My book review of “I Am Legend” written by Richard Matheson

Title: I Am Legend
Author: Richard Matheson
Genre: Fiction / Science Fiction
ISBN: 978-90-461-1297-7
NUR: 312 – Pockets Popular Fiction
Publisher: A.W. Bruna Uitgevers
Year 1st edition & read edition: 1954 & 2007
Year read: 2016
Original title & language: I Am Legend [English]
Read language: Dutch
Pages: 188
Places: Los Angeles
Rating: 2 / 5 stars
Filmed: Yes – I Am Legend (2007) directed by Francis Lawrence

I am not telling about the story too much– never do in my book reviews – you have to read the book yourself and make your own opinion. 

In my view…

The story is all about one man. Everything is around him and about him and his thoughts. This main character is named Robert Neville. And I have to say, because I read Harry Potter more often, I sometimes mixed up the name Neville as a first name – like the character Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter series – instead of this time where it is used as a surname.

You have to keep in mind that the book is originally written in 1954 so older than half a century, way older than the book ‘Twilight’ written by Stephanie Meyer. The story is about a kind of vampires, taking over the world by a virus. The vampire virus. The way Richard Matheson describes the habits and features of a vampire are a bit different than if you have read ‘Twilight’ or have read ‘The Vampire Diaries’ series written by L.J. Smith.

Writing style / spelling

The first part of the book – of this Dutch translation – was ok. But when the story went on and on and on I discovered more grammar and spelling errors. It really annoyed me right before the end. I have noted the errors on pages: 11, 16, 31, 47, 65, 70, 88, 109, 119, 120, 153. Eleven times!
On page 65: you don’t use a certain word in a book, I bet it doesn’t exist in the English version. Really sad I discovered this.

The positive thing: I have learned the word: ‘Staphylococcus’ (‘aureus’ officially behind too). It is a bacteria that may cause an infection when your immune system is reduced or under other similar certain circumstances.

The reason why I rated this book with 2 / 5 stars and not 1 / 5, is because 1 / 5 is when it is not a book suited for me. So when I don’t like the story at all. I did like the story in this book and all the thoughts of the character. I just don’t like the huge amount of errors in the Dutch translation. But it is something that can be fixed.

What do you think about the book? Or have you seen the film?

Greetings by Sophie