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BOOK REVIEW: Zoo



Credit: BL
Hectically trying to complete my Masters and learning to mother my new born baby, I suddenly had an urge to read a favourite book again. I reread Zoo by James Patterson and Michael Ledwidge for one key reason: to escape to a world that has the potential to happen considering how humans are rapidly damaging the earth.

My interest in the book was also peaked by the series Zoo, based on the book, which I binge watched on Netflix whilst on Maternity Leave. The series really worked for me. It captured the intensity of the book and the plot twist for TV was not too off the mark from the intention of the book.

What was Zoo about? Well, imagine if all the world's animals got together and turned on us. By turn on us, I mean, hunt and brutally killed us. An animal revolution. We are told the story from the eyes of a varsity dropout biologist, Jackson Oz, who discovers that there is something wrong with the animals and no one believes him because of his lack of credentials - until it is too late.

Without giving away too much about the story, I can tell you that although the book is heavy on blood and death from the teeth of angry animals - it is an easy to follow read with a touch of romance and moments that will drive you crazy as humans just act like humans. The highlight of the book for mostly walking the journey with Oz as he tried to figure what could be causing the change in animal behaviour. Throughout the book he is either trying to figure what the problem is or fighting to trial a solution.

The dynamics between him, other scientists and political leaders reads like something anyone reading this review could go through at any given point. In addition, the writing of the story is really simple and easy to grasp. The chapters are really short giving the reader an impression that they are working through the book rather fast - but the reality is that chapters are extremely short.

Another interesting twist to this thriller is that the author would let us view the world from the view of the animals.It doesn’t happen a lot but the few times the authors allowed for the animals voice to be heard - the reader was able to get an idea of how the animals were feeling. Pretty strange moments seeing how an animal revolution in this case is nothing like the classic Animal Farm.

This is really a great novel to sink your teeth into if you are looking for something well written, not too heavy and as a form of escapism. The ending is not predictable at all and really worth reading to the very end.



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