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Before and After
Before and After: Some Heroes Wear XXXXL Capes | Andrew Shanahan
3 posts | 5 read | 3 to read
Ben Stone is terrified. He's terrified because he weighs 610 lbs and needs his right leg amputating. He's terrified because a crane will shortly lift him from his fourth floor flat and lower him 44 feet to an ambulance waiting below. He's terrified because he hasn't been outside in nine years and he doesn't know who will look after his dog. He needn't worry though, because the world is about to end. "This is a horror story. It's a visceral portrait of addiction and the hope of redemption in a world turned mad by hate and fear. The worst thing is that it is true. A must read." Jane Almond-Deville, Chair of The British Obesity Society. An incredible story of a giant man with a hunger to survive the end of the world. As Ben Stone's world is turned upside down by the wraths - murderous humans intent on venting their fury with the world - he is faced with a series of impossible choices to save himself and his precious dog, Brown. As he is forced to use the meagre resources at his disposal to survive, he runs the risk of bringing the wraths ever closer to his own front door. Can Ben and Brown find hope in the end of the world, or will their own darkness claim them too?
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ReadingOver50
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Pickpick

I liked the basic story. It is a good apocalyptic survival story. Although we never get a real idea of why Ben has survived untouched while everyone else is affected.

I did not like the way Ben's weight was treated by the other characters and also by himself. There is a lot of hateful speech that wasn't really necessary. The story would have been just as interesting without all the insults and fat phobia.

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bekakins
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this very different take on a zombie novel, told primarily from the POV of a housebound, morbidly obese young man.

This was from my trial box if The End of the World Reading Club- an interactive box with related gifts to open at certain points throughout the book - such a cool concept!

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Mskt6891
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Mehso-so

I found it infuriating that it's repeatedly referenced that the lead character is passionately vegan, but conversely is obsessed with chocolate bourbons (to the point of that being the cover image!), which are not in the slightest bit vegan!
It's never referenced that they are a concession he makes with his vegan diet or anything, and there's no particular plot development due to the character being vegan. I really don't understand the point!