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Husk
"No one watching such things in Canada doubts his voice or his vision: Corey Redekop has emerged as one of the writers to pay attention to over the coming few years." - January Magazine
Outlandish and emotional, this humorous novel centers on Sheldon Funk, a struggling actor who dies in a bus restroom only to awaken during his autopsy and attack the coroner. Fleeing into the wintry streets of Toronto, Sheldon realizes he’s now a zombie—as if he didn’t have enough on his plate already. His last audition, reading for the reality television series House Bingo, had gone disastrously wrong. His mother is in the late stages of dementia, his savings are depleted, his agent couldn’t care less, and his boyfriend is little more than a set of nice abs. All Sheldon has to his name is a house he can barely hold onto and a cat that is more pillow than mammal. Now he also has to contend with decomposition, the scent of the open grave, and an unending appetite for human flesh—and on top of it all, there’s another audition in the morning. In order to survive his death without literally falling apart, Sheldon must find a way to combine his old life with his new addiction, which would be a lot easier if he could stop eating vagrants. A hysterical take on fame, love, religion, politics, and appetite, this is the story of the “everyzombie” people long to be.
Outlandish and emotional, this humorous novel centers on Sheldon Funk, a struggling actor who dies in a bus restroom only to awaken during his autopsy and attack the coroner. Fleeing into the wintry streets of Toronto, Sheldon realizes he’s now a zombie—as if he didn’t have enough on his plate already. His last audition, reading for the reality television series House Bingo, had gone disastrously wrong. His mother is in the late stages of dementia, his savings are depleted, his agent couldn’t care less, and his boyfriend is little more than a set of nice abs. All Sheldon has to his name is a house he can barely hold onto and a cat that is more pillow than mammal. Now he also has to contend with decomposition, the scent of the open grave, and an unending appetite for human flesh—and on top of it all, there’s another audition in the morning. In order to survive his death without literally falling apart, Sheldon must find a way to combine his old life with his new addiction, which would be a lot easier if he could stop eating vagrants. A hysterical take on fame, love, religion, politics, and appetite, this is the story of the “everyzombie” people long to be.
310 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2012
9 people are currently reading
360 people want to read
About the author
Corey Redekop
11 books179 followersCorey Redekop's debut novel,
Shelf Monkey
— winner, Gold Medal for Popular Fiction, 2008 Independent Book Publisher Awards: a Top 40 Essential Canadian Novel of the Decade, CBC Canada Reads — is either a work of insane genius or an intolerable left-wing screed, depending on which review you read.
Husk
(ECW Press, 2012) was shortlisted for the 2013 ReLit Award and was named a Top Book of 2012 by editors of Amazon.ca. His short stories have found homes in anthologies such as The Exile Book of New Canadian Noir, Licence Expired: The Unauthorized James Bond, Superhero Universe: Tesseracts Nineteen, and Those Who Make Us: Creature, Myth and Monster Stories.
Stunningly handsome, supremely talented, superbly gifted at hyperbole, Corey abides in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
"I’ve often wondered how a novel’s characters might assess the book they’ve been thrust, unwillingly, into - like victims of a kidnapping. Well, now it’s actually happened to me. Yes, Eric McCormack appears as a character in Shelf Monkey. Once I got over the shock of finding myself there and settled in for the long haul, I thought: What a literate, witty, suspenseful, alternate world Corey Redekop’s created. I’m not so sure I want to be rescued from it!"Eric McCormack, author, The Dutch Wife , on Shelf Monkey
"A playful — yet very serious — ode to bibliophilia. Corey Redekop writes with energy and imagination, deft little jabs that go straight to the solar plexus. I laughed, and thought — a great deal — reading Shelf Monkey."Paul Quarrington, author, Galveston, The Ravine, on Shelf Monkey
"I read several promising first novels in 2007, all so different that I am unable to choose a favorite...Corey Redekop provided this year's gonzo fun with his Shelf Monkey, an utterly enjoyable novel about radical bookworms."Jeff Vandermeer, author, City of Saints and Madmen , on Shelf Monkey
"... stylistically playful ... reminiscent of Stephen King's approach in Carrie. That it feels neither redundant nor artificial is a testament to Redekop's control over his material and his ability to push his story effortlessly forward.What is most praiseworthy about Shelf Monkey is its tone, which is blackly comic, and not afraid to get its hands dirty ... bracing and edgy and skirts the line of cruelty without ever quite tripping over it ... Redekop plays with this tension nicely throughout the novel, providing a critique of a literary culture that prizes shallowness and false sentiment over an authentic engagement with difficult texts, while at the same time assuring all of us who love books that, whatever our literary tastes or predilictions, and for better or for worse, we're all in this together."Steven W. Beattie, That Shakespeherian Rag, on Shelf Monkey
Stunningly handsome, supremely talented, superbly gifted at hyperbole, Corey abides in Fredericton, New Brunswick.
