Tripping Over Books

Why Zombie Stories Aren’t About Zombies

(AKA: Nicole’s New Obsession with The Walking Dead)

Guys, this post is a little late today and it’s totally my fault. Nicole from Feed Your Fiction Addiction was completely on time–ahead of schedule, even!–so my apologies to her and you all for dropping the ball. I promise, it has NOTHING to do with the fact that I just can’t with zombies, and that’s what Nicole is talking about today. Specifically, the zombies from The Walking Dead. EEEEEP!

I have a new obsession. And I know I’m about six years late to the game here, but I didn’t know. I didn’t understand what all the hullabaloo was about. But now I do. And I have been converted to a full-fledged fan of The Walking Dead.

Now, if you’re the type of person who’s thought about shopping for one of these, I’m preaching to the choir here. But maybe you’re more like me. I’ve never been a fan of horror – whether we’re talking movies or books, horror has never really been my thing. I’m not the type of person who loves to be scared (don’t even get me started on haunted houses – um, no). So, the idea of zombies never appealed to me. I just assumed that a zombie book (or movie or TV show) would be all about the chills and thrills. With maybe some gore thrown in for good measure.

What I didn’t realize is that the best zombie books aren’t actually about zombies – they’re about survival. They’re about humanity and who we become when the world is at its darkest. Some people live up to the challenge and become a better version of themselves – and some people turn into monsters themselves. These books make us contemplate who we would turn out to be under similar circumstances. They make us examine ourselves and the rest of humanity – with both encouraging and frightening results.

The Walking Dead is a prime example of that. Sure, there’s a lot of gore and there are some truly heart-stopping moments (I often watch while on the elliptical – hey, it’s a great way to help get that heart rate up!), but the real reason I love the show is because of the portrayal of humanity’s struggles – and because of the characters’ journeys.

Want some book recommendations for character-driven zombie (or similar) stories? I have some!

(Click on the links to see my full reviews.)

Allison Hewitt is Trapped by Madeleine Roux – The fun thing about this book is that it’s supposed to be a woman’s blog as she experiences the zombie apocalypse and tries to reach out to other survivors. It even includes comments!

Warm Bodies and The New Hunger by Isaac Marion – Actually, I liked the Warm Bodies movie better than the book in this case, but it was still an enjoyable read. And I really enjoyed the prequel (The New Hunger)!

The Ash and Ruin trilogy by Shauna Granger – In this book, the creatures are called Pestas, but they’re pretty zombie-like! This series is very dark, but also incredibly addictive!

The Hallowed Ones by Laura Bickle – The creatures in this one were actually vampires, I discovered, but they seemed really zombie-ish to me. This series is unique because of the Amish setting!

The Mad World series by Kate L. Mary – Hands down, this is my favorite zombie series ever, but be warned that it’s geared toward the 18+ crowd. The thing that sets this series apart is the characters. If you’re a fan of The Walking Dead, imagine if Darryl was the main character and the other main character was an ex-stripper – these aren’t the type of people who necessarily thrive or get a lot of respect in our society today, but they take on the world in an apocalypse! For the under 18 crowd, try out Mary’s When We Were Human, which is very similar, but involves aliens. I actually didn’t like it quite as much as her Mad World series (probably because I had a hard time not comparing the series in my head), but I’m clearly in the minority since it was the Silver Medalist in the 2015 Moonbeam Children’s Book Awards for YA Fantasy/Sci-Fi Fiction.

Some zombie books I haven’t read yet, but I’ve heard great things about:

(I definitely plan to read these!)

The Forest of Hands and Teeth by Carrie Ryan – There’s going to be a movie of this one, and Carrie Ryan says she really wants to get a bunch of YA authors to play zombies in it! We can only dream …

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter –  Alice in Wonderland and zombies? Why haven’t I read this yet?

Something Strange and Deadly by Susan Dennard – This series is a combination of zombies and steampunk. I’m intrigued!

So, are you a fan of The Walking Dead? Have any great zombie books you’d like to recommend? Leave them in the comments – I want to know!

True Ghost Story

What is Halloween without ghost stories? Do we know? No. It’s nothing. I don’t know too many good ones, so it’s a good thing that Jess from Literary, etc. is good at writing them! Thanks, Jess!

