much less how they think, and I think that's a wasted opportunity. I can't count how many stories have been written about the social and psychological subtext of vampires, from every imaginable perspective, and that's understandable. It's easy to write a sympathetic monster when he can be charming and mysterious and sexy despite (or because of) his questionable morals. It's much harder to build a hero out of a creature whose mind is a blank slate, whose body is repulsive, and whose thoughts on morality don't go much beyond, "I wonder why I have to eat this person?" It was an intriguing challenge.
 
Purists will (and have, and continue to) spew rabid froth in my direction for suggesting that zombies have thoughts at all, and I've had some astonishing conversations with people insisting that the very nature of a zombie makes it scientifically impossible for them to think, due to lack of electrical impulses in their brains...neural decay and...I give up. When the phrase "scientifically impossible" enters a conversation about magically reanimated corpses, I bow out. But a more reasonable objection might be: "Since zombies as a fictional creature are defined by their mindlessness, aren't you altering the creature beyond recognition by giving it thoughts? Aren't you writing about something else entirely?" It's a fair question, but the answer is no, because on the surface, my zombie looks no different from Romero's. He's ugly and bloodstained. He groans and shambles. He eats brains. The difference is that we see what's going on in his head while he does these things, and it turns out he's not this way because he's actually mindless. He's just so confused and apathetic, you wouldn't know the difference. He doesn't care whether or not you know he has a deep inner monologue. He just wants to eat you.
 
A common misconception about Warm Bodies is that it's "Twilight with zombies" and it's going to "ruin" zombies by defanging them, making them gentle lovers instead of horrific monsters. The truth is, when the story begins, all the zombies, including our narrator, are just as horrific as the ones in any horror film. It doesn't end there, and we gradually begin to sympathize with the zombies' tortured state of being, but it's not about "good zombies" and how they make great boyfriends. It's about the Dead trying to cure themselves from a deep-rooted curse and learn how to be alive again. Who's more qualified to ponder the meaning of life than a dead man? You don't know what you've got till it's gone.
 

---------------------------------

Thank you very much Isaac for taking the time to stop by!

I have one (1) copy to offer to one of you!

  • Open to U.S. and Canada.
  • All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know about your favorite zombies.
  • Make sure you provide a way to contact you
  • You can earn one (+1) extra entry for spreading the word, make sure you leave a second comment.
  • Ends May 11th, 2011

Tweet: Win a copy of Warm Bodies by @isaacinspace & read about his zombies! http://bit.ly/idNHPN @Tynga #giveaway plz RT

Happy Reading!

Tynga is a 32 years old mom of two, from Montreal, working as a lab technician in an hospital specialized in heart disease. In her free time, she enjoys reading all things Paranormal and photography.

Follow Tynga on: Facebook | Twitter

60 People left their mark' :

  1. My favorite zombies by far are the Resident Evil zombies.

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  2. +1 spread here
    http://www.goodreads.com/event/show/116952-guest-giveaway-with-isaac-marion

    Vivien
    deadtossedwaves at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  3. I'm not sure if I can choose my favourite kind of zombie! lol I really like the ones in Land of the Dead and Dawn of the Dead, how they eventually adapt and start to actually learn, it's crazy...and kind of freak, but I love it! :)

    Thanks for the chance to win Warm Bodies Tynga! :) And thanks for sharing this guest post too. :)

    Ambur
    ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  4. I also tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/AmburHostyn/status/63134516063121408

    Thanks again,
    Ambur
    ambiepie_6(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Favorite zombie? Oh goodness. I don't read many books with zombies. I suppose I enjoyed Daniel Waters' Generation Dead books, which were about zombies!

    stephxsu at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  6. I have to say that this was a wonderful post and really made me think. It's true that I did see zombies hollywood fashion and not in the way you described. I would truely enjoy reading this book. Thanks for the chance to.
    My favorite zombies? Well Nancy Holzner's Deadtown series has a bunch of nice zombies in it. Tina being my favorite there. And I like King Xeth, ruler of Xanth's Zombies in Piers Anthony's Xanth series. He is a prominant character and finally finds his mate in the book "Zombie Lover" which I liked.

    LadyVampire2u AT gmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  7. I really liked the zombies in the movie Fido. They seemed to be able to think and react to regular humans.
    I would love to read this book.
    twoofakind12@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  8. My favorite zombies are from Dawn of the Dead (1978). They were way too funny.

    -From Canada
    -Follower
    -Contact: venturinhawendy(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  9. I must honestly say that this is the first book where the zombies have interested me. I really like the description of what is going on in his head!

