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I'm Not Dead: The Journals of Charles Dudley
On November 21st, 2015, a fiery storm transforms the landscape of New York City and the lives of its civilians. The island of Manhattan is under martial law. Neighboring boroughs are isolated without power or communication with the outside world.
There is CHAOS all around.
Charles Dudley, a survivor, writes this intimate and disturbing account about personal demons and deadly encounters with treacherous citizens, predatory humanoids, and extraordinary creatures in this End of Days memoir.
(Mature Audience-17+)
There is CHAOS all around.
Charles Dudley, a survivor, writes this intimate and disturbing account about personal demons and deadly encounters with treacherous citizens, predatory humanoids, and extraordinary creatures in this End of Days memoir.
(Mature Audience-17+)
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 3, 2015
25 people are currently reading
127 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
October 16, 2020
I'm Not Dead: The Journals of Charles Dudley by Artie Cabrera is a guy chronicles of his life after a disaster. He describes his thoughts, his neighbors, the craziness of what is going on in the neighborhood. I times I wondered if he was just insane or if it was really happening. He seems to be really losing his mind but I guess anyone would. It was a bit confusing in places. The ending was, well, it didn't make sense unless he was crazy. I don't know, wasn't worth my interest to go back and sort it out.
March 9, 2013
The first thing that I will tell a potential reader is that this book is not for the individual who is easily offended by profanity. However, if profanity either does not bother you or if you can take it for what it is and let it build the character as he was meant to be portrayed, then you are in for a great ride.
As you may gather by the title, this is in a journal format. With this in mind, do not expect to get your traditional story. Do not expect to discover why things are the way they are. For the most part you are getting one man’s perspective of one hell of a messed up world he finds himself in. You’re living in this world with him, if only for a little while. And once you are finished… you find yourself wanting back in. As masochistic as that may sound, it is the truth.
I love how Charles Dudley recalls an event or series of events and then almost steps back and discusses how it affected him and the raw emotions evoked… not that he sits and talks about his feelings, but the way that he relays the facts, the internal struggles bleed through and… you just feel it.
The jumping around doesn’t bother me very much. At least not like with other authors/stories. I think that it is because each “journal” entry is so bold, so complete, that I don’t feel the NEED to “connect the dots.” It doesn’t need to flow together completely… to do so would seem wrong in some way. No, it is perfect as is in my opinion.
As you may gather by the title, this is in a journal format. With this in mind, do not expect to get your traditional story. Do not expect to discover why things are the way they are. For the most part you are getting one man’s perspective of one hell of a messed up world he finds himself in. You’re living in this world with him, if only for a little while. And once you are finished… you find yourself wanting back in. As masochistic as that may sound, it is the truth.
I love how Charles Dudley recalls an event or series of events and then almost steps back and discusses how it affected him and the raw emotions evoked… not that he sits and talks about his feelings, but the way that he relays the facts, the internal struggles bleed through and… you just feel it.
The jumping around doesn’t bother me very much. At least not like with other authors/stories. I think that it is because each “journal” entry is so bold, so complete, that I don’t feel the NEED to “connect the dots.” It doesn’t need to flow together completely… to do so would seem wrong in some way. No, it is perfect as is in my opinion.
May 13, 2015
First things first: This novel does contain quite a bit of language, some descriptive sexual scenes and some of the goriest slaughters of a human corpse that I have ever seen. So, if you are not a fan of the aforementioned, I feel sorry you. You are missing out on a brilliant piece of literature.
Cabrera really nails it with this debut novel. The novel is written in a journal format, seriously... (Don't let the title fool you). Charles Dudley takes us on a journey, reliving his awful past and trying to figure out where it all went wrong, to the present day, where everything continues to go wrong and he is struggling to survive. I have never read anything like 'I'm Not Dead'. The reason being that I don't think there is another novel like it. It's no zombie novel, though you could argue that the Deviants are 'zombie-like' in their demeanor. It is a novel about survival, but it is so much more than that. It's about always wanting to and striving to do the right thing, but always coming up short. It's finding things out about yourself that you never knew existed. Or if you did, it's been buried so deep that it takes unwanted coercion from others to bring it back to the surface.
I could go on and on about this novel, but I'm going to stop short. Pick up a copy, read it, enjoy it and get ready for the sequel. Cabrera is definitely an author to keep on your TBR list!
