≡ PDF Handling the Undead John Ajvide Lindqvist 9781847244130 Books

Handling the Undead John Ajvide Lindqvist 9781847244130 Books

Download As PDF : Handling the Undead John Ajvide Lindqvist 9781847244130 Books

Handling the Undead John Ajvide Lindqvist 9781847244130 Books

I was first exposed to John Ajvide Lindqvist by viewing both versions of the films inspired by his novel, Let the Right One In. I prefer the Swedish version, but they are both excellent. I decided to read the book and was totally mesmerized. It was hypnotic and I became totally engrossed. However, like a lot of people, I wanted to know what happened to the main characters following the end of the book. Then I discovered that Lindqvist had written a brief epilogue that was included in his short story collection, Let the Old Dreams Die. So I ordered that and found the sequel too be brilliant...thoroughly satisfying. Exactly what it needed to be. However, I noticed there was also an epilogue in this collection to another Lindqvist novel, Handling the Undead. OK, I loved Let the Right One In so much, I decided to read this newer novel as well. It's incredible too. In fact I plowed through it faster than I think I have any novel in a long, long time. It's as equally a unique look at the whole zombie apocalypse phenomenon as Let the Right One In was a completely different spin on old vampire legends. No gore and brain-eating mayhem, but rather deep, complex examinations of just what it means to be dead. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I kept getting annoyed at the droopy bedtime eyes because I didn't want to stop, despite knowing the wake-up alarm was set to go off in just a few hours. I'm a true Lindqvist fan now and after I finish reading the aforementioned short story collection (and sequel to Handing the Undead) I'm moving on to yet another Lindqvist novel, The Harbor.


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Handling the Undead John Ajvide Lindqvist 9781847244130 Books Reviews

Much like Lindqvist's earlier book, the superb vampire coming-of-age tale Let the Right One In, Handling the Undead traffics in horror trope, but turns them on their head by focusing on the emotional and psychological ramifications over the pure horror. As the title suggests, Handling the Undead is a zombie novel, one that focuses on a small Swedish town where the recently dead have come to life. As he did with Right One, Lindqvist creates complex characters with their own psychological scars, and watching his characters using the undead as a way of coping and coming to terms with death is fascinating. However, where Right One strode the line between drama and horror perfectly, Handling barely contains any horror elements at all, instead ultimately moving into supernatural events more about a somewhat fuzzy cosmology (and maybe theology) than evil. None of this makes Handling the Undead a bad book, but it's also never quite as gripping as you'd like. The stakes are low, the threats mild, and the ending is ultimately a little unclear and frustrating. That being said, there's something appealing about such a different take on zombies, and there's no denying that Lindqvist's characters are compelling enough to watch develop, much less their perfect thematic pairing with the material. It's just that the book lacks the edge it needs to push it into something truly great.
As many reviewers have already stated, this is NOT your typical zombie novel. Which is one of the reasons I really enjoyed it. Not so much as his grand slam of a novel, "Let the Right One In", but I'd still define this book as a home run. As a long time fan of Stephen King, since before he was a household name, I've been awaiting his so-called successor with much skepticism. Quite frankly, I think King's most minor works are still head and shoulders above most horror novelists working today. So I was thrilled to finally read a vampire novel that lived up to his "Salem's Lot." And while I was still skeptical Lindqvist could continue to write at that same high level with his subsequent novels, I was very pleased with his effort on "Handling the Undead". Like King, Lindqvist writes in a style that is not only very believable, but highly relateable. Except for some notable instances, the zombies in Lindqvist's book are harmless and sad. The characters orbiting these lost loved ones, even more sad and lost. Like the best zombie movies, this is story about the living, not the dead. If you can suspend your blood lust long enough to give this book an honest shot I don't think you'll be disappointed.
This is my second reading of this book. Needless to say that I love it. I've enjoyed every book by John Ajvide that I've ever read. He's my favorite horror/suspense writer next to Stephen King. And like King, John's stories are widely varied, and I appreciate that in any author. He also brings life to his characters,so that I feel like I know them. I wish he wrote quicker, and that whoever translates from Swedish to English were much, much quicker. But, I'll admit that all that waiting makes it so much sweeter when the book does go up for sale in the American market! Johns best book, if you're just starting out, would be Let the right one in. It's one of the best things I've ever read. Yep, I'd recommend this book and author.
A zombie story from the point of view of the recently-bereaved -- not terrified survivors fighting off shambling flesh-eating hordes, but people who were dealing with a major loss and are now grappling with the prospect of having their loved one back. But in what condition? Bodies still are showing fatal wounds, and the effects of decay processes as well -- and is there any mind left in the revived? What of their souls? Is there any great cosmic significance to this event, or is it just a localized phenomenon not to be repeated? And are there going to be any lasting effects for the living world?

I enjoyed it greatly, but there needs to be a certain tolerance for the gruesome in the reader. Care and maintenance of a revivified mummified corpse is a storyline not for the squeamish.
I was first exposed to John Ajvide Lindqvist by viewing both versions of the films inspired by his novel, Let the Right One In. I prefer the Swedish version, but they are both excellent. I decided to read the book and was totally mesmerized. It was hypnotic and I became totally engrossed. However, like a lot of people, I wanted to know what happened to the main characters following the end of the book. Then I discovered that Lindqvist had written a brief epilogue that was included in his short story collection, Let the Old Dreams Die. So I ordered that and found the sequel too be brilliant...thoroughly satisfying. Exactly what it needed to be. However, I noticed there was also an epilogue in this collection to another Lindqvist novel, Handling the Undead. OK, I loved Let the Right One In so much, I decided to read this newer novel as well. It's incredible too. In fact I plowed through it faster than I think I have any novel in a long, long time. It's as equally a unique look at the whole zombie apocalypse phenomenon as Let the Right One In was a completely different spin on old vampire legends. No gore and brain-eating mayhem, but rather deep, complex examinations of just what it means to be dead. I couldn't put it down. In fact, I kept getting annoyed at the droopy bedtime eyes because I didn't want to stop, despite knowing the wake-up alarm was set to go off in just a few hours. I'm a true Lindqvist fan now and after I finish reading the aforementioned short story collection (and sequel to Handing the Undead) I'm moving on to yet another Lindqvist novel, The Harbor.