    Miranda
    mdwartistry at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  10. I haven't read any zombie books yet. I have watched Night of the Living Dead,Dawn of the Dead. Please enter me in contest. I really want to read this book. It sounds very good. Tore923@aol.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Ugh! So hard! I have to choose a favourite zombie? Nooooo ... I love them all - the drug zombies of "28 Days Later" - the shamblers of "Night of the Living Dead". I love the funny "Shaun of the Dead" zombies, the scary ones from the series "The Forest of Hands and Teeth" and the scientifically modified zombies of "Night of the Living Trekkies". Choosing just one is so ... limiting. Please don't make me do it? ... Okay, fine. If I had to choose, it would be the thought provoking zombies in "Unicorns vs Zombies". Alright - I did it! :)

    Thanks for the opportunity to win this! :)
    apereiraorama[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  12. Thanks for the giveaway. I love the Zombieland Movie. I kind of like when the Zombie movie is kind of light like that.

    lizzi0915 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I've heard great things about this book so I'd like to read it. So far the only zombies I've been exposed to are the ones from Resident Evil.

    juliecookies(at)gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I haven't heard of a zombie POV so this book sounds really interesting. Thanks for the giveaway!

    My favorite zombies would have to be from the movie Shaun of the Dead. Why? Because the movie is so funny and the zombies are so stupid.

    hollyjolly89@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I really like Carrie Ryan's zombies. Her books are amazing.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    daniellesaunders1984(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  16. tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Dani_Nguyen/status/63230679625891840

    daniellesaunders1984(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like an interesting book. You know May is national Zombie month? You are suppose to wear a gray ribbon.

    "Dust" was written from a zombie's POV. It was kind of depressing, but I am glad I read it.

    I don't have a favorite zombie, but I like the fast ones . much scarier! and I think zombies should only be revived by a Voodoo priestess

    ReplyDelete
  18. Frost has an awesome side character Zombie who is a fantastic cook, cannot remember his name but I love the character.

    robin [at] intensewhisper [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  19. I don't think I really have a favorite zombie book, but I loved the movie Sean of the Dead.

    jasmyn9[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  20. For sheer entertainment value my favorite zombies are the 28 Days Later ones. Absolutely frightening on their own but when contrasted with the humans in their "world" the lines between man and monster are completely blurred... it's actually what sold me on zombies as a theme I was interested in.

    I heard about Warm Bodies on Goodreads and have been looking forward to it since. :) Great post Isaac and thanks for inviting him Tynga!

    ReplyDelete
  21. My favorite Zombie story is The Forest of Hands and Teeth I have not watched too many movies

    Jnmt3@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  22. I love all zombies. My favorite would have to probably be the ones from I Am Legend, because they can feel love and emotion, while still being crazy and brain-eating killers. :)

    Aryelle @ ReadingwiththeFishes

    ReplyDelete
  23. dont have a fav zombie

    gfc follower

    vidishamun@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. My favorite zombie is the Bill Murray zombie from zombieland(:

    My email:
    ashley.thinks.candy.is.good@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  25. Tweeted:
    http://twitter.com/#!/xXHarlequinn/status/63294673669722112

    ReplyDelete
  26. I don't really read or watch anything about zombies, so this was going to be a hard choice. Then I realized that I just read Amy Plum's Die For Me, and technically her paranormal characters are the undead. Zombies. So I definitely have to say they are my favourite zombies.

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    green.pamd (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  27. My favorite Zombies would have to be the Mudo in Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth series.

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Emma015/statuses/63322560196128770

    findjessyhere at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  29. I've never read a book where the zombie is the protagonist, so I'm looking forward to reading this! My favorite zombie novel though is Feed by Mira Grant.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    drakeLa90 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  30. Tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/#!/lesleyboogie/status/63333016436617217

    drakeLa90 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. I love the zombies in World War Z. :D

    amy408(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  32. I like the zombies in Carrie Ryan's THE FOREST OF HANDS AND TEETH trilogy b/c they're actually scary. I would love to read about this type of zombie too, though!

    Angela
    ahoffman1979 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I've only read one zombie book (Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth) and I really want to continue that series.

    I absolutely love zombie movies, though, and I'm much more familiar with those (especially Resident Evil and 28 Days Later-and sequels).