Cabrera really nails it with this debut novel. The novel is written in a journal format, seriously... (Don't let the title fool you). Charles Dudley takes us on a journey, reliving his awful past and trying to figure out where it all went wrong, to the present day, where everything continues to go wrong and he is struggling to survive. I have never read anything like 'I'm Not Dead'. The reason being that I don't think there is another novel like it. It's no zombie novel, though you could argue that the Deviants are 'zombie-like' in their demeanor. It is a novel about survival, but it is so much more than that. It's about always wanting to and striving to do the right thing, but always coming up short. It's finding things out about yourself that you never knew existed. Or if you did, it's been buried so deep that it takes unwanted coercion from others to bring it back to the surface.
I could go on and on about this novel, but I'm going to stop short. Pick up a copy, read it, enjoy it and get ready for the sequel. Cabrera is definitely an author to keep on your TBR list!
March 14, 2013
Trying to figure out how to write this review took a lot of thought. I'm Not Dead: The Journals of Charles Dudley is difficult to review, because reviews by nature are comparative, and I have never read anything like this before. The closest thing for me to compare this to is Richard Matheson's I am Legend, which is one of my all time favorites. I'm Not Dead, however has a much more real and identifiable feel to it. It is written the way my brain works, meaning it can sound fancy when it wants to, but most often it skews more toward vulgarity and self-interest. In other words, you won't find anything else like this at Barnes & Noble. Huzzah for the self publishing trend as it has delivered us yet another talented author!
I'll address the language first to get it out of the way. This is not a book for the easily offended. Packed front to back with profanity, violence and rape, it is not something I would hand to my grandmother to read. I don't generally use a lot of profanity in my everyday life, but don't be mislead. My brain curses like a drunken sailor with a crippling case of Tourette's, and I found that my thoughts kind of echoed those of Dudley. That being said, through Charles Dudley's view of the vileness and horror that unfolds on New York City, Cabrera has crafted a gripping tale.
This is not a post-apocalyptic tale of society rebuilding, nor is it a zombie tale, although the Deviants certainly have some zombie-ish traits. It's just the story of how one average everyman deals with the end of the world, or at least the end of his world. His wife left him and took his daughter with her. So what if Charlie drank a little too much. Now, as everything in New York City falls apart around him, he would give absolutely everything just to see his little girl again, and know that she's safe.
By the half-way point of this book, I realized that I was not only completely identifying with the main character, but may actually be related to him. The hauntingly real experiences of Dudley's childhood and the way he reacts to the bizarre occurrences around him as an adult because of them ring so true, and many of them remind me of events from my own family's story.
The entire story is written in Journal form, so instead of getting a narrative from some omniscient being who can explain away all of your questions, you get one man's view of the events unfolding around him filtered through the warped lens of his traumatic childhood. Through all of his faults, vices, and errors, Dudley truly tries to do what he thinks is the right thing, and is easily one of the most raw, believable characters I have ever read. He isn't afraid to write those thoughts that you and I might have, but never voice out of desire for social acceptance. It's his journal and he explores the ideas most normal people would repress and never admit to, because if anybody else is reading it, he must be dead.
This was a phenomenal read and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. The teaser at the end looks like the sequel will go in a very different direction, and as long as Artie Cabrera is driving, I am ready to head in whatever direction he wants to go. Lead on, sir!
I'll address the language first to get it out of the way. This is not a book for the easily offended. Packed front to back with profanity, violence and rape, it is not something I would hand to my grandmother to read. I don't generally use a lot of profanity in my everyday life, but don't be mislead. My brain curses like a drunken sailor with a crippling case of Tourette's, and I found that my thoughts kind of echoed those of Dudley. That being said, through Charles Dudley's view of the vileness and horror that unfolds on New York City, Cabrera has crafted a gripping tale.
This is not a post-apocalyptic tale of society rebuilding, nor is it a zombie tale, although the Deviants certainly have some zombie-ish traits. It's just the story of how one average everyman deals with the end of the world, or at least the end of his world. His wife left him and took his daughter with her. So what if Charlie drank a little too much. Now, as everything in New York City falls apart around him, he would give absolutely everything just to see his little girl again, and know that she's safe.
