Warm Bodies by Isaac Marion

Title: Warm Bodies
Author: Isaac Marion
Publication Date: October 28, 2010
Length: 239 pages

R is a zombie, but he's not quite like the other zombies. He sometimes finds that the zombie life is not enough for him. He appreciates beauty, and collects knickknacks and music for his home in an airplane. One day, while out hunting, he eats the brains of a guy named Perry, experiencing his memories. When he meets Perry's girlfriend, Julie, he finds himself fascinated by her, and suddenly protective of her. He brings her home and keeps her safe from the other zombies, and a very strange relationship begins.

This is one of those books I read after seeing the movie, which I hate doing because often I end up not liking the book because the movie has already established itself as "right" in my brain. That did not happen with this book. I loved the movie (like, fangirling all over the place, with a bigger crush on a zombie than I thought was possible), and then I loved the book even more.

R is just SO ADORABLE. As he and Julie spend more time together, it's so sweet to see him become more and more human. And at the same time, Julie is learning to see zombies as more than just monsters, as people with a disease that could potentially be cured, which is something the survivors of the zombie apocalypse had never considered or thought possible.

5 stars.

Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Title: Safe Haven
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Publication Date: 2010
Length: 340

Katie shows up alone in Southport, North Carolina, quiet and mysterious. Having run away from an abusive husband, she's reluctant to form relationships. However, she soon finds a friend in her next door neighbour, Jo, and becomes rather attached to Alex, the widowed owner of the general store, and his two children. Now she has to decide between the relative safety of remaining on the run, and risking settling down in one place for the chance of happiness.

It took me a while to get into this book, simply because of the writing. The writing is not good. It's hard to describe, but the closest I can think of is "dumbed-down".

However, eventually I did get sucked into the story. And at that point, I was willing to forgive the writing. Sparks paints a striking picture of life in an abusive relationship. I found it to be terrifying, without seeming overdone or exaggerated, which I really appreciated, because abusive relationships need no exaggeration.

The romance in this story is beautiful. It develops gradually, with difficulties along the way, in what I felt was a really realistic way.

I read this book for the Out of Your Comfort Zone Challenge. Romance is not really my thing. But this book made me feel like maybe I could read some romance, if it was the right kind.

4 stars.