Weekly Geeks 16: Geek Interview

The Rising
Brian Keene

This week’s Weekly Geeks theme pairs two Geeks, who then interview one another about their latest read-but-unreviewed work.

I was paired with the lovely Florinda, who was nice enough to offer some thought-provoking questions for the horribly disappointing The Rising by Brian Keene.

Florinda's questions appear in italics; my answers follow.

The book is described as a "post-apocalyptic zombie thriller." What piqued your interest in reading it?

I always gear up for the fall and Halloween by reading what I call “spooky reads.” I’m not sure how I heard of The Rising, but zombies scare the heck out of me, so I knew I’d have to give it a go.

Please give a spoiler-free plot summary.

The dead have risen, although they’re unlike normal zombies. They walk, they talk, they think. Our main character is trying to stay alive and save his son, who is alive in another state. Along the way, he meets other survivors. Will they make it in time?

Please share a favorite passage or quote from the book.

Honestly, there wasn’t one. The writing was rather poor, and there were several cringe-worthy moments. The dialogue was stale and clichéd, especially when the "gangstas" talked. Cringe-worthy, indeed.

Could you identify a "big idea" or theme running through the book - what was it, and how is it reinforced in the storytelling?

I suppose a theme might be the importance of family and the negative effects of science (don’t worry; that wasn’t a spoiler). The storytelling was pretty simple and ultimately a letdown, so I can’t pretend that these themes were reinforced by anything other than the most obvious of methods.

Did you have a favorite character? What did you like about him/her?

Not really. There was a deaf boy, Worm, who was endearing, but I generally found the characters to be little more than flat, shallow stereotypes.

Have you read any books by this author before? Do you think you would read any more? Why/why not?

No, and I don’t plan to read any more by this author. The poor writing and grammar issues did it for me. In fact, I admit that I skimmed the second half. It was just getting too distressing, and I don’t mean the zombies.

I noticed that you use a 6-star rating scale for the books you review. How many stars will you give this book?

I’ll give this one 1.5 out of 6 stars, but only because of the innovative twist the author added to the zombie genre. I liked that he didn’t rehash the usual zombie story, but found a way to make it different.

I have to be honest - I don't read a lot of genre fiction, and have never been a big horror fan, so it was a challenge for me to come up with questions about this book, and I'm sure there are things that I didn't think to ask about! What do you think readers should know about this book that you haven't already answered?

Readers should know it was dissatisfying. With a better editor, the book might have fared better. As it was, The Rising came across as immature and sophomoric. What could have been an intelligent horror novel was instead a major disappointment.


In a nutshell: Great premise, poor execution

Bibliolatry Scale: 1.5 out of 6 stars

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In turn, I interviewed Florinda about Jancee Dunn's Don't You Forget About Me; my questions appear in italics, and her responses follow.

Can you summarize the novel in one sentence?

You may be able to go home again, but you can't go back in time.

How would you rate the plot: predictable, or just right? Fast-paced, or slow?

The last part of the story was a bit predictable, but most of it was just right, and I enjoyed seeing how it unfolded. The pace was just about right too, considering that this is more of a character-driven than plot-oriented book.

Can any lessons be learned from reading Don't You Forget About Me?

Any lessons from the book are pretty common-sense ones:

• It can be comforting to take refuge in the past when your present life throws you an ugly curveball, but it's not healthy to try to become the person you were then - or think you were.
  
• You have to grow up eventually.
  
• Being voted "least changed" at your 20th high-school class reunion is not necessarily a good thing.

However, I would suggest that this book is better read for entertainment than enlightenment.

How would you describe the main characters? Overall, were they likable and/or sympathetic, or were they difficult to relate to? Which character could you relate to the most, and why?

Lillian, the first-person narrator, is by far the most developed character in the book, and in many ways that's appropriate; it's her story, after all. I liked her a lot - she was very real. She had her quirks and flaws, and in some areas she was still falling prey to her adolescent insecurities; and unfortunately, I could relate to that all too well. I found her mostly endearing, and sometimes irritating. She was rather lacking in self-awareness, and seemed to interact more with the people in her life as she perceived them - sometimes based on long-outdated images - rather than with who they really were; I think that's part of why many of the other characters didn't seem as dimensional to me. However, even the less likable characters came across as decent, everyday people, and that portrayal is one of Dunn's strengths as a writer.

I could also relate to Lillian's circumstances, particularly early in the story - finding herself somewhat adrift in her late 30s, after the unexpected end of a long relationship, and seeking comfort in the old and familiar. I have, unfortunately, been there myself. However, I've never been eager to attend one of my high-school reunions; I think I've missed four of them so far (10th, 15th, 20th, 25th).

Don't You Forget About Me is partially set in NYC. Would you say this is a "New York City novel"? (That is, is the city a major character?) How integral is the setting to the storyline?

The setting actually is pretty important to the story, but this is not a "New York City" novel; it's a "New Jersey suburbs" novel, mostly. Most of the action takes place during Lillian's sabbatical at her parents' house during the time period surrounding her reunion, and she's truly happy to be back in the 'burbs - running at the school track, visiting the mall, speeding down the Turnpike to the Shore. I was particularly amused when she extolled the virtues of suburban CVS drugstores compared to their city cousins.

The novel is described as being "steeped in '80s-era references." Did you find these references to be overdone and distracting, or just right? What was your favorite 80s reference, and why?

I'm a couple of years older than the author, and Lillian is a few years younger yet, but I pretty much came of age in the '80's, and I enjoyed those touches. They easily could have been overdone and taken into "camp" territory, but I feel that Dunn employed them pretty well. My favorite '80's-reference scene involved Lillian driving around in her dad's car, playing an old Rick Springfield tape and remembering watching General Hospital after school, back when he was on the show (the first time - he's back now, I've heard). That was a been-there, done-that moment.

How would you describe the author's writing style? Overall, is the prose easy to read, or difficult? Can you provide a sentence or two to highlight her style?

Dunn's writing experience is in journalism and nonfiction, and her first novel is written in a fairly straightforward style in keeping with that background. She writes with heart and humor, and she's good with dialogue.

From page 58, a passage that illustrates one reason I could identify well with Lillian:

Why was it, I wondered, that when you loved a song, the feelings it evoked were so profoundly personal? Pop music always reached me in such a specific, hidden place, and my reaction to certain songs was so unthinking, so visceral, that it was almost sexual. Linear thoughts vanished completely, replaced by images and moods that I could never rationally discuss even with close friends.

Finally, what would you rate this novel, and why? Would you read more by this author?

Rating: 3.75/5 (objectively, but because I find Jancee Dunn and her writing just so likable, I would give it a subjective 4/5). When I read But Enough About Me earlier this year, I said: "There are some books that make you feel like you're just hanging out with the writer - laughing, sharing stories, spending an enjoyable afternoon...Dunn is an engaging storyteller." I would definitely hang out with her again, and look forward to reading whatever she does next.

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Thanks, Florinda!!