Feed

By: Mira Grant

Narrated by: Paula Christensen, Jesse Bernstein

Length: 15 hrs and 10 mins

Publisher's Summary

The year was 2014. We had cured cancer. We had beat 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, 20 years after the Rising, Georgia and Shaun Mason are on the trail of the biggest story of their lives - the dark conspiracy behind the infected. The truth will out, even if it kills them.

©2010 Mira Grant (P)2010 Hachette

I laughed, I cried...

I would like to thank everyone who was disappointed that this was not really a zombie story. I was not going to buy it until I read the reviews. Your disappointment gave me the encouragement I needed to take a chance on it. It was a great listen. I love the author's October Daye stories and this was just as good. She is a hard hitting story teller, and the idealism is a nice change not usually found in a distopian worlds. I don't want to provide any spoilers, but I will say none of my predictions for the conclusion was correct.

As for the reader's slight lisp, it helped make the characters more real for me.

I look forward to the next book, though I know I will have to steel myself to listen to it because of the emotional intensity.

30 of 30 people found this review helpful

Surprisingly Good

I only listened because of the Hugo nomination. I, for one, resent our new zombie overlords. But this really wasn't a zombie book, more of a "humans can adapt to anything, and still be bastards" kind of book. Fun to read, thought-provoking, and, to my surprise, with an emotional punch that had me mourning at one point in the book, really grieving for a character. Impressive.

33 of 34 people found this review helpful

An interesting perspective

As a zombie horror fan I liked the new (to me) way the perspective was presented from the intentionally different character views - newsie, irwin, fictional - and I thought it was a good mechanism for adding depth to what could have been a limited and boring narrative. The matter of fact way horrors are considered and dealt with as just part of life, the personality traits that led each character toward their own views, right down to seeing and accepting the flaws of those around us. You and I don't have to agree, and in a world where you're perpetually on the edge of extinction you and I are all we have, that seemed to be a strong under current not only in the brother/sister relationship yet in their dealings with others. And I took the 'Christian bashing' another reviewer noted as being a portrayal of the religious zealotry too common in today's news, politics and cultures, and the cost we pay for it. Questioning God? Who except the same zealots hasn't at some point, Ms. Grant conveyed to me a character that was searching for answers, holding to hope in a hopeless world, doing the right thing because its the right thing even within that abyss of doubting whether its all worth it or if there's anything beyond.

I guess I just read/heard more depth, more nuance than some, or my imagination filled in the blanks created from her words - and isn't that what's supposed to happen?

23 of 24 people found this review helpful

Not what I expected, but still good

Would you recommend this book to a friend? Why or why not?

Any additional comments?

Listening to the audiobook of Feed by Mira Grant left me with a most unexpected experience. I've read my fair share of zombie books from horror to humor, but none have left me feeling the way Feed did. I'm not even sure how to review it but I'll give it a shot.

Feed is told from the point of view(s) of a team of bloggers after the world has fallen prey to a zombie infestation. The news gets to folks more quickly and effectively through various blogger types, Georgia and her brother Shaun being a fairly successful team have signed on to caravan with a presidential hopeful during his campaign. Along the trail this team of bloggers will fall into the middle of what could be the largest most dangerous political conspiracy ever and it will put all their lives at risk.

Quite a large chunk of the beginning of the book is focused on world building told by both Gerogia's narrative and also by the occasional blog post. It was an interesting approach to writing. The world Grant creates is both fascinating and terrifying. She has put a ton of detail into this futuristic danger zone filled with brain eaters and I love what she has come up with.

Another aspect I enjoyed was the character development. There is a large cast here but it was easy to get a clear grasp of who everyone was. I had heard rumblings about the relationship between Georgia and Shaun being odd and turning some people off, but I didn't feel that. It is a very dependent relationship, they rely on each other for everything (literally) but it never felt anything other than a very close sibling bonding to me. Taken into context of what this world is like, I think it may be natural. I actually enjoyed the relationships all the bloggers had with each other.

Without giving any direct spoilers, I have to say that the bravery Grant showed at the end of Feed was amazing. Not many writers would take the leap she did, straight into the deep end of the pool, it was utterly unexpected and pure genius.

