My Life as a White Trash Zombie

Surprisingly "brainy"

After listening to this totally fun book about eating brains, I have to eat my words: I don't hate Zombies after all! This is the third pretty great Zombie book (after The Junkie Quatrain and World War Z) I've listened to and I have finally realized that this proves something I've known for many years but kind of forgot - there are NO limits on great writers and creative minds. I haven't liked the Zombies of movie fame much, but the Zombies of literature are not limited by what works in film and Diana Rowland has found an interesting take on an old tradition that is both well written (great descriptive settings, complex and interesting characters, and a nice twisty plot) and very entertaining. This book even tackles some tough real world issues like alcoholism/drug abuse, parental abuse/neglect, and teen dropouts with empathy while still being very amusing.

Diana Rowland has the vernacular of a Southern rural young woman down pat and Allison McLemore's delivery is perfect. In addition to providing exactly the right accent for this first person narrative, Allison McLemore just plain has a lovely voice. I listened to the samples of a couple other books she has narrated and apparently her Southern accent isn't native (although you'd swear it was listening to her on White Trash Zombie), but her nicely modulated tones carry in whatever accent she is using. This narrator is really easy on the ears and I will be watching for her in the future.

Audible's surely got my number - picked up White Trash Zombie on sale, but of course, I will now be buying the rest of the series at full price! White Trash Zombie has a complete plot line by itself and a very satisfying ending, but be warned you will probably crave more books as much as Angel craves brains after this one.

47 of 49 people found this review helpful

✫✫ 4 Stars ✫✫

This series has been on my tbr forever, I finally started it and am so glad I did. I really enjoyed book 1, It is full of snark and sarcasm which I loved. I loved Angel and how easily she adapted to her situation. I also really enjoyed all the scenes at her job which I really thought would bother me but really it was very interesting. Great start to a fun series for sure! Starting book 2 right away.

The narration was perfect! This was a new to me narrator and I think she was really a great choice! I'll be looking for more of her work.

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

GET A "LIFE"! Become a Zombie...

I enjoyed this book. The narration was good and the story was lite, while still keeping my interest throughout the entire audio performance.
My favorite character was Angel. She is a bit of an underdog. And I loved the way she pulled herself up and made the best of a bad situation.

I keep saying that I am done with ZOMBIE BOOKS, but this book had the coolest cover art, and what could one little zombie fix hurt?!!!!??

You know where I'm going with this...
YES. I have already purchased the next book in this series. And as soon as I am done writing this stupid review, I plan on listening to it. Darn it all.

53 of 57 people found this review helpful

You'll feel differently about zombies after this

As much as I enjoy watching zombies on TV, they’ve never managed to work their way into my reading rotation until now. Previously, the very idea of a protagonist eating brains freaked me out but the way that Diana Rowland developed Angel’s character has me singing a different tune. I enjoyed the author’s snarky sense of humor and her unique spin on the standard murder mystery story line. Allison McLemore’s narration also helped make this audiobook an especially enjoyable listen thanks to her authentic southern drawl and the ease with which she donned the heroine’s shoes.

I liked the way the author gradually introduced both her readers and Angel to life as a zombie. Crawford has no idea that her world has been forever changed when she wakes-up in the ER after an apparent drug overdose until she receives the first of several notes from her anonymous savior. Slowly uncovering the mysteries surrounding her new condition made the reality much easier to swallow and I always enjoy reading about the growing pains that new supes experience regardless of whether they turn furry once a month or, in this case, eat brains.

Angel is far from being your typical go-getter Urban Fantasy protagonist; she’s a convicted, drug addicted, high school drop-out who lives with her alcoholic father, in short, she’s trailer trash. And, oddly enough, one of the best things that’s ever happened to her is her new walking dead status. Becoming a zombie forces her to grow up and take control of her life because now she has to make sure she eats right, keeps her job and avoids detection otherwise the consequences could be fatal.

The unconventional murder mystery angle was an unexpected surprise; rather than experiencing this book’s plot line from a cop or P.I.’s perspective, Angel has a unique view of the crime scenes because of her job and heightened senses. I enjoyed watching her interactions with the various law enforcement types and how they slowly welcome her into their club even with her checkered background. The twist at the end caught me off guard but I’m happy that it led to a little showdown which had Angel downing brains like Popeye eats spinach.

One of my favorite accents to listen to is the southern twang and Allison McLemore does a fab job of it thanks to her roots. I don’t mean this as an insult but she makes excellent trailer trash! MY LIFE AS A WHITE TRASH ZOMBIE is a fun listen that’ll make you feel differently about eating brains.

24 of 26 people found this review helpful

It's Not F**king Rocket Science

A BRAIN A DAY KEEPS THE ROTTING AWAY
I thought I was tired of zombies. Rowland writes an intelligent Zombie novel with much different about it. Rowland knows or has been White Trash, as she portrays trailer park life as it really is. Yet, like Walter Mosley, she finds complex personalities, where you would not expect to find it.

JUST BECAUSE I WAS INSANE DON'T MEAN I HAVE TO ACT ALL CRAZY.
SH*T DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN, SOMEONE HAS TO MAKE A BONEHEAD DECISION FIRST.
Angel, the main character may have a pity party from time to time, but she always comes to her senses and talks herself into doing the right thing. Her parents suck and society puts her down, put she does not let that be an excuse for failure. By chapter nine, you will be in love with Angel.

MY REFLEXES WERE PEGGED AT F**K YEA.
HOLY SH*T I'D ATE BRAINS FOR TWO WEEKS AND LOVING IT.
GOD F**KING DAMN IF HE WASN'T SERIOUSLY GOOD LOOKING.
This is most definately an adult book. The language is what you would hear from white trash and the subject matter is adult.
UNLESS YOUR F**KING ME, DON'T PUT YOUR HANDS ON ME.

