Zombie
A Novel
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3.3 • 137 Ratings
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- $14.99
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
Zombie is a classic novel of dark obsession from the extraordinary Joyce Carol Oates. A brilliant, unflinching journey into the mind of a serial killer, Zombie views the world through the eyes of Quentin P., newly paroled sex offender, as he chillingly evolves from rapist to mass murderer. Joyce Carol Oates—the prolific author of so many extraordinary bestsellers, including The Gravediggers Daughter, Blonde, and The Falls—demonstrates why she ranks among America’s most respected and accomplished literary artists with this provocative, breathtaking, and disturbing masterwork.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
Periodically, Oates seems compelled to write grim novels that explore humanity's darkest corners. Coming on the heels of last year's excellent What I Lived For, this depressing narrative carries macabre imagination to the extreme. It depicts the career of Quentin P., a convicted young sex offender on probation who has turned to serial killing without being caught, despite the worried scrutiny of his family and of his psychiatrist. Convincingly presented as Quentin's diary of his pursuit of the perfect ``zombie'' (a handsome young man to be rendered compliant and devoted through Quentin's lobotomizing him with an ice pick), the narrative incorporates crude drawings and typographic play to evoke the hermetic imagination of a psychopath; the reader examines the killer's sketches of weapons and staring eyes, and hears him say, ``I lost it & screamed at him & shook him BUT I DID NOT HURT HIM I SWEAR.'' For all its apparent authenticity, however, this novel ventures into territory that has been explored more powerfully by, among others, Dennis Cooper (Frisk), whose chilly minimalism underscores the brutality of such crimes in a way that Oates's more calculatedly histrionic approach does not. This slim, sadistic reverie may be chilling, but it comes off as less a fully realized work than as an exercise from a writer at morbid play.
Customer Reviews
Fiction based on Dahmer
I thought it was decent, it feels like a first attempt and the work she did is fine for a first attempt. If she would have really lived and breathed this horror it would've been a masterpiece but it would take a lot more hard work as well as the giving up of her own feelings and fears as well as she has given up of the victims and others and the horrors the victims and others had gone through and are forever immortalized herein. Decent attempt. If she gave more of herself she could hit the level she is so close to reaching. Cheers!
(NOW FOR THE NON-FICTION FAMILIES)
This story is, while good for fiction, and scary stories around the campfire, BUT, SO MUCH OF THIS STORY IS TRUE, from the real case of J. Dahmer. I hope all the families can reach a true peace as they can never truly enjoy the Sick Bloody Schtick of Horror ever again, I hope just peace and happiness is all the families of the real victims ever have and all they deserve. THE BEST OF ENERGY AND VIBES AND EXTRAORDINARILY GREAT THINGS AND MASSIVE HAPPINESS TO YOU ALL ALWAYS! YOU ALL DESERVE LOVE AND HAPPINESS FOREVER! DON'T LET OUR SILLY HORROR EVEN WHEN RIPPED FROM REAL CASES UPSET YOU. ALL HORROR FANS ARE WITH YOU AND WOULD PROTECT YOU IF EVER POSSIBLE, THAT IS HOW HORROR FANS ARE, VERY PROTECTIVE AND GIVING AND RIGHTEOUS.) MASSIVE PEACE TO YOU ALL.
Well written
This book was well written, uniquely written. But not that disturbing if you’re familiar with the source material and other true crimes.
Huge disappointment
First off, I will say I couldn’t put it down. Almost rhythmic writing. There’s nothing to QP and maybe that’s the point. Unless he’s fixated on his perversion there is absolutely nothing going on. He’s a huge loser who’s given too many opportunities by good people and I hated him. I guess I just wanted to retribution. Maybe it’s a good glimpse into the mind of a psychopath but he just seemed like a stupid loser who got lucky because of his circumstances.