What I did not enjoy was the pacing and the lack of action. This zombie ride is a slow moving vehicle with little flesh eating outbreaks and honestly, that just isn't what I typically look for in Z books. I like the gore and blasting of brains. It's not to say that Feed wasn't a well written and enjoyable read. It is, but it isn't what I thought I was going to get.

I think I will still continue with the series, I will just be hoping Shaun will be doing a lot more poking of zombies with sticks, because that would rock!

10 of 10 people found this review helpful

Great book !!

At first I was disapointed to find out it was a "zombie"book.I dont usually like such books. But this one was different,well writen with lots of action.But it is a well thought out story that includes politics,medical,spys and the internet. It is a different kind of book.I thought the narration was fine.I didnt notice a lisp.

23 of 25 people found this review helpful

Excellent Read

This is a very fun book, in the old timey zombie-as-metaphor style. The book is clever, the main characters are likable, and the primary reader is both energetic, emotive, and able to portray many different characters effectively. I don't know why they bothered to hire a second reader for the two or three small paragraphs he ended up reading, but from his admittedly brief appearances, he's not bad either.

This is a very interesting, and very unsettling, take on the zombie mythos. It represents a look into a world where threat is ongoing, and while it doesn't offer much in the way of scares, the constant grinding paranoia of everyone in the book (you must take blood tests to go inside, you must take blood tests to go outside, you must take blood tests to enter different parts of buildings etc. etc. etc.) actually increases the tension as the book continues. You realize the lengths that people have gone through to protect themselves, and ultimately, how useless they all are.

Many zombie stories end up being pretty silly, but this one, both as a critique of fear-culture, and as a story in its own right, is something very interesting, and very worthwhile.

If you're interested in either blogging, or zombies, or what happens when you mix the two of them together and shake vigorously, give this book a read.

12 of 13 people found this review helpful

Don't Believe The Dissenters!

I almost didn't get this book because of a few reviews. First, that the dialogue was unbelievable & forced and Second, that it was Anti-Christian. Neither of these are true. The dialogue is intelligent and not at all forced. Maybe the reviewer doesn't know anyone who speaks this way, but I do.

As for it being anti-Christian. This isn't true. It's anti-extremist! The bad guy is someone who uses his misinterpretation of religion as a justification do horrendous things. It in no way protrays all religion or Christians as bad, evil, or misguided.

That being said, this isn't your typical Zombie book. The Zombies are very much a side story. It takes place 20+ years after the initial outbreak and is a picture of what society would be like with this constant threat. I found it highly enjoyable, but probably not for the person who wants nonstop zombie action.

43 of 49 people found this review helpful

Zombie Book and Mystery Book all in one

Feed is part normal zombie book, part political mystery. It has some of the zombie attach scenes you would normally see, but also does a good job of showing the way people live with the zombies, and what they must do on a day to day basis in this new normal. The story has good character development and a lot of action, excitement and intrigue to keep you coming back for more. Being the first of a trilogy there is always the chance that the author won’t fully wrap up the story to keep their readers coming back for more books, but this did a good job of completing the story allowing it to be stand alone if you don’t want to go on.

A unique aspect of this book was a male and female characters resulting in two performers. I think this made it more realistic and really enjoyable. They both do a great job.

I greatly enjoyed this book.

5 of 5 people found this review helpful

A story of journalistic integrity and zombies.

Any additional comments?

It's nice to read something championing journalistic integrity while managing to convey new wrinkles into the zombie genre. Fun and interesting mix. The blog format intermixed with first person narrative is a unique POV and offered some unexpected layered storytelling.

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

A New Genre of Post Apocolytpic Thriller

This very clever title blends modern journalism with a rather new setting. The subject zombies (seemingly silly at first) is dealt with with a fair deal of sophistication. The author manages to make them seem a real scientific possibility. (Rabies, for example, turns lesser mammals into biting drooling aggressive creatures in order for the virus to spread itself. (Although the author herself would have done well to have mentioned that.)

