The other week I told my friend Becky that I wanted to up the ante with Avie - the girl needs gifts in a major way. Becky said, "Oh, you should read The Girl with All the Gifts" (M.R. Carey).
Hmmm.
So, a post-apocalyptic zombie story - again! Meh, I thought.
But I was so wrong. Which just goes to show that good writing is oxygen for a claustrophobic genre.
Stealing from this book: sometimes we love a character more for hating him in the beginning. Transformation is hugely satisfying. Even small acts of decency can appear as kindness when a character begins as an asshole....perhaps just a truism about life (and about 90% of my crushes from junior high onward).
:)