    Warm Bodies sounds so interesting, though I wonder how grossed out I'll be reading about a zombie eating human brains from the zombie's perspective!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Oops, forgot to include my email-

    klamber1(at)unca(dot)edu

    ReplyDelete
  35. I've never read a zombie book, sounds interesting. I love zombie movies especially Resident Evil movies.

    soulwin_30@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I haven't read any zombie books yet, but I do read zombie manga. I love the zombies in Mouryou No Yurikago. They're freaking scary!

    mendyha26@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  37. I don't know if I really have a fave zombie yet. I think I'm still searching. :)

    books (dot) things (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  38. I don't have a favorite zombie. I have a zombie story though--in (I think) Dawn of the Dead, there is a sign that says Welcome to Waukesha--and my sister used to live there!

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. tweeted

    http://twitter.com/#!/tessaa99/status/63487159742627840

    meredithfl at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Nice post! I've been wanting to read this and everyone has been talking about it!

    ~Alison
    lostinbelieving(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Return of The Night of the Living Dead has my favorite zombie Freddie in it. Here's a line from the funniest zombie movie ever!

    Freddy: [to Tina] See? You made me hurt myself again! I broke my hand off completely at the wrist this time, Tina! But that's okay, Darlin', because I love you, and that's why you have to let me EAT YOUR BRAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIIIINS!


    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  42. http://twitter.com/#!/alterlisa/status/63770575990046720

    (\___/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    alterlisa AT yahoo DOT com
    http://lisaslovesbooksofcourse.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  43. One of my favorite zombie books is The Forest of Hands and Teeth. I also liked the movie Zombie Honeymoon. It was a lot different than the typical zombie movie.
    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Tweet: http://twitter.com/#!/Melanie_2006/status/63820842286596096

    peacelily_2006(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  45. I love Mark Henry's series with Amanda Ferral. Plus, all of the Resident Evil movies are great.

    heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Die for Me by Amy Plum! Zombies! Awesome!
    Thanks for the giveaway!
    shyluck13 AT hotmail DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  47. I think my favorite book zombies are in Carrie Ryan's Forest of Hands and Teeth series! They are just so creepy!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    +1 Shared: http://twitter.com/#!/JeremyWest/status/65080647097647105

    jeremywest91@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  48. In all honesty, this book is RIGHT, when in the world do we ever get the Zombie's point of view!? Why is precisely why there aren't very many zombies to me that are memorable! But, if I had to pick one, I'd definitely pick when Bill Murray turns into a Zombie in the movie Zombieland (which coincidentally happens to be one of my favorite zombie movies!).

    Thank you for hosting this amazing giveaway! :D

    ~Hira~
    GFC Follower: ~Enamored Soul~
    Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
    Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

    ReplyDelete
  49. +1 I tweeted the giveaway:

    http://twitter.com/#!/inluvwithbookz/status/65121452835340288

    ~Hira~
    GFC Follower: ~Enamored Soul~
    Email: Enamoredsoul(at)gmail(dot)com
    Twitter: @inluvwithbookz

    ReplyDelete
  50. This book sounds awesome. So far my favorite zombie books are The Forest of Hands & Teeth. But a zombie based on Mel Brooks' Frankenstein, tragic but funny, would be cool.
    Amy at bookgoonie at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I prefer the fast running, super strong zombies as opposed to the slow walking old movie versions. I like em scarier haha

    Thanks for the opportunity :)

    quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Tweeted

    http://twitter.com/#!/QuixoticWeetzie/status/66697684999868416

    quixoticdreamer(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  53. So far my favorite zombies are from The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan with the ones in The Walking Dead (comics) coming in as a close second. :)

    ashley.mckinsey@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  54. My favorite zombies at the moment are "Blue-collared Zombies" from the song "Re: Your Brains" by Jonathan Coulton, the video on youtube is hilarious (if you want to check it out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=81qIUuExQmQ)

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  55. I tweeted: http://twitter.com/#!/YearofTiger86/status/67073671063273472

    Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  56. My favorite zombies are from the Generation Dead books. Thanks for the giveaway!

    ferretvamp14[at]live[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  57. I haven't had much interest in zombie books until now. I have read quite a bit about warm bodies and can't wait to check it out. Thanks for the chance to own it.
    Jennifer Kjovus
    kjovus(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  58. I think my favorite zombies are the ones from the forest of hands and teeth series.

    crazypplrok at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I have to say that my Favorite zombies are Laurell K Hamilton's. They retain their soul when called from the grave and depending on the strength of the necromancer, they can look just like they did the day they died :D

    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

    http://twitter.com/#!/hense1kk/status/69401077128245248

    ReplyDelete
  60. I also tweeted :)
    http://twitter.com/#!/hense1kk/status/69401077128245248

    hense1kk AT cmich DOT edu

    ReplyDelete