By the half-way point of this book, I realized that I was not only completely identifying with the main character, but may actually be related to him. The hauntingly real experiences of Dudley's childhood and the way he reacts to the bizarre occurrences around him as an adult because of them ring so true, and many of them remind me of events from my own family's story.
The entire story is written in Journal form, so instead of getting a narrative from some omniscient being who can explain away all of your questions, you get one man's view of the events unfolding around him filtered through the warped lens of his traumatic childhood. Through all of his faults, vices, and errors, Dudley truly tries to do what he thinks is the right thing, and is easily one of the most raw, believable characters I have ever read. He isn't afraid to write those thoughts that you and I might have, but never voice out of desire for social acceptance. It's his journal and he explores the ideas most normal people would repress and never admit to, because if anybody else is reading it, he must be dead.
This was a phenomenal read and I am eagerly awaiting the sequel. The teaser at the end looks like the sequel will go in a very different direction, and as long as Artie Cabrera is driving, I am ready to head in whatever direction he wants to go. Lead on, sir!
March 27, 2013
I loved this book in a lot of different ways. I think it would be best for me to break this down into categories.
Story
This is a "hit the ground running" story. You start off in a sprint and learn the details as you go. Because of this you're on the edge of your seat the whole time as you piece together the facts through the eyes and journal entries of Charles Dudley. If I can offer any advice, it's this: assume nothing. This is not your typical zombie/monster/supernatural thriller. Just strap in, hold on, and do your best to keep up! I love the story and can't wait for more books in the series to come out!
Characters
As much as I love the story, I love the characters more, especially our protagonist, Charles Dudley. I didn't always like Charles but I always understood him. As readers, we are passengers in Charles' mind, and it is laid open and raw before us. Charles seems so real to me because he thinks and does things that we might not always like but which are completely authentic - the kinds of things that most of us think and do but don't talk about. Artie Cabrera is a great story teller, but in my opinion, he's an even better creator of living breathing characters. Charles is witty, embarrassing, interesting, vulgar, heroic, messy, and flawed - he is very real and relatable.
Scalability
When I find a great book I like to have more and more of it. The story of Charles Dudley isn't really his story alone, but a glimpse through his eyes at a much larger story. I can't wait for the next book to come out, and I hope that Mr. Cabrera keeps them coming for some time!
Access to the author
How often do you get to read a book and hit up the author in real time chat to ask him questions or just compliment him on a particularly amazing part of his book? Artie Cabrera is just beginning what I'm sure will be a long and successful career. Take my advice and hit him up on facebook. Part of what made my experience with this book so fantastic was chatting with Artie between chapters! (I didn't know him before buying his book.)
Summary
Plain and simple, I loved reading this book. Beginning, middle, and end, it was a great read. You feel for Charles, for the people he encounters. You're terrified with him, you laugh with him (sometimes at him), and your heart breaks for the pains he and his loved ones have endured. The story will suck you in and leave you wanting more. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, I HIGHLY recommend this book to mature readers. Do yourself a favor and buy it today!
Story
This is a "hit the ground running" story. You start off in a sprint and learn the details as you go. Because of this you're on the edge of your seat the whole time as you piece together the facts through the eyes and journal entries of Charles Dudley. If I can offer any advice, it's this: assume nothing. This is not your typical zombie/monster/supernatural thriller. Just strap in, hold on, and do your best to keep up! I love the story and can't wait for more books in the series to come out!
Characters
As much as I love the story, I love the characters more, especially our protagonist, Charles Dudley. I didn't always like Charles but I always understood him. As readers, we are passengers in Charles' mind, and it is laid open and raw before us. Charles seems so real to me because he thinks and does things that we might not always like but which are completely authentic - the kinds of things that most of us think and do but don't talk about. Artie Cabrera is a great story teller, but in my opinion, he's an even better creator of living breathing characters. Charles is witty, embarrassing, interesting, vulgar, heroic, messy, and flawed - he is very real and relatable.
Scalability
When I find a great book I like to have more and more of it. The story of Charles Dudley isn't really his story alone, but a glimpse through his eyes at a much larger story. I can't wait for the next book to come out, and I hope that Mr. Cabrera keeps them coming for some time!
