Hater by David Moody
By Ashley | Posted Under Book Reviews | Comments (6)
David Moody’s book Hater was originally self-published but because of its success and cult following a larger publisher picked it up. Hater follows Danny McCoyne, an ordinary family man trying to support his wife and three children. However, things start to get a bit alarming when a series of violent outbreaks occur across an unnamed British city. Eventually those who appear to have these violent outburst are coined “Haters,” but as this affliction spreads across the city, Danny realizes his once previously mundane life is extinct and he and his family must survive in a city surrounded by people who want to kill them.
The novel occurs in much of the same fashion as a zombie novel would occur - except those who are attacking the “Unchanged” aren’t dead and they can still talk and function as humans, they just happen to have an animalistic primal urge to kill everyone who is unlike them. The city rapidly dissolves around Danny and his family. The novel paints a very bleak picture and does a great job of making you grasp how desperate the situation is for the “Unchanged”.
I personally love reading stories where the cities crumble and civilizations disintegrate and this book was particularly dark. The only real problem I had with the story is a lack of information on why people were turning into “Haters,” but on the other hand, if an event like this were truly to occur, how much information would ever be released on “why” it was occurring?
As far as the overall novel is concerned, there are parts of it I loved and there are parts of it where I felt like the plot was dragging. Also, a few times I wished Danny was a real person so I could hit him in the face myself. I understand your kids are exhausting, but how often can you complain about them? Looking back on the novel, I honestly think that is what the author was aiming for. In every Zombie/Disaster novel all the main characters tend to turn into outstanding heroes, but honestly, in real life, a lot of people would still float along unsure of what to do and still really annoyed by their children and their lot in life.
You can read more of Ashley’s reviews on her blog, On the Brink of Insanity.
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Comments
Posted by: RichieRich at January 28, 2011 1:14 PM
You forgot to mention that the movie rites for this book have also already been picked up, so we get to see how badly Hollywood ruins it pretty soon.