"I’ve often wondered how a novel’s characters might assess the book they’ve been thrust, unwillingly, into - like victims of a kidnapping. Well, now it’s actually happened to me. Yes, Eric McCormack appears as a character in Shelf Monkey. Once I got over the shock of finding myself there and settled in for the long haul, I thought: What a literate, witty, suspenseful, alternate world Corey Redekop’s created. I’m not so sure I want to be rescued from it!"Eric McCormack, author, The Dutch Wife , on Shelf Monkey
"A playful — yet very serious — ode to bibliophilia. Corey Redekop writes with energy and imagination, deft little jabs that go straight to the solar plexus. I laughed, and thought — a great deal — reading Shelf Monkey."Paul Quarrington, author, Galveston, The Ravine, on Shelf Monkey
"I read several promising first novels in 2007, all so different that I am unable to choose a favorite...Corey Redekop provided this year's gonzo fun with his Shelf Monkey, an utterly enjoyable novel about radical bookworms."Jeff Vandermeer, author, City of Saints and Madmen , on Shelf Monkey
"... stylistically playful ... reminiscent of Stephen King's approach in Carrie. That it feels neither redundant nor artificial is a testament to Redekop's control over his material and his ability to push his story effortlessly forward.What is most praiseworthy about Shelf Monkey is its tone, which is blackly comic, and not afraid to get its hands dirty ... bracing and edgy and skirts the line of cruelty without ever quite tripping over it ... Redekop plays with this tension nicely throughout the novel, providing a critique of a literary culture that prizes shallowness and false sentiment over an authentic engagement with difficult texts, while at the same time assuring all of us who love books that, whatever our literary tastes or predilictions, and for better or for worse, we're all in this together."Steven W. Beattie, That Shakespeherian Rag, on Shelf Monkey
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 50 reviews
August 31, 2024
Periodically I vow to never again waste my time reading anything about zombies, vampires (sparkly or otherwise), and in particular absolutely avoid anything to do with Jane Austen and/or Abraham Lincoln and vampires.
Just as regularly, after a cooling off period, I break that ridiculous vow.
And so, I picked up "Husk" and have to say — I did not puke while reading this book. I did however find it impressive and hard to put down. I generally find satires start with an original approach and then become less interesting. The novel Husk appeared to hit a plateau with the Tim Burton movie and Duane the boyfriend but the plateau was really just a brief red herring on the road to a major plot twist and another whole layer of meaning. All in all an astonishing accomplishment.
Husk takes the zombie tropes and places them squarely into the real world, and thereby addresses a number of burning questions: How do the walking undead keep from falling apart? Can a zombie find a job? Are zombies horny? Is a zombie a person in the legal sense? And most importantly, do zombies poop? There are plenty of gruesome details here, lovingly rendered. As I say, I did not puke, but I'm sure I looked awfully disgusted. If the facts of life are gross, the zombie facts of life (or death) are even grosser. Reading Husk is somewhat like the experience of a fairground ride; one finishes and says That's horrible! ... Let's do it again!
If I was better read in contemporary works of zombies and vampires I suspect that I might have found the odd literary reference here and there. I did pick up on two Vonneguts, compressed into one simple:
And so it goes. Hi ho.
Just as regularly, after a cooling off period, I break that ridiculous vow.
And so, I picked up "Husk" and have to say — I did not puke while reading this book. I did however find it impressive and hard to put down. I generally find satires start with an original approach and then become less interesting. The novel Husk appeared to hit a plateau with the Tim Burton movie and Duane the boyfriend but the plateau was really just a brief red herring on the road to a major plot twist and another whole layer of meaning. All in all an astonishing accomplishment.