Access to the author
How often do you get to read a book and hit up the author in real time chat to ask him questions or just compliment him on a particularly amazing part of his book? Artie Cabrera is just beginning what I'm sure will be a long and successful career. Take my advice and hit him up on facebook. Part of what made my experience with this book so fantastic was chatting with Artie between chapters! (I didn't know him before buying his book.)
Summary
Plain and simple, I loved reading this book. Beginning, middle, and end, it was a great read. You feel for Charles, for the people he encounters. You're terrified with him, you laugh with him (sometimes at him), and your heart breaks for the pains he and his loved ones have endured. The story will suck you in and leave you wanting more. This was a thoroughly enjoyable read, I HIGHLY recommend this book to mature readers. Do yourself a favor and buy it today!
May 9, 2013
I got more than I bargained for, and that's a good thing. I thought I was getting zombie apocalypse, but that wasn't it at all... This was much more scary than any piddling zombie apocalypse.
While I read this book, things were going bump in the night. The roar of a rainstorm was the howl of a nightmarish beast outside my window. The scratch of a twig on the stucco conjured visions of thorns and hooks covering the carapace and limbs of someone who used to be my neighbor.
After I read this book, the lights behind my tightly closed eyelids conjured dripping Deviant faces.
Good horror uses our own visions of terror to frighten us. The gory scene of a white van on the side of the freeway with a dented in front end spattered in red--probably the most gory thing I have seen with my own eyes. The scenes of gore in I'M NOT DEAD made me see things that revulsed me, but I kept driving, kept reading, unable to look away. This story conjured back all the quirky fears, the personal horrors. What we as readers supply with our own experiences and imaginations, Artie Cabrera weaves into frightfully good and disturbing horror.
Damn that was fun. Also unexpected and shocking. Artie pulls no punches when he comes to sharing Charles Dudley's life with us -- there is some question as to when his fight for survival and the horrors he meets truly begin: Was it with the storm that destroyed much of the city, or the family that destroyed much of his life?
Oh yeah, it comes at you from every angle. Wear protective gear if you have any.
While I read this book, things were going bump in the night. The roar of a rainstorm was the howl of a nightmarish beast outside my window. The scratch of a twig on the stucco conjured visions of thorns and hooks covering the carapace and limbs of someone who used to be my neighbor.
After I read this book, the lights behind my tightly closed eyelids conjured dripping Deviant faces.
Good horror uses our own visions of terror to frighten us. The gory scene of a white van on the side of the freeway with a dented in front end spattered in red--probably the most gory thing I have seen with my own eyes. The scenes of gore in I'M NOT DEAD made me see things that revulsed me, but I kept driving, kept reading, unable to look away. This story conjured back all the quirky fears, the personal horrors. What we as readers supply with our own experiences and imaginations, Artie Cabrera weaves into frightfully good and disturbing horror.
Damn that was fun. Also unexpected and shocking. Artie pulls no punches when he comes to sharing Charles Dudley's life with us -- there is some question as to when his fight for survival and the horrors he meets truly begin: Was it with the storm that destroyed much of the city, or the family that destroyed much of his life?
Oh yeah, it comes at you from every angle. Wear protective gear if you have any.
March 8, 2013
Unconventional, Raw, and Disturbing
Hugh Howey, author of Wool, said it best during a Guardian Books podcast, “If you stick with what’s in the bookstores and what the publishers are giving you, there is a chance that you’ll find what you’re used to. If you go exploring and you read the samples and you listen to the people curating these wonderful indie voices, you’re gonna find unbelievable books that are different from anything else out there…It’s never been a better time to be a reader.”
I couldn’t agree more. And this is an unbelievable book that is different from anything else out there.
Forget the rules. If you want something conventional, this book may not be for you. Totally out of bounds, different, and filled with raw energy and talent. It’s unique. It’s graphic. It’s disturbing. It’s messy. It’s a shockingly fun read.
Charlie’s story rocked my very foundation. He had me enjoying things that I thought were forbidden, pulling for him the entire way. His story is written in a way that fuses extremely sensitive content with a touch of strange humor. Despite the humor, there were still a couple of times that I had no choice but to set the book down and cry. It’s not very often that a book affects me in this way, it’s that powerful.
