SageChimpSageChimp
the beginning of the end
by Manel Loureiro
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When I picked up this little gem, I assumed it would be a zombie book, even though the publisher smoothly left that part off the blurb. But no matter my assumptions, I could not have anticipated how strongly the book would grip me. It starts off as the blog of a man in Spain detailing his life. Slowly but surely we see through his eyes the global pandemic and follow him on his quest to stay alive. What I liked most about the protagonist was that he was a regular person. He was not special forces or a police officer, and the methods he thought of to combat the zombies are reasonable—something a normal person would think of and accomplish. My only gripe about the book is really a testament to the skill of the author. Starting from when he goes to pick up a "package," the book is almost exhausting to read. You are so emotionally drained because the stress on this man never stops. You are scared for him, wondering what he will do, worrying about the safety of his cat (though I prefer dogs myself). As the situation got worse and worse, I wondered it this would be one of those books where the protagonist just dies at the end. I am not a zombie fan generally speaking, but I loved this book and I hope Manuel Loueiro has other works that have been translated into English.