Parasite [Book Review]

Disclaimer: I received a e-copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinions.

Stats:
#1 in Parasitology series

Kindle Edition, 512 pages

Expected publication: October 29th 2013 by Orbit

ASIN: B00AFGKSDS Find on Goodreads




Synopsis:
A decade in the future, humanity thrives in the absence of sickness and disease.

We owe our good health to a humble parasite - a genetically engineered tapeworm developed by the pioneering SymboGen Corporation. When implanted, the tapeworm protects us from illness, boosts our immune system - even secretes designer drugs. It's been successful beyond the scientists' wildest dreams. Now, years on, almost every human being has a SymboGen tapeworm living within them.

But these parasites are getting restless. They want their own lives...and will do anything to get them.


My Thoughts:
I keep going back and forth on whether I really liked Parasite or I was incredibly creeped/grossed out by it. A lot of it seemed really repetitive too and it could have been way less than 500 pages long.

Sally wakes up from a coma (caused by a car accident) due to a miraculous new technology in the world of medicine: the genetically engineered tapeworm. She literally has to relearn everything as if she was just born, however, she is nearly 30 years old. It's hard at times to read how everyone treats Sal (as she prefers to be called) because she is essentially treated as a 6 year old child. She is subject to going to get regular check ups (physical and mental) at the company that created the tapeworm that saved her life, Symbogen. It's easy to pick up on the evilness of this company. Sally's tapeworm paved the way for Symbogen to market the tapeworm as a "cure" for many ailments.

The tapeworms make me squeamish. Blech Blech Blech! Such a creep factor! Suddenly, some of the people with tapeworms start shutting down and appear to be sleepwalking. Sal is scared that she is next.

What happens in this novel was not what I expected at all (in a good way). It's incredibly unique and interesting. It's creepy and kinda gross. The perfect read for Halloween or while you wait another week for one more hour of The Walking Dead to watch ;)


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