This book would have earned 5 stars from me except that it jumps around way too much for my very linear brain. That is no fault of the author. The writing is fantastic.
Hugh Howey, author of Wool, said it best during a Guardian Books podcast, “If you stick with what’s in the bookstores and what the publishers are giving you, there is a chance that you’ll find what you’re used to. If you go exploring and you read the samples and you listen to the people curating these wonderful indie voices, you’re gonna find unbelievable books that are different from anything else out there…It’s never been a better time to be a reader.”
I couldn’t agree more. And this is an unbelievable book that is different from anything else out there.
Forget the rules. If you want something conventional, this book may not be for you. Totally out of bounds, different, and filled with raw energy and talent. It’s unique. It’s graphic. It’s disturbing. It’s messy. It’s a shockingly fun read.
Charlie’s story rocked my very foundation. He had me enjoying things that I thought were forbidden, pulling for him the entire way. His story is written in a way that fuses extremely sensitive content with a touch of strange humor. Despite the humor, there were still a couple of times that I had no choice but to set the book down and cry. It’s not very often that a book affects me in this way, it’s that powerful.
This book would have earned 5 stars from me except that it jumps around way too much for my very linear brain. That is no fault of the author. The writing is fantastic.
March 14, 2013
I found this book to be highly unusual. The story is a combination of apocalyptic fiction and horror, told mostly through the journal entries of the main character, Charles Dudley. There are a few other scenes that give the reader a couple of clues about the possible origin of the disaster.
Charlie has no clue, however, and is simply living the disaster as it unfolds. His journal writing is therapy, begun long before trouble arrives. It's not written for an audience, and so is not telling a neatly ordered story. He's simply writing what's on his mind, a mixture of past and present events in each entry, without censoring. That's a profanity notice, folks.
It's hard not to like Charlie. He's leagues away from perfect, and is very aware of it. He's had the kind of rough life that makes people cruel and mean, but he is neither. He has a need to take care of others, however reluctantly, that causes him no small amount of trouble.
I thought the journal entries, and Charlie's story, to be the best part of the book. Some of the other elements introduced in separate scenes I did find to be a bit confusing, but it's obvious that the information is as yet incomplete.
There is no neat ending to this book, which is the first installment of a complex story. If you can appreciate a style of writing that defies a neat definition, give this book a try.
Charlie has no clue, however, and is simply living the disaster as it unfolds. His journal writing is therapy, begun long before trouble arrives. It's not written for an audience, and so is not telling a neatly ordered story. He's simply writing what's on his mind, a mixture of past and present events in each entry, without censoring. That's a profanity notice, folks.
It's hard not to like Charlie. He's leagues away from perfect, and is very aware of it. He's had the kind of rough life that makes people cruel and mean, but he is neither. He has a need to take care of others, however reluctantly, that causes him no small amount of trouble.
I thought the journal entries, and Charlie's story, to be the best part of the book. Some of the other elements introduced in separate scenes I did find to be a bit confusing, but it's obvious that the information is as yet incomplete.
There is no neat ending to this book, which is the first installment of a complex story. If you can appreciate a style of writing that defies a neat definition, give this book a try.
May 26, 2013
Since I typically like disaster, post-apocalyptic, zombieful type books, I thought I might enjoy I’m Not Dead, The Journals of Charles Dudley, by Artie Cabrera. I was right, I did enjoy it, but was pleasantly surprised to find I absolutely loved it. What a fun read! This book was truly a wild ride. It snagged me from the first page, and was impossible to put down. It is written in a journal style, and it’s like reading many little short stories, each with a clever title. Artie paints a great picture with his wording, so it’s easy to really get into the story and visualize what’s happening and how Charles Dudley is feeling. When I’m reading a really good book, it’s like a little movie starts up in my head, I’m no longer reading words, and that is how this book was for me. I call it a wild ride, because Artie goes from gruesome and horrifying, then to funny, then to sad and poignant. The entries regarding Charles Dudley’s past and family were especially well written, and something a lot of people can relate to. Artie Cabrera does not gloss over or sugar coat anything. He writes what is really going on inside Charles Dudley’s head as he tries to deal with life in New York City after a devastating event turns people into zombie-like Deviants, things that sometimes are what people are thinking but would never admit to. A very cleverly written book, I can’t wait to read more from this author.
