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juushikaTitle: Handling the Undead (Hanteringen av odöda)
Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Translator: Ebba Segerberg
Published: New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2010 (2005)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 384
Total Page Count: 92,696
Text Number: 265
Read Because: won in a GoodReads First Reads giveaway
Review: In Stockholm, Sweden, a freak electrical storm is plaguing the populace—and bringing the dead back to life. A grieving grandfather, loving husband, pair of female psychics, and the entire Stockholm population struggle to cope with their loved ones, returned from the grave as the strange, incomprehensible reliving. As with Let the Right One In, Lindqvist approaches a horror staple from a new angle: Handling the Undead is as much about the emotional impact on the living as it is the circumstances of the undead. But, again like Let the Right One In, Handing the Undead is plagued by a bland narrative voice. With Segerberg translating both books, I still don't know whether I should blame writer or translator for this failing. Regardless, the lackluster style deadens the emotional impact of the book; that there are multiple points of view, and so each receives less attention and depth, makes Undead feel even more shallow and less effecting than it has the potential to be (especially in comparison to the much more successful Let the Right One In).
The book, however, is not an entire loss: I applaud it as refreshing take on this tired trope, and had I not read the same premise better executed in the past*, I probably would have been impressed with Undead based on that alone. However imperfect, it still has moments which are haunting, intriguing, and—on occasion—horrifying. But with a lackluster voice and a deadened emotional aspect, Undead just doesn't offer much: its zombies are unique but hazy, and their function and rules feel made up on the spot; the plot is compelling but it never quite captures the reader, and so while this is an easy book to pick up and get into, it's almost as easy to put down. I give Handing the Undead a mild recommendation: I appreciate what it tries to be, and the book is not a waste of time—but it's not particularly worth the time, either.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
This new edition comes out on September 28th.
I will say, the cover for it is incredible—and rather frightening. ETA: I take that back: my ARC cover is wonderful, but the hardcover edit of the same image is horrendous. What a pity. I'm disappointed with the title, however: I initially read it as "Handing the Dead" which seems, to me, a classier choice; "Undead" is a bit cheesy. Although, for all I know, "odöda" isn't half as overused as "undead" has come to be.
* For a beautiful, haunting example of the subdued, emotional zombie story, I recommend Catherynne M. Valente's "The Days of the Flaming Motorcycles"
Author: John Ajvide Lindqvist
Translator: Ebba Segerberg
Published: New York: Thomas Dunne Books, 2010 (2005)
Rating: 3 of 5
Page Count: 384
Total Page Count: 92,696
Text Number: 265
Read Because: won in a GoodReads First Reads giveaway
Review: In Stockholm, Sweden, a freak electrical storm is plaguing the populace—and bringing the dead back to life. A grieving grandfather, loving husband, pair of female psychics, and the entire Stockholm population struggle to cope with their loved ones, returned from the grave as the strange, incomprehensible reliving. As with Let the Right One In, Lindqvist approaches a horror staple from a new angle: Handling the Undead is as much about the emotional impact on the living as it is the circumstances of the undead. But, again like Let the Right One In, Handing the Undead is plagued by a bland narrative voice. With Segerberg translating both books, I still don't know whether I should blame writer or translator for this failing. Regardless, the lackluster style deadens the emotional impact of the book; that there are multiple points of view, and so each receives less attention and depth, makes Undead feel even more shallow and less effecting than it has the potential to be (especially in comparison to the much more successful Let the Right One In).
The book, however, is not an entire loss: I applaud it as refreshing take on this tired trope, and had I not read the same premise better executed in the past*, I probably would have been impressed with Undead based on that alone. However imperfect, it still has moments which are haunting, intriguing, and—on occasion—horrifying. But with a lackluster voice and a deadened emotional aspect, Undead just doesn't offer much: its zombies are unique but hazy, and their function and rules feel made up on the spot; the plot is compelling but it never quite captures the reader, and so while this is an easy book to pick up and get into, it's almost as easy to put down. I give Handing the Undead a mild recommendation: I appreciate what it tries to be, and the book is not a waste of time—but it's not particularly worth the time, either.
Review posted here on Amazon.com.
This new edition comes out on September 28th.
I will say, the cover for it is incredible—and rather frightening. ETA: I take that back: my ARC cover is wonderful, but the hardcover edit of the same image is horrendous. What a pity. I'm disappointed with the title, however: I initially read it as "Handing the Dead" which seems, to me, a classier choice; "Undead" is a bit cheesy. Although, for all I know, "odöda" isn't half as overused as "undead" has come to be.
* For a beautiful, haunting example of the subdued, emotional zombie story, I recommend Catherynne M. Valente's "The Days of the Flaming Motorcycles"
