Devolution: A Firsthand Account of the Rainier Sasquatch Massacre Hardcover – June 16, 2020

I just finished reading this book for the THIRD time and it isn’t getting old! It is absolutely amazing with certain spine-chilling moments that may or may not have had me scooting to a safer distance from my window while reading... There just are not any books I have come across that tell a story this well. I love it even more than WWZ if I’m being 100% honest! In my opinion, it has absolutely been labeled a “MUST READ” novel. It may be slow at first, but that is the author building the image for you. Helping you to understand the characters and all of their different personalities and also the mindset of each individual. The character development you witness is absolutely phenomenal. If I could rate it more than five stars I definitely would!!!

The main characters are not likable, and they are not supposed to be. They are symbols of current social ills: techys who can't plant a garden; social empowerment gurus who fold under personal pressure; an overly self-conscious OCD patient; nature loves who have no idea about nature. So do not read the first twenty five pages and decide to put the book down.Second, these people will change a bit. Some for the better and one or two for the worse. The changes may be a little swift for the short time during which the book takes place, but roll with it.I wish there had been more from the officer who investigated and found the journal and from the brother who owned the house. Most of the books focuses on the diary of the one woman, and while it is interesting and she changes, I would have enjoyed more character development related to the search and maybe even some more info on what happened in Tacoma, as it is related to the idea of modern, "civilized," tech-dependent people on their own in a crisis.It is interesting that the author brings in quotations from Goodall and other professionals to prepare us for the habits of the Bigfoots we will later get to know so well. Too bad an ape or Bigfoot expert could not have been a character but the Bigfoot does not come in till half way through the book, so there is no point for them early on.The real drama at the second half is the interactions of the isolated people with the Bigfoot group that comes across the community. So if you are starting to read and wishing there was more action, hold on. You will get plenty of action in the second half and it is built up nicely as the Bigfoots get more aggressive.I like this style of writing where the main story is sort of interrupted with other short reports and news stories and letters and character interviews. These all help flesh out the ideas.This book raises some really direct and harsh issues about human civilization and Romanticism about nature. The older woman who is a glass artist and has chosen to try to make something "beautiful from fire" is very interesting and it is ironic that her work helps save them all in a way they could not have expected. Does that ending negate her idea of creating the beautiful? Does she teach us something about survival and appreciating what we have? Hmmmm. You will have to check it out.So get the book and realize some readers stopped early because the characters are not likable but they should have read on.,

My latest reread of this one found me just as scared as the first time around, even though I’d ALREADY READ the book. I KNEW what happened next, I REMEMBERED, and yet the atmosphere was so engrossing, the voice so compelling, that I was scared all over again in a way that still managed to feel brand new.

This was my first book by Brooks, but not my last (I've already started World War Z). I enjoyed the writing style; the book had excellent characters, and the last half was pretty exciting and a very fast page-turner of a read. The way the book is structured kind of reminded me of some of Stephen King's work (Carrie, for example). I highly recommend the book.

As a fan of the author, I want to give this book more than 3 stars, but the shallow story arc and poor characterization doesn't merit more stars in my mind. For those hoping this book will capture the excitement and pacing of world war Z, this will probably be a disappointment. The story was written as a "journal" of a 'survivor' of the first modern record of humans encountering sasquatch, and therefore was entirely written in the first person. Unfortunately, this approach seemed intriguing, but by half way through, the plot arcs of the characters were sadly one dimensional and unsatisfying. The pacing was even worse, as the author spent far to much time delving into the social commentary at the expense of any semblance of a story arc. It was obvious from early in the plot that the sasquatch 'encounter' was going to end badly, as the author made almost no attempt to hide the foreshadowing of this plot device. Instead, the author spent far to much time exploring the neurosis of a few of the characters, turning them into either card board cut outs of over privileged liberals or exhaustingly trite neurotics. Then as the pacing starts to pick up, the MC and a few of the survivors suddenly become fearsome tribal warriors. This sudden twist in the plot was sadly unrealistic and a jarring change of course for the story.The author weaves into the story arc some interesting observations regarding the mind set of modern life and the deception of 'getting back to nature'. The following quote seems to sum up the author's views. "All these overeducated, isolated city dwellers who idealize the natural world."This could have been a very enjoyable and engaging premise if the author abandoned the needless social commentary, or severely curtailed his opinions, but that is not the case. Last 30 pages or so, which encompassed the 'climatic ending', appeared as if the author suddenly realized, I need to put something interesting and exciting into this book, so let me change the characteristics of the main protagonist into a comic book hero. In spite of the glaring flaws in the story arc and pacing, there were some good sections of the plot, which if the author or editors would have focused more attention onto, the book would have been much better. Instead, it turns into a sad mush of social commentary, poorly thought out characters and a bizarre change of direction for the finale.

I really enjoyed this book and when they make the movie I'll definitely go see it. This was my first Max Brooks book. I like his writing style. The book is so fast paced you blink and your finished the entire book. Only negatives are really from my own bias opinions.At times, it reads like a corny 80's horror movie, with me subconsciously yelling at the characters to do this.. do that.. I struggled with the realism of the main character who was essentially a dud, rising to the occasion and becoming a rambo. (Going rogue at the end. Bs) In the real word hard work and life experience make people rise to the occasion and this character just seemed like a stand alone shut in. Then again... the book is about Bigfoot! so what am I talking about. Lol. It's a great fictional book.

«Guerra Mundial Z» me parece una de las mejores formas de reinventar la novela-diario-crónica... Aquí Max intenta aplicar de nuevo la fórmula, pero los resultados no son tan espectaculares, aunque no por eso menos disfrutables. 100% recomendable como "novela ligera" para quien guste de la mezcla de géneros (Crónica+SciFi+Monstruos+Supervivencia+etc). Una lástima que Netflix no se ponga vivo. Podría haber sacado una serie de 10-12 muy buenos capítulos. (Ah!... Preferí leerla en inglés. No sé qué tal esté la traducción al español.)

I absolutely loved this book. It’s smart, fast-paced, fun, scary, and packed with action. The epistolary format works perfectly and it packs a punch because it doesn’t skimp on character work, making the brutality all the more effective. And the take on Bigfoot is really interesting, taking from primate behaviours and splicing together this predatory, clever creature, more than a little reminiscent of the velociraptors in the Jurassic Park films.A very hearty recommendation for this book. Fabulous read.

alles ok

No paras de sufrir, pero sigues porque es magnífico. Me ha encantado el tono realista con el que está narrado. Si te gustaron los libros anteriores de Brooks este te va a entretener mucho. ¡Muy emocionante!