April 5, 2013
This review is from: I'M NOT DEAD: The Journals of Charles Dudley Vol.1 (Kindle Edition)
I downloaded this book for two reasons. First, it had an awesome cover. Second, it kept showing up in my facebook feed, so i followed the orders from the universe and bought it. It's only 3 bucks, what the heck!
Then it sat on my kindle for a week or two. I have read so much zombie stuff I was kind of sick of it, especially the journal format. They all seemed to follow the same trajectory after awhile. This book is not that way!
The way it was written is incredibly refreshing for this genre. Plus, the Deviants (zombies) are very different than your run of the mill walkers. There is a scene involving a foot that was awesome and hilarious.
The real difference in this book, for me, is the backstory on the main character. It's so beautifully written, you really get to know him and feel incredibly sorry for him. He's had a heck of a life and the author seems very gifted at bringing a sensitivity and true humanity to that backstory (and of course to the main character), making for a very rich tale.
I though this book was excellent and I recommend it for everyone who wants to read a slightly different kind of book and certainly everyone who has grown tired of the standard zombie book equation.
I downloaded this book for two reasons. First, it had an awesome cover. Second, it kept showing up in my facebook feed, so i followed the orders from the universe and bought it. It's only 3 bucks, what the heck!
Then it sat on my kindle for a week or two. I have read so much zombie stuff I was kind of sick of it, especially the journal format. They all seemed to follow the same trajectory after awhile. This book is not that way!
The way it was written is incredibly refreshing for this genre. Plus, the Deviants (zombies) are very different than your run of the mill walkers. There is a scene involving a foot that was awesome and hilarious.
The real difference in this book, for me, is the backstory on the main character. It's so beautifully written, you really get to know him and feel incredibly sorry for him. He's had a heck of a life and the author seems very gifted at bringing a sensitivity and true humanity to that backstory (and of course to the main character), making for a very rich tale.
I though this book was excellent and I recommend it for everyone who wants to read a slightly different kind of book and certainly everyone who has grown tired of the standard zombie book equation.
May 21, 2014
In all fairness I read this book in a state of sleep deprived haze, which might have affected my judgment. I didn't really enjoy this book all that much. I appreciated the writing, which was exceptionally good when it came to character development in particular. I appreciated the fact that the author tried to do something newish (which at this point is more often than not is really just a spin on or a combination off various other genre creations) with the whole apocalyptic zombielike situation. What I didn't care for was the overall disjointedness of the story, which technically given the epistolary nature the title promises, should have been a fairly straight forward narration. Also, while it makes monetary sense for authors to leave things open for series expansion, it seriously annoys me as a reader to see To Be Continued sort of anticlimax...a good entry in a series to me should work on its own, a solid stand alone, a story told all the way through, otherwise it's just a cheap commercial ploy. I seriously would like to see what Cabrera would do with just a regular work of fiction (although he'll probably just go on with the series, since it's all left so sequel ready). But another zombie story to add to the pantheon just seems so unnecessary.
July 29, 2015
We don't know what happened to cause the problems, but some people have become Deviants, most are simply dead and our hero is separated from his wife and really missing her and his daughter. He is in NYC and tried to leave at one point but the army/police wouldn't let him leave. He's faced with one dark, horrible thing after another. This book was so dark it was depressing to me. It's all written as a diary or journal. I had a hard time finishing it. I have to say it is simply not my kind of book, though I had to finish to see if things got better. They did not.
June 2, 2013
Wow. Crazy compelling. Kept thinking I was going to put it down but couldn't have. Need part 2 asap!
March 25, 2015
I loved this book!
September 28, 2015
Pg 29 of 147 - New Year's Day
May 24, 2013
I really enjoyed this book. It was recommended to me by a friend with the warning that it wasn't for the faint of heart, or someone who minded strong language. Neither of these swayed me and I was intrigued by the concept of it being written in a journal style. The story, told through the journal entries of Charles Dudley in the aftermath of some apocalyptic events, quickly sucked me in and didn't let go. I'm certainly looking forward to the next installment which I understand is in the works.
February 24, 2016
Weird.
If the plot thickened any more it would be like treacle! Charlie's small part of the world ends and he writes it all down in his journal. People are lost, others are found, and others turn into strange creatures. There are weird plants, even weirder animals and a maze of crazy situations for Charlie to overcome.
