World War Z is a very well-written and straight forward book that follows a Zombie outbreak from beginning to end. The characters are well-written and nicely fleshed out, but not always that relatable. Our main protagonist is a smart and very capable man who although put in many terrifying and deadly situations is able to hold his composure and come out the other side alive. It is an excellent read for anyone who enjoys a good zombie thriller. I'd give it a 7/10.

The Stand is a masterpiece of apocalyptic fiction and one of my all time favorite books. The pacing is steady for the first two thirds and then ramps up as it nears the end causing a beautiful bit of tension for the reader who can feel the story building to a climax. The characters, save for two, are very relatable and easy to make a connection with. The exceptions to that are the characters the "Walking Dude" and "Mother Abigale" as these two characters are either supernatural themselves or have been given some supernatural abilities.

Overall I would list this book as required reading for anyone interested in the psychological thrillers with a touch of horror. I give it a 9/10.