Husk takes the zombie tropes and places them squarely into the real world, and thereby addresses a number of burning questions: How do the walking undead keep from falling apart? Can a zombie find a job? Are zombies horny? Is a zombie a person in the legal sense? And most importantly, do zombies poop? There are plenty of gruesome details here, lovingly rendered. As I say, I did not puke, but I'm sure I looked awfully disgusted. If the facts of life are gross, the zombie facts of life (or death) are even grosser. Reading Husk is somewhat like the experience of a fairground ride; one finishes and says That's horrible! ... Let's do it again!
If I was better read in contemporary works of zombies and vampires I suspect that I might have found the odd literary reference here and there. I did pick up on two Vonneguts, compressed into one simple:
And so it goes. Hi ho.
February 11, 2019
I laughed so hard at the ending. As good as it could've gotten, I think. It wouldn't have made sense in the style of the book, for Duane and Sheldon to have lived happily ever after or some bullshit.
This book is definitely not for the weak of stomach. A fantastic tale of pointless description of still purposeful gore. I love it. And a refreshing take on zombies. I always enjoy a good intelligible zombie, like Liv Moore. Plus, I'm not a New Brunswicker but living in the province makes me proud to think such a well-versed novelist resides an hour away from me. Looking forward to checking out Shelf Monkey! I love finding authors that are Palahniuk-esque. ❤
This book is definitely not for the weak of stomach. A fantastic tale of pointless description of still purposeful gore. I love it. And a refreshing take on zombies. I always enjoy a good intelligible zombie, like Liv Moore. Plus, I'm not a New Brunswicker but living in the province makes me proud to think such a well-versed novelist resides an hour away from me. Looking forward to checking out Shelf Monkey! I love finding authors that are Palahniuk-esque. ❤
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 24, 2012
The perfect mix of gross and hilarity. Husk truly is the "Great Canadian Gay Mennonite Zombie" novel.
August 4, 2021
In one week I’ve gone from mother-turned-dog (Nightbitch) to gay actor-turned-zombie with this weirdly enjoyable novel. I surprisingly liked reading this, it’s fast paced and never short of gore. I never pictured myself as the zombie novel type but Husk made me rethink that! Definitely a worthy read if you like gore and gay zombies.
November 28, 2019
Delightfully grotesque with thought-provoking philosophy to chew on (pun intended). Imagine
I Am Legend
meets Young Frankenstein.
April 15, 2021
I really didn't know what to expect when starting this book but it was free on audible so I figured it was worth a try!
Husk explores life and purpose through the eyes of a walking corpse. The main character struggles with finding jobs, searching for love and defining morals all while facing the daily struggles of being a zombie. This book was such a neat plotline that I've never heard of in a book or movie before. It's worth the read but be warned, it's a bit odd and may not be for everyone.
Husk explores life and purpose through the eyes of a walking corpse. The main character struggles with finding jobs, searching for love and defining morals all while facing the daily struggles of being a zombie. This book was such a neat plotline that I've never heard of in a book or movie before. It's worth the read but be warned, it's a bit odd and may not be for everyone.
February 10, 2013
Zombies are hip. They're in now, the way vampires were in 15 minutes ago. What is it about the undead that appeals to us? Gamers know how prominently zombies figure in today's culture. As the last time I played a video game it was on an Atari console, I was utterly oblivious. It was serendipitous that the charms of a video game called Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 were revealed to me by a work colleague's 14 year old son who is an aficionado. In BO2 the player finds him/herself in a post-apocalyptic world populated by killer zombies wanting to feast on his flesh. Fortunately, each player is armed to the teeth with every imaginable weapon and a potentially endless supply of ammunition. The result is a never ending orgy of gory carnage. My young friend's revelation completely altered my view of the novel Husk by Corey Redekop. I already felt that Husk was one of the most enjoyable novels I'd read in a while. Using exuberant prose, a satirical viewpoint and darkly sly humour, Redekop makes a devastating statement on modern consumer society along the lines of the classic B-movie "Dawn of the Dead" (my era) in which zombies invade a shopping mall. I get the point that consumer/entertainment culture subsumes and mesmerizes us into a self-indulgent stupor, driving an innately self-destructive instinct that morphs us into insensate, ravenous sub/superhumans. But I had no idea that there was something else going on in Husk, an altogether more subversive ambition. By flipping the perspective around and taking the zombie's point of view, making him a thinking, feeling, sympathetic being, and doing it in a writing style that is vibrant and lively, Redekop is ironically transforming the sense-deadening, ultra-violent