Bizarre, funny, gruesome, this is a really good book!
If the plot thickened any more it would be like treacle! Charlie's small part of the world ends and he writes it all down in his journal. People are lost, others are found, and others turn into strange creatures. There are weird plants, even weirder animals and a maze of crazy situations for Charlie to overcome.
Bizarre, funny, gruesome, this is a really good book!
February 21, 2014
It was an ok read. Characters were well thought out and interesting. Storyline interesting and unique but to tell the truth it rather lost me at the end. I'm glad I read it but I don't know if I would recommend it.
June 15, 2017
This was a surprise for me. I usually want nothing to do with anything zombie, because it is all the same. Zombie chose scenes, brain eating and gratuitous gore, cannibal humans and more zombie chase scenes. This was an actual story, with characters that you come to care about (even in a story this short) with some mystery thrown in. There's even drama and a little comedy. I can only home Charles Dudley releases more of his journals...and soon! (Hint hint)
July 10, 2019
Cool premise
But the follow-through was wanting. The main character was eminently unlikable and I didn't care what happened to him. Misspellings and grammatical errors didn't help. Two stars.
But the follow-through was wanting. The main character was eminently unlikable and I didn't care what happened to him. Misspellings and grammatical errors didn't help. Two stars.
May 3, 2016
Diary of a dying man, who does not die, but is dead inside.
First I have to say I'm not a fan of cursing, if that is something that offends you then beware this book! That is the single reason I didn't give it 5 stars.
This story, Charlie's life story wrapped in his death story, just about did me in. There was potential for love - from his mother, his brother, his wife and daughter, but like a bonsai tender Charlie is always shaping, trimming, cutting away at those outstretched limbs. Not that he consciously chooses this role. He was once a sapling himself.
The zombie portion of this program is almost peripheral. Like a powerful story solidly taking place, then Katrina comes along. The story continues with the surviving members just slightly more unbalanced. I don't care for zombies, or stories about them. Cannibalism is abhorrent to me in any form, along with child abusers, wife beaters, you get my drift. Still I give this book 4 stars, the authenticity of these characters is only marred by language that frequently shocked me out if the story.
This author either has experienced deep tragedy in his life, or has an incredible connection to pain. It left me drained, I wanted to reach in and wipe the slates clean. Charlie is a good person, not just a wannabe, but he does some pretty bad things for the greater good. That good leaves him more scarred, less human in the end.
First I have to say I'm not a fan of cursing, if that is something that offends you then beware this book! That is the single reason I didn't give it 5 stars.
This story, Charlie's life story wrapped in his death story, just about did me in. There was potential for love - from his mother, his brother, his wife and daughter, but like a bonsai tender Charlie is always shaping, trimming, cutting away at those outstretched limbs. Not that he consciously chooses this role. He was once a sapling himself.
The zombie portion of this program is almost peripheral. Like a powerful story solidly taking place, then Katrina comes along. The story continues with the surviving members just slightly more unbalanced. I don't care for zombies, or stories about them. Cannibalism is abhorrent to me in any form, along with child abusers, wife beaters, you get my drift. Still I give this book 4 stars, the authenticity of these characters is only marred by language that frequently shocked me out if the story.
This author either has experienced deep tragedy in his life, or has an incredible connection to pain. It left me drained, I wanted to reach in and wipe the slates clean. Charlie is a good person, not just a wannabe, but he does some pretty bad things for the greater good. That good leaves him more scarred, less human in the end.
September 10, 2016
SO real
I was stunned. Artie has made me laugh and cry throughout the first of Charles Dudley's journals. His work is so finely tuned, Charlie becomes human. In fact, I suspect there are more than a little blood, sweat and tears in this story. And the shock near the end? Holy cow! You need to read this. It is well worth your time. In many ways, I didn't just feel like I was reading a story. I was a living a life.
I was stunned. Artie has made me laugh and cry throughout the first of Charles Dudley's journals. His work is so finely tuned, Charlie becomes human. In fact, I suspect there are more than a little blood, sweat and tears in this story. And the shock near the end? Holy cow! You need to read this. It is well worth your time. In many ways, I didn't just feel like I was reading a story. I was a living a life.
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