While the story is entertaining it is not perfect. For example. A reader may tire of the seemingly endless security precautions on every single page including blood tests described in painfully excruciating and repetitive detail. They should have been edited out. (That's why it's a 15 hour book.)

While I'm glad the book was far more sophisticated than just the video game carnage fest it might have been... after a while a bit of of gratuitous violence might have been a refreshing change from focus on the technology of keeping up video "feeds" to the Internet.

The narration is spot on. The sophisticated tone of the sister contrasts well with her smart mouth brother. Both narrators are pitch perfect. They really add to the writing.

All-in-all a fairly entertaining 15 hours. But not quite a classic. (You know the writing can be improved when the writer allows one's mind time to consider better and different directions for the plot and its devices.)

7 of 8 people found this review helpful

THE best zombie trilogy ever!!!!

Loved it!!! Now where are the next two books, Audible??? You are letting the side down. more Sean and Georgia Mason please

4 of 4 people found this review helpful

Great story, medicore narration, appalling accents

Would you try another book written by Mira Grant or narrated by Paula Christensen and Jesse Bernstein ?

No. Actors really should be able to perform a passable accent - their English accents were some way south of say, Dick van Dyke's performance in Mary Poppins and detracted hugely from the story in Mahir's chapters. They did provide some laughs though!

What did you like best about this story?

The writing, which takes a typical zombie-era scenario and presents it in an original way.

Would you be willing to try another one of Paula Christensen and Jesse Bernstein ’s performances?

Nope.

3 of 3 people found this review helpful

A book for teenagers.

I had hoped this book would be gripping with scary bits.
After listening to this book for about two hours I stopped it and preferred to sit in silence on my commute to work.
It seemed like listening to Buffy the Vampire Slayer or a teenage girls adventure.
I tried sticking with it, and I'm sure it gets better but it just wasn't my thing.

8 of 10 people found this review helpful

A must have

Loved this book, hard to stop listening too. Story takes what appears to be a boring turn but never became boring just more enthralling

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Jesse Bernstein let it down once again.

I've read this book, and decided to re-live the story via audiobook. Paula Christensen was a fantastic narrator, but Jesse Bernstein just sounded like he was joking around with his mates in the recording booth. His narration has stopped me purchasing a different audiobook, but I was hoping perhaps he would be different in a different story. Sadly not.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Great novel, slightly unusual narration.

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

I have all the Newsflesh series in paperback format and love them to bits, hence why I picked up the audiobook. Generally the narration here is good, although the attempts by the narrators at an English accent caused me to burst out laughing in the middle of the street. It sounds like some combination of Australian, South African and London urban. Only recommended if this doesn't bother you.

1 of 1 people found this review helpful

Unimpressive

The author of this book basicly attempts to mesh together political intrigue with an undead scenario. The final result is a predictable, unengaging story of what can only be discribed as dull. It's attempts to garner the feel of sociopolitical intrigue fails quite miserably and ultimately leads to a dull cascade of cookie cutter events to a backdrop of a near miss undead apocalypse.

5 of 8 people found this review helpful

TOSH

Complete tosh. I tried to stick at this audio book (grimacing all the way) and could not. Survive about tree quarters of it. If you can best that then you win!! The Americans should uses this book at guantanamo bay to soften up the terrorist. Feed: The Newsflesh Trilogy, Book 1 I hope this doesn't imply there is a 2nd and 3rd one the way. Mira Grant please don't haven't you done enough.

5 of 9 people found this review helpful

Worst accents EVER

I absolutely love the Newsflesh trilogy and was so disappointed by the lacklustre narration (lazy diction, uninteresting voice, terrible cliched ‘character’ voices). I was persevering due to love of the books, but I had to give up when the narrator had a stab at what is possibly the worst English accent I’ve ever heard. Think Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins (except female). So jarring, and a real shame. Wish my first ever Audible review was more positive, but sadly not.

just how I imagined when reading it myself

I loved every second of this book. Though the jarring alteration of accents was almost comical and the male voice in this wasn't really needed until the end chapters so I think he should have been utilised more often. the female voice did well though some of her accents broke the immersion and made me giggle a little most of her work was spot on