culture of the screen that obsesses millions upon millions of mostly young men into something that approaches art. Sheldon, or 'Shel' as he likes to be called (ha ha) is a gay zombie with a heart. We know this from the first pages when he awakens mid-autopsy, his organs removed from the cavern of his body, and after ripping the arms off the attendant and getting ready to flee, hesitates to retrieve his blood-pump from the floor; he may not physically need it, but he won't leave it behind. Husk is a also scathing satire of the celebrity industry that feeds the pop-culture meat-grinder; shlock-producing directors and manipulative agents, 'reality' tv that isn't real, and talk shows that are dysfunctional freak-shows. This, as it turns out, works to the advantage of a zombie actor trying to resuscitate a moribund career. Redekop is a smart, prodigiously talented prose stylist. He takes gleeky (geeky + glee) delight in describing biological matters, for instance, exactly how the zombie who has no functioning organs, whose veins are filled with formaldehyde and whose muscles should be useless atrophied slabs, manages to move, speak, eat and defecate. And that's another of the many pleasures in reading this novel; Reading about someone whose basic bodily functions provide a challenge reminds us that we are feeling, breathing, flesh and blood beings who can rejoice in the miracle of our bodily capacities. I know this doesn't sound like much of an insight, but part of Redekop's literary achievement is to show how we've lost touch with our essential physical selves in a world in which so much of our time is spent in our own headspace, in front of a screen, in the realm of virtual reality, or subsumed in glossy celebrity image-based media. Maybe pop-culture is ultra violent and sexually charged precisely because we so desperately crave genuine physical experience, the ultimate irony. My one gripe with the novel is the ending. While Redekop brilliantly walks the fine line between high art/low culture for most of the novel, in the concluding sections he succumbs to self-indulgence with a climax that matches Black Ops 2 for absurd over-the-top grotesqueness. The core of the story, Sheldon and the fascinating questions he raises about human frailty and the nature of consciousness, gets lost in a torrent of horrorshow violence mimicking a CGI-generated movie.
One last note. My Amazon-ordered copy arrived with inconsistent print quality, some pages were faded. Fortunately, the publisher offers a digital copy free with proof of purchase of a print copy. For a guy like me whose eyes aren't what they used to be and who reads by a dubious bedside light, the ability to enlarge font is a godsend.
One last note. My Amazon-ordered copy arrived with inconsistent print quality, some pages were faded. Fortunately, the publisher offers a digital copy free with proof of purchase of a print copy. For a guy like me whose eyes aren't what they used to be and who reads by a dubious bedside light, the ability to enlarge font is a godsend.
January 13, 2013
This was one of the most original books I've read.
Corey Redekop brings the zombie genre into new territory, granting his lead baffling self-awareness as he literally tries to piece his life together after waking mid-autopsy in Toronto General Hospital. For such fantastic circumstances, it was impressively realistic.
It even had me questioning certain cornerstones of the modern zombie myth, such as moaning: without the need for oxygen, thus no need for breathing, why are zombies always moaning and groaning as they relentlessly pursue human flesh? Sheldon rehearses his speech with care, with grim results: "I curved my tongue against the roof of my mouth to get a hiss of air going, and contracted my lungs, forming my lips and tongue around my name: SSsssshhhheeellleeee. It was a gruesome utterance, a word of putrefaction, splatting heavily on the floor like clotted cream gone rancid."
The book tackles some pretty heavy topics while maintaining a wonderful humorous tone. Sheldon is conflicted when killing his dinner, but is powerless to overcome it. Themes such as human rights and even eating disorders are touched on with humour as Sheldon comes to terms with his new needs for sustenance (“Who knew death could lead to an eating disorder?”).
That the book takes place in my hometown was just an added amusement. It wasn't located so heavily that I felt it was cheesy, but just enough to be identifiable. There occasionally seemed to be undue importance given to American government organizations. Sure, he's an actor that occasionally works in the states. But wouldn't he be more worried about CSIS than the FBI/CIA who don't have any jurisdiction in Canada? And if he's so worried about them and not the Canadian government, then why go down there in the first place? I grant that this is probably to increase the appeal of the book down south, so I can't fault the author too heavily.
All in all it was a fantastic book that treats the zombie myth in a new way. I can’t help but wonder if this might spawn a new era of YA/Crossover books à-la-Twilight: The mysterious shambling zombie-teen enters the cafeteria, where the only appetizing thing he sees is Mary-Sue. “A guy who finally wants me for my brains, and not my generic lacklustre appearance!”