I thought the narrator was very convincing and made the audible better then reading the book.

WHAT DID THE ZOMBIE TELL THE WAITER?
KEEP THE TIP.

59 of 68 people found this review helpful

B-R-A-I-N-S

Despite the title, this book was a fairly thoughtful and intelligent take on zombies. I liked that the author stuck pretty close to traditional zombie mythology and yet still was able to create a very believable and highly unique world in which zombies live among us. These zombies need to eat brains every other day or so, making a job at the morgue or funeral home a particularly good gig for the undead. Details about autopsies weren’t too gruesome, but gave the book the feel of a police procedural as the protagonist tries to figure out who made her into a zombie and who is the serial murderer in her small Louisiana town. This would make a particularly good read for a teenage girl, since the main character is a young woman who has made some bad choices in her life but who is given a second chance and uses it to get her life together. I listened to the book as an audio book narrated by Allison McLemore, who has just the right southern accent to bring life to this sassy and smart heroine.

10 of 11 people found this review helpful

a 'zombies are humans too' type story

Any additional comments?

Audio:
The narrator, Allison McLemore, is a narrating genius. She perfected the lazy Southern trashy drawl and masterfully created a multitude of characters. I've noticed that I say fuck a lot slower since listening to it. It's more like fuuuuck, now. Love the lazy Southern trashy drawl.


Story:
Angel Crawford wakes up in the hospital after an apparent overdose. She remembers popping some pills but also vaguely remembers being in a car accident. Though she doesn't have a scratch on her. Upon discharge she is given a note and gift left by a mysterious stranger. The gift is some odd looking bottled drinks and the note states she has a job waiting for her at the Coroner's office. Don't accept the job and the mysterious stranger will fill Angel's parole officer in on her recent drug mishap.


What the fuuuuck?


Left with no other options, she reluctantly takes the job as "body snatcher", picking up dead bodies and bringing them into the morgue. She is surprised by her sudden iron stomach and her sudden craving of brains. Yes, brains. She smells them, and they smell like chocolate.


What the fuuuuck?


““The smell was like chocolate and cookies and biscuits and gravy and everything else that was delicious. It damn near drove me crazy every time I had to touch one. I’d been fighting the cravings the way I’d never fought the urge to take drugs or get drunk.”



As if her life taking a huge turn to the strange and macabre is not enough, it seems she is now a zombie and someone around town is hunting her kind. While learning to survive without her body literally rotting (she starts to smell like a decomposing corpse after just a few days of no brains...yuck), dealing with her drunkard dad, trying to piece together how she turned, now she has to try and keep hidden from a serial killer. Could life (or death) get any worse?


Angel is hilarious. She's not stupid though she's taken for a dummy, a lot. She's spunky and a fighter. I don't think I could love this character more. She's had a rough life and it's not any easier now, but she's been given a second chance at life and she's determined to figure it out. Her fumbling through it is equally endearing and entertaining. She's so far from your typical protagonist and I love her more for it.


This is a 'zombies are humans too' type story. If you are looking for a shambling mindless gorey zombie tale, you won't find it here. This is a story of second chances, survival and life...even for the dead.

30 of 35 people found this review helpful

New diet trend, become a zombie!

If you could sum up My Life as a White Trash Zombie in three words, what would they be?

Simply Freaking AMAZING!

Who was your favorite character and why?

Angel, listen to it (or read the books) and you'll think so too. No spoilers!

Which scene was your favorite?

The scene with the van, the tree, and the zombie. It'll make more sense after you listen to it.

If you could rename My Life as a White Trash Zombie, what would you call it?

How becoming a zombie saved my life? I dunno, the title is catchy so probably I wouldn't change it.

Any additional comments?

I'm just getting back into books. I used to read alot, but its hard finding ones I really like. This one mixes zombies, comedy, and a bit of drama together nicely. I found myself laughing quite a bit as Angel started developing, and found myself rooting for her. As a horror fan, who loves a bit of comedy in everything to keep things shaken up a bit, I'll have to highly recommend this book. I'm off to start listening to the second on!

19 of 22 people found this review helpful

I want more and so will you!! *Spoilers*

What made the experience of listening to My Life as a White Trash Zombie the most enjoyable?

I loved how the story was told from Angel's point of view as well as the narrator's excellent job of voicing each character. Despite the fantastic subject matter, the story felt believable and I found the forensic stuff very intriguing. I also immensely enjoyed the narration.

What did you like best about this story?

That Diana Rowland gave the zombie genre a new twist. It was a nice change of pace to see something new. It was interesting how that in order to stay 'normal', Angel would need to consume brains in order to not fall into decay, like Zeke. I liked the fact that the zombies would not become mindless unless they were overly active or out of brains. It was also nice to notice they could still eat normal food, as well.

What does Allison McLemore bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

The different voices and attitude of each character. She delivered the pain, anguish, joy and rage of each character excellently.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes- I couldn't wait to listen to it again. If I had to put my iPod down to do something important that required concentration, I would pick it back up instantly when I was finished.

Any additional comments?

Would love it to be made into a television show or movie- it'd be awesome to see something different in theaters than the usual 'run and fight for your life- there are brain-hungry zombies out to get you!' Seriously, though, if you like zombie books and shows like CSI, you will like this enjoyable mash-up of horror and mystery.

12 of 14 people found this review helpful

Fun!!!

I have been holding off on listening to this book, I was afraid that I would not like it another zombie love story. Boy was I wrong. This was a great summer read, it was funny, feel good and the love story aspect did not really factor in to the book until the end. Highly recommend.

16 of 19 people found this review helpful