title: Feed
written by: Mira Grant
series: Newsflesh #1
genres: Young Adult, post-apocalypse
page count: 571
publication date: May 1st, 2010
publisher: Orbit Books
rating: 5+ stars!
The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beaten the common cold. But in doing so we created something new, something terrible that no one could stop. The infection spread, virus blocks taking over bodies and minds with one, unstoppable command: FEED. Now, twenty years after the Rising, bloggers Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives - the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will get out, even if it kills them.
Combining 2 of my favorite things in life, Blogging and Zombies, Grant did an amazing job at writing this masterpiece. Feed was so much more than just an ordinairy zombie book, it was full of things that made me think really hard, and dealt with the ethical dilemma 'How far goes the freedom of Press?'
After the infection spread, and zombies became reality instead of legend, fear took over humanity. Soon people found out that they should trust blogs rather than the Government's news, which was censored and tried to comfort the people. People wanted the hard truth, not a mild version of it. And so, on the same day legend turned reality, bloggers took over the world. How awesome is that? And it is so true that bloggers usually are more honest than the 'official' news.
Georgia and Shaun Mason are both important bloggers, Georgia is a Newsie, someone who reports the news facts only, whilst Shaun is always provoking the zombies, and toying with his own life. They are chosen to follow the presidential campaign of senator Ryman. But when people start dying and strange accidents occur the mystery sets in. And I devoured every single page of it in one breath.
While some of the descriptions were long and could be considered boring by some, I actually really liked them. They added much to the story, and gave you enough time to think about what was happening AND what was going to happen. The plot had so many twists and turns it kept on surprising me, whilst I usually don't have a hard time figuring out a book. And that's one of the things that I liked most about this book.
Another thing that I absolutely liked were the characters. Grand did a great job creating and describing every character of hers, and making them look so realistic. She made me feel like her characters were my friends. All of them, even the ones that were very insignificant, made me feel that way.
One thing I'm not happy about is the ending. If you knew me better, you would know that the way Grant ended Feed is the way I would end it. And that is not entirely positive, neither is it negative. It just broke my heart in a million pieces. So many that I just was bawling and my eyes turned red and all of it. That a book can do that to me... wow!
I would reccommend this book to readers older than me, 17+, and I would not call this Young Adult. I say this not because it was so scary, or it was extreme horror (because it wasn't!) but because I think older readers will understand it better. I will read this book again in a couple of years when I understand the world better and see if I'm right about it myself :)
Feed it an amazing zombie novel that deals with some ethical issues as well as emotions. It made me think, laugh,and cry (A lot!). You don't need a lot of imagination to see this novel become reality, and that is what made it all so horribly true. 5 Stars and Favorite for this post-apocalyptic book with an unique view on the future.
Love,
Mar