Firstly, special thank you to Amy, Alyssa, and Brittany for letting me participate in their A Fortnight of Fright feature. I’ve always had an interest in the paranormal and therefore it seems fitting that I’m here to tell you a true life ghost story and share a few thoughts regarding orbs.

I spent my childhood in a town outside El Paso, Texas: Anthony.  We lived at the end of Fifth and Franklin where Franklin was the boundary between Texas and New Mexico.  In this house, I grew up hearing tales from neighbors about how right outside our living room window there used to be a huge tree where public hangings would occur.   I always left the room when they’d start talking about various sightings.  I’m not sure if the house itself was haunted, but based on a few things that happened in that house, I’d have to say yes it was. 

I was about ten years old and my dad was out of town.  My sister and I were in the living room watching TV while my mom was putting away laundry.  I heard what sounded like someone jumping on her bed.  I dismissed it at that moment thinking she might have placed things on her bed causing it sound like someone was jumping.  Here’s the thing-my parents didn’t have a squeaky mattress or bed.  A few minutes later, I heard it again but this time heard some giggling.  My little sister was sitting next to me and she was coloring so I knew it wasn’t her and my mom was now in the kitchen washing dishes.  I started to feel uncomfortable and whatever was jumping on my parents’ bed was not stopping.  Then my sister heard it and we both began to freak out.  We told my mom who thought we were crazy and ordered us back to the living room.  I heard the giggling again and went to look in her room.  I didn’t see anything in the dark and when I turned on the lights nothing was there.  I went back into the living room where it started it up again and I knew my mom couldn’t deny what my sister and I heard because she ordered me to go to the neighbor next door and ask Mrs. Balcorta to come over with her bible while my sister called my grandparents to come over.  What exactly happened afterwards is a blur to me.  All I remember is my grandmother coming to the door (she was a religious woman) and my grandpa taking my sister and me to their house in El Paso (a 15 minute ride).  The next day, my mom told me it was a cricket they found her bed.  Sure.

It’s pretty easy to discount what my sister and I heard that night as nothing.  Franklin Street was in a way a main street in Anthony and maybe it was traffic or the wind.  I don’t buy it and here’s why.  About two years prior to the bed incident, my mom was out of town dealing with a family emergency and my dad went to bed shortly after checking on me and my sister.  The next morning I overheard him telling my mom about what had happened to him.  He had just gotten into bed and was drifting to sleep when he felt someone sit on the bed and lay down next to him.  Nothing scares my dad, but he clearly was shaken up and to this day, when he tells the tale his voice shakes.  He said whatever it was that laid down next to him he moved closer to the side of the bed and just huddled tight in his corner. 

There wasn’t something right with the house.  My mom says that when her and my dad were getting ready to move into the house, my grandmother held prayer gatherings on the property and my mom said she felt a force or something that wanted to prevent them from getting in the house.  As a teen, I heard tales of devil worshipers living in the house prior to us and there was rumbling of a pentagram being found in the house (something I’ve never been able to confirm).  I remember my name being called on several occasions and it sounded like my mom, but when I’d check with her, she didn’t call me.  The bedroom next to the garage was always the coldest.  I hated going into that room after the sunset and if I needed to get something I’d make sure my sister was with me.  Even in daylight, it felt like someone was watching me in that room.  I often think about the people who lived in that house after us.  Have they experienced anything?

What about you?  Have you ever experienced anything?  Do you believe in the paranormal?  I like to go on ghost tours if I’m visiting a city for the first time.  While I didn’t go on the nightly tour of St. Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh, I did take some pictures when my sister and I visited it on our own.  Now, I’m not sure if the orbs that appear are spirits, but I do it find it interesting that at one person’s effigy and monument there are no orbs, but in another you see them. 

No orbs in this picture of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose tomb.

And yet, in this picture of Archibald Campbell, 1st Marquess of Argyll’s monument you can see a few orbs.  I’ve circled them so you can spot them.  What I find interesting is that Campbell is often remembered as the arch enemy of James Graham, 1st Marquess of Montrose.  Maybe their spirits are dueling it out near Campbell’s monument?

I’m not sure what I think about orbs.  Most people believe they are dust particles and while I can go with that definition, a part of me likes to think they are spirits.  Here are three pictures taken again in St. Giles Cathedral where various orbs appear.

What are your thoughts about orbs?  Do you believe they are spirits or are they dust particles?  I’d love to hear your thoughts on the paranormal!