What Would Carl from the Walking Dead Read?

“Yeah I like it here.  I like the people.  But they’re weak.  And I don’t want us to get weak too.” Carl Grimes from the AMC television show The Walking Dead is one of the toughest teen characters I have ever seen.  He has grown up in a world of chaos and woe ever since he was a young lad.  He has survived some of the most horrifying zombies or “walkers” as he would call them and lost his own after she gave birth to his baby sister and he had to be the one to make sure she didn’t turn into a zombie.

Carl can really take care of himself, even though he can give into his childish cravings and love for chocolate puddings every once in a while.  He understands the depravity of the world that he lives in and he is never afraid to take charge in chaotic situations.  His dad Rick should be proud that Carl has transitioned so well in such a wild and unruly world.  Carl should be proud of himself for learning how to shoot a gun and knock out as many “walkers” as he can.  Way to go Carl!  If Carl walked into my library right now what books would I recommend to him?  Let’s see, I think I have a few he will really like.

Carl-Grimes-Walking Dead

Zombie survival guide max brooks

Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks

Now I don’t really think that Carl needs this book, but I do think he would get a big kick out of reading it.  He might think that some of the tips that Brooks offers would be helpful in the world that has been stricken by the zombie apocalypse.

This unique survival guide offers helpful tips such as weapons and combat techniques, places to stay safe, and how to survive a zombie-infested world.  Did you know that if properly cared for the human body can be the best weapon of all?  More importantly, the chapter on how the zombie virus is spread may make the average reader squeamish, but not Carl he will understand the treatment for an infected bite is usually amputation.  There are also references to the different kinds of zombies like voodoo, movie zombies, and the deadly incurable virus zombies. Continue reading What Would Carl from the Walking Dead Read?

Reading the Book before the Movie or Show: Pros, Cons, & Bragging Rights

by flickr user o5com
by flickr user o5com

Young adult and adult novels make it to the big (and little) screen fairly often these days.  So, just how smug should you feel when you have already read the book? There is no easy answer – so to tackle this issue I have broken down the movie/show tie-ins into categories.

The Book Series Made into a Show

You can feel superior, but do tread lightly as you enter this murky zone.   When translating a series of novels into a series of shows major plot elements are likely to be changed to allow for the continuity of the show.  Examples of the book series made into a show include Pretty Little Liars (based on the series by Sara Shepard), Gossip Girl (based on the series by Cecily Von Ziegesar; a 2003 Quick Pick & 2009 Popular Paperback for Young Adults), The Walking Dead (based on the graphic novel series by Robert Kirkman, Charlie Adlard, Cliff Rathburn and Tony Moore), and Game of Thrones (Based on the “Song of Fire and Ice” books by George R.R. Martin.)

walking dead
walking dead
  • Pros of pre-reading the book series made into a show:

1) You read the books, you loved them…you watch the show and get more!  You can translate your book reading experience into an on-going show and keep the story alive after the series is over and/or whilst you await (impatiently) for the next book.

2) Deviations from the book make for some fun and unexpected surprises.  You thought you knew all there was to know about white walkers in George RR Martin’s Song of Fire and Ice series… but after watching the HBO show– what?!

  • Cons of pre-reading the book series made into a show:

1) Deviations from the book make for some shocking unexpected surprises.  Yes, this is both a pro and a con.  These changes may call into question your precognitive skills.  For example AMC’s Walking Dead’s many plot changes as compared to the graphic novel series.

  • Bragging rights earned from pre-reading the book series made into a show:

Monday morning talk when there was a Sunday night cliffhanger: does <insert character name> die?  Then they look your way: do you know?  Oh, yeah.  Continue reading Reading the Book before the Movie or Show: Pros, Cons, & Bragging Rights