Corey Redekop brings the zombie genre into new territory, granting his lead baffling self-awareness as he literally tries to piece his life together after waking mid-autopsy in Toronto General Hospital. For such fantastic circumstances, it was impressively realistic.
It even had me questioning certain cornerstones of the modern zombie myth, such as moaning: without the need for oxygen, thus no need for breathing, why are zombies always moaning and groaning as they relentlessly pursue human flesh? Sheldon rehearses his speech with care, with grim results: "I curved my tongue against the roof of my mouth to get a hiss of air going, and contracted my lungs, forming my lips and tongue around my name: SSsssshhhheeellleeee. It was a gruesome utterance, a word of putrefaction, splatting heavily on the floor like clotted cream gone rancid."
The book tackles some pretty heavy topics while maintaining a wonderful humorous tone. Sheldon is conflicted when killing his dinner, but is powerless to overcome it. Themes such as human rights and even eating disorders are touched on with humour as Sheldon comes to terms with his new needs for sustenance (“Who knew death could lead to an eating disorder?”).
That the book takes place in my hometown was just an added amusement. It wasn't located so heavily that I felt it was cheesy, but just enough to be identifiable. There occasionally seemed to be undue importance given to American government organizations. Sure, he's an actor that occasionally works in the states. But wouldn't he be more worried about CSIS than the FBI/CIA who don't have any jurisdiction in Canada? And if he's so worried about them and not the Canadian government, then why go down there in the first place? I grant that this is probably to increase the appeal of the book down south, so I can't fault the author too heavily.
All in all it was a fantastic book that treats the zombie myth in a new way. I can’t help but wonder if this might spawn a new era of YA/Crossover books à-la-Twilight: The mysterious shambling zombie-teen enters the cafeteria, where the only appetizing thing he sees is Mary-Sue. “A guy who finally wants me for my brains, and not my generic lacklustre appearance!”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 12, 2012
In the genre of speculative fiction, the best authors posit an alternative universe and make it convincing by populating it with believable characters whose struggles mimic or mirror our own. This alternative universe can be familiar, whimsical, or outlandish, or simply a place where strange and far-fetched things happen. This doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that the author’s confident treatment of the material dispels any doubts and draws the reader in. The author knows the events he’s describing can’t happen (the reader knows this too or else he’s in big trouble), but must never as much as hint to the reader that this is the case. Once the story grabs us the willing suspension of disbelief kicks in and all is forgiven. Such is Corey Redekop’s first novel, Husk, the story of Sheldon Funk, struggling small time actor turned zombie. Sheldon suffers a messy and ignominious death in a bus washroom, revives on the autopsy table, and escapes into Toronto of the here and now. Sheldon the zombie is unique: unlike others of his kind he is capable of assessing his actions and controlling his appetites. He knows eating people is wrong, it’s just that sometimes he can’t help himself. As a zombie Sheldon senses an opportunity and resumes his acting career, landing gigs he would never have had a hope of getting prior to his death. His agent is suitably impressed and pushes him until Sheldon is a headliner. With fame and fortune, however, comes unwanted scrutiny, the consequences of which lead Sheldon down a path he never saw coming. Redekop’s novel is by turns hilarious and horrific. Certain scenes are, quite literally—when you read the book you’ll see what I mean—stomach turning. Gore and gruesomeness abound. This might all seem like good fun. But there is a serious message lurking at the core of this novel, one regarding life and death and overweening ambition. In the blood-spattered pages of Husk Corey Redekop displays the confidence of a seasoned novelist. His concept is bizarre, his vision grotesque, but never once does he stray from his chosen path. The result is memorable and unceasingly entertaining.
February 6, 2013
Well, it isn't for everyone, but that should be obvious from the synopsis. This isn't the Bridges of Madison County. But if you can handle a little (a lot) gore, enjoy dark satire, zom-b-movies, groaners of jokes, saying "I can't believe the author just wrote that," and don't get too attached to characters (cats excluded) or particular bodyparts, then you may find yourself turning pages rapidly. Husk is more plot- than thought-driven, which disappointed me at first, but once that was let go I had few other complaints and enjoyed the narrator's often puzzled, often defeated view of things.
The book falls into that in-between area of genre fiction meets literary fiction (think James Morrow) and should please enough readers in both camps. Kudos to the author for sticking to his vision and keeping things lively and surprising - sometimes shocking- throughout. Such an outrageous storyline can't be easy to keep on a leash.
The book falls into that in-between area of genre fiction meets literary fiction (think James Morrow) and should please enough readers in both camps. Kudos to the author for sticking to his vision and keeping things lively and surprising - sometimes shocking- throughout. Such an outrageous storyline can't be easy to keep on a leash.
March 1, 2013
Corey Redekop’s Husk is a visceral, body novel with philosophical ponderings on existence. Redekop’s protagonist is a queer-oriented zombie actor, trapped in consciousness as his body deteriorates around him. The reader is put into the position of experiencing death and resurrection into a desiccated body and Redekop captures the feel of that experience – the emotional, physical, and psychological upheaval that would accompany the shift into a new form of bodily existence. His zombie protagonist, Sheldon, pines over the simple things that his body used to be able to do like sneezing, breathing, and yawning and he becomes obsessed with these lost experiences and the feeling that they were linked to his human experience.
If you are interested in reading a larger review, you can check it out on my website at http://speculatingcanada.wordpress.co...
If you are interested in reading a larger review, you can check it out on my website at http://speculatingcanada.wordpress.co...
February 28, 2013
I started this book in a bus terminal on 2 January, not knowing that's where the narrator becomes infected with whatever causes him to be a zombie. Odd, that.
Husk is amusing in places, though it loses some steam in the middle where Sheldon, the gay Mennonite actor turned zombie, is going through his celebrity phase, having come out to his agent and then the world. Nothing in the novel rises to profundity and the language isn't particularly creative, but the story will carry you along on a sometimes imaginative ride.
28 February 2013: just put up a longer review of Husk at The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/...?
Husk is amusing in places, though it loses some steam in the middle where Sheldon, the gay Mennonite actor turned zombie, is going through his celebrity phase, having come out to his agent and then the world. Nothing in the novel rises to profundity and the language isn't particularly creative, but the story will carry you along on a sometimes imaginative ride.
28 February 2013: just put up a longer review of Husk at The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/data/...?
October 13, 2012
I didn't know the zombie genre could be turned inside out or that I could care about a zombie - but Corey Redekop has made both things happen in Husk. Don't wait, read this book now!
August 26, 2019
Best zombie novel ever!
June 16, 2013
different, gory, good.....
April 15, 2022
Gruesome, funny, deep, eldritch, and goofy all at the same time. Imagine a riff on all the zombie classics plus some interesting new additions. A great time.
August 24, 2024
Husk remains one of my favorite books that surprised me. I have a deep core memory surrounding this book. I remember my road trip to Tofino, British Columbia where I visited a small secondhand bookstore. I picked this book up on a whim and bought it because of the cover art. I read it throughout the entire trip, in the cabin, on the beach, and during the entire road trip home. Outlandish and emotional, this humorous novel centers on Sheldon Funk, a struggling actor who dies in a bus restroom only to awaken during his autopsy and attack the coroner. Fleeing into the wintry streets of Toronto, Sheldon realizes he’s now a zombie—as if he didn’t have enough on his plate already. His last audition, reading for the reality television series House Bingo, had gone disastrously wrong. His mother is in the late stages of dementia, his savings are depleted, his agent couldn’t care less, and his boyfriend is little more than a set of nice abs. All Sheldon has to his name is a house he can barely hold onto and a cat that is more pillow than mammal. Now he also has to contend with decomposition, the scent of the open grave, and an unending appetite for human flesh—and on top of it all, there’s another audition in the morning. In order to survive his death without literally falling apart, Sheldon must find a way to combine his old life with his new addiction, which would be a lot easier if he could stop eating vagrants. A hysterical take on fame, love, religion, politics, and appetite, this is the story of the “everyzombie” people long to be. Content warning for death, dementia and gore. I loved this book for having a gay protagonist who’s story and conflicts have nothing to do with being homosexual. I loved the humorous story and writing style. Sheldon was a hilarious character and I couldn’t help but root for him, even when I shouldn’t. I loved where the story began and where the story ended. The story took some ridiculous turns but embraced the hilarity of the storyline and situations. I would love to reread this now that I’m older and can see some of the deeper commentary that went over my head the first time that I read this book. I highly recommend this book if you’d love a good zombie romp.
December 26, 2022
I actually got my copy from the author, in a trade for my beat-up old paperback of Halloween III: Season of the Witch.
I enjoyed reading HUSK, both for its satirical look at the world of filmmaking, as well as escalating gruesomeness of the main character learning how to exist as a zombie. The book covers a lot of ground, and I like how the prose isn't sparse, taking its time to allow you to linger over what is happening and its implications.
The ending
I enjoyed reading HUSK, both for its satirical look at the world of filmmaking, as well as escalating gruesomeness of the main character learning how to exist as a zombie. The book covers a lot of ground, and I like how the prose isn't sparse, taking its time to allow you to linger over what is happening and its implications.
The ending
April 4, 2022
I picked this one off the shelf randomly at a used bookstore and it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The writing style wasn't necessarily my favorite, not the biggest fan of that Palahniuk flavored crass-comedy or the amount of pop culture references, but the second half of the book makes it for me. It devolves into some existential/absurdist type drama that I actually liked very much.
March 1, 2022
Fun twist on the zombie mythos.
July 5, 2020
I’ve never read a book with this perspective of the Zombie story quite like this one. You follow Sheldon through his Zombie change and how he deals with being a zombie actor. This book definitely takes a few turns I never saw coming. Overall I loved it and will be awaiting Corey Redekop’s next book.
December 15, 2012
Beyond the whole zombie thing, this novel does a great job of looking at our culture with a critical eye. It was well worth the read.
page 150-151:
The furor was immediate. I was a fraud. I was the liberal media's middle finger to an increasingly gullible middle-America audience craving the next fleeting distraction from a withering recession. Where was the proof? Where was the death certificate? In a world dependent upon sound bites and ambush journalism to make any sort of impact on citizenry, a series of papers and photographs would no longer cut it, not for something of this magnitude. Not nearly sexy enough. Pundits claimed the whole thing reeked of alien autopsy specials, seizing upon every aspect of the event and gleefully covering it with ridicule.
Conversely, there was the alreay-sizable contingent of theological devotees convinced that I was God's emissary. or god himself, or some type of deity. Religious shut-ins clamored for articles of my clothing. Goths claimed I was evidence that Hell was closed for business and its patrons primed to dig their way back up. I was hope for salvation and/or the beginning of the end.
page 150-151:
The furor was immediate. I was a fraud. I was the liberal media's middle finger to an increasingly gullible middle-America audience craving the next fleeting distraction from a withering recession. Where was the proof? Where was the death certificate? In a world dependent upon sound bites and ambush journalism to make any sort of impact on citizenry, a series of papers and photographs would no longer cut it, not for something of this magnitude. Not nearly sexy enough. Pundits claimed the whole thing reeked of alien autopsy specials, seizing upon every aspect of the event and gleefully covering it with ridicule.
Conversely, there was the alreay-sizable contingent of theological devotees convinced that I was God's emissary. or god himself, or some type of deity. Religious shut-ins clamored for articles of my clothing. Goths claimed I was evidence that Hell was closed for business and its patrons primed to dig their way back up. I was hope for salvation and/or the beginning of the end.
July 10, 2013
I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed Husk, for the most part. It was my first zombie book. That being said, here is what I liked about this novel: I loved the concept of a zombie book narrated by the zombie, as it happens, and all of the confusion that accompanies the transformation. The narrator/newly deceased/zombie had an honest and straight forward voice that gives you just enough to have a love/dislike feel for the guy. It was also an engrossing read, albeit very gruesome at times (weak stomachs beware).
Here was what I didn't like: I really see no reason the author dove so deeply into political issues. If the character is from Canada, why is he so angry at American politics? I can kind of understand delving into religion (the whole undead/zombie/morals and morality kind of brings up religious questions). If I wanted to read a book bashing politics I could pick up the latest Rush Limbaugh or Chris Matthews (pick your poison) and have pages of well founded political rants. It all just seemed out of place and a way for the author to air his irk of a specific system.
Here was what I didn't like: I really see no reason the author dove so deeply into political issues. If the character is from Canada, why is he so angry at American politics? I can kind of understand delving into religion (the whole undead/zombie/morals and morality kind of brings up religious questions). If I wanted to read a book bashing politics I could pick up the latest Rush Limbaugh or Chris Matthews (pick your poison) and have pages of well founded political rants. It all just seemed out of place and a way for the author to air his irk of a specific system.
February 16, 2013
It's taken me four months to get through this book. It just isn't my kind of book. Kudos to Redekop for getting the anatomy right, although, it was all those details that slowed down the read. I do think the story would make an amazing movie! All those pages of detail devoted to human anatomy, physiology, fortification of rotting body parts, and zombie diet reduced to sheer action and images would get the message across without bogging it down. And may I suggest Ben Stiller for the role of Sheldon?
Don't get me wrong. The book was fun and entertaining much of the time, just not what I look for in a story. I preferred Redekop's first book, Shelf Monkey. Redekop himself is hilarious. I saw him do a reading and wondered if he missed his calling as an actor/comedien?
Don't get me wrong. The book was fun and entertaining much of the time, just not what I look for in a story. I preferred Redekop's first book, Shelf Monkey. Redekop himself is hilarious. I saw him do a reading and wondered if he missed his calling as an actor/comedien?
June 9, 2013
I really enjoyed Husk! I'm a huge zombie fan and it was nice to read about a more human zombie that wasn't entirely love related like Warm Bodies. The fact that this author is Canadian is great as I do like to support authors from my own country!
I really like Sheldon's character and especially the relationship with his cat. I'm finding that lately I'm really drawn to the character relationships that others might gloss over but Sheldon and Sofa are perfect together.
Potentially one of my favourite things about Husk is that each section is classified as one of the stages of grief, beginning with Shock and ending with Acceptance. It was nice to go through the process with Sheldon.
I would very much recommend Husk :)
I really like Sheldon's character and especially the relationship with his cat. I'm finding that lately I'm really drawn to the character relationships that others might gloss over but Sheldon and Sofa are perfect together.
Potentially one of my favourite things about Husk is that each section is classified as one of the stages of grief, beginning with Shock and ending with Acceptance. It was nice to go through the process with Sheldon.
I would very much recommend Husk :)
March 25, 2013
Bravo, Mr. Redekop. You took an out-of-work, gay, Canadian actor, turned him into a zombie, and then made me fall in love with him.
I must admit I was concerned within the first 50 pages of this beautiful novel that I would not see the hilarity that has become your trademark. But you did not disappoint.
The audition alone was worth it's weight in literary gold.
But there were some touching moments littered throughout. Moments that made me want to pull out Sheldon's heart to confirm that it had indeed stopped beating. This soul-less character had more personality then most protagonists I have encountered in quite some time.
Good job, Corey. Now...what's next?
September 14, 2018
It's hard to review a book.
But Husk is a good book.
Once I started to read, I started to care about Sheldon Funk.
A Story of finding your place when the world is changing
It's about wanting to stop to catch a breathe, if such a thing exists.
It's about a desire for comfort of a dead man, who's not dead.
This is a unique journey
It's not exactly a fresh start, but it's a beginning.
It's romantic and heart breaking, I think. It's hard to know when you care so much about the main Protagonist, Sheldon Funk.
Although, I liked it, the ending was a bit too rush, as if the author (Corey Redekop) just wants to finish it. But over all experience was good.
But Husk is a good book.
Once I started to read, I started to care about Sheldon Funk.
A Story of finding your place when the world is changing
It's about wanting to stop to catch a breathe, if such a thing exists.
It's about a desire for comfort of a dead man, who's not dead.
This is a unique journey
It's not exactly a fresh start, but it's a beginning.
It's romantic and heart breaking, I think. It's hard to know when you care so much about the main Protagonist, Sheldon Funk.
Although, I liked it, the ending was a bit too rush, as if the author (Corey Redekop) just wants to finish it. But over all experience was good.
March 10, 2013
Humourous take on the zombie genre. This is a story about a thinking man's zombie. Some people will like the development and riff on the zombie genre, while others might not.
Pros- Canadian zombie novel, set in Toronto, and the main character is an actor. :)
I thought the story was good, but the book had way too much intestines, gore and entrails for me. Yes, it's a zombie novel. I guess I'm really more of a vampire person. :)
Pros- Canadian zombie novel, set in Toronto, and the main character is an actor. :)
I thought the story was good, but the book had way too much intestines, gore and entrails for me. Yes, it's a zombie novel. I guess I'm really more of a vampire person. :)
January 29, 2014
Fun with zombies! Poor Sheldon wakes up in the middle of his own autopsy, undead, deranged and above all, peckish. Loved this take on the afterdeath. He has fun with it, but keeps a certain amount of seriousness and literariness about him all the while. This story went in all kinds of unexpected directions as the author poked and prodded at the boundaries of the genre and had some fun with this character. Highly recommend.
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