Bailey, Diane. Zombies in America. Rosen
Publishing Group 48p $29.25 978-1-4488-5529-2 2012 ms VG-BN series:
America's Supernatural Secrets Nonfiction
Zombies
have invaded juvenile and teen literature and cinema. The re-animated undead are generally
portrayed as dull, but dangerous -- with a taste for human flesh (especially
brains!). Bailey states: “Most people
believe that it
is not possible to
actually turn the dead into the undead. But that does not mean there are not zombies among us.”
Bailey describes the history of zombies through a series of stories, beginning in New Orleans, where some people practiced voodoo. A primary voodoo god, Li Grand Zombi, used zombies in powerful battles. Next Bailey explores Haitian lore involving zombies. In Haiti it is a crime to create zombies from living persons. Then, through African slave culture, Bailey turns to zombie tales from the American South.
Zombies first appeared on the silver screen in the 1932 movie “White Zombie”. Bailey explores zombies in popular culture. She describes books, movies, and television programs that have led to the recent fixation on “zombie apocalypse”.
Bailey does offer some evidence that zombies may be the result of toxins or examples of beliefs so overwhelming as to produce characteristics similar to those attributed to zombies, but most of the book is given over to retelling disturbing stories and raising speculation. Still, she concludes that “zombies would not exist without the brains of authors and filmmakers, but fortunately, it’s not because they ate them!”
Student researchers may find this volume helpful. Readers with an interest in the topic will devour it.
Bailey describes the history of zombies through a series of stories, beginning in New Orleans, where some people practiced voodoo. A primary voodoo god, Li Grand Zombi, used zombies in powerful battles. Next Bailey explores Haitian lore involving zombies. In Haiti it is a crime to create zombies from living persons. Then, through African slave culture, Bailey turns to zombie tales from the American South.
Zombies first appeared on the silver screen in the 1932 movie “White Zombie”. Bailey explores zombies in popular culture. She describes books, movies, and television programs that have led to the recent fixation on “zombie apocalypse”.
Bailey does offer some evidence that zombies may be the result of toxins or examples of beliefs so overwhelming as to produce characteristics similar to those attributed to zombies, but most of the book is given over to retelling disturbing stories and raising speculation. Still, she concludes that “zombies would not exist without the brains of authors and filmmakers, but fortunately, it’s not because they ate them!”
Student researchers may find this volume helpful. Readers with an interest in the topic will devour it.
Zombies--United
States --Hilary Welliver
